In this review we will be having a closer look at the new Urban Decay Hydromaniac foundation. This new hydrating foundation by Urban Decay sounded like something I might like immediately when I first heard about it. Urban Decay is one of my favorite makeup brands and I was a bit bummed that they discontinued one of my favorite hydrating foundations their original Naked Skin. That was a great lightweight, natural looking foundation and it was one of my favorites, but till this day the brand had not replaced it with anything that could compare. Their later Stay Naked release was too medium coverage for my taste and too matte, so I never felt it truly did what I needed it to do. When the brand announced a new hydrating foundation, I knew I had to try it. It finally launched here early January and I have now have had some time to try it consistently in different situations. Here’s my review.
Review: Urban Decay Stay Naked Hydromaniac Tinted Glow Hydrator foundation 10 Ultra Fair
As far as foundations go, this product is more affordable than the other two complexion products I already mentioned. This retails for €35 which is a fair price point for a high end foundation. According to the brand this is a foundation you can use without having to apply moisturizer as this could serve as a replacement. I never like those kind of claims but oh well. The foundation is exclusively available online where I live and can only be bought from ICIParisXL now that the official Urban Decay website is no longer updated for The Netherlands.
What does this foundation have to offer?
The reason why I was excited for this foundation was because it promises to be glowy, hydrating, natural looking but still with a medium coverage. I have found that I love lightweight textures, but a medium coverage that looks natural usually is better for covering up my redness. So this ticked all the boxes for me. It is fully vegan and comes in just 12 shades; I am unsure whether that is just a Dutch thing or whether the shade range is the same everywhere. In any case, in 2021, only 12 shades is a bit of a let down. That said, the deepest shades do seem to go sufficiently deep and the light shades seem to go pretty light. It is supposed to be hydrating and feel weightless on the skin too.
What does this foundation do?
This foundation comes in a squeezy tube which means it is easy to control how much product you use. And that is a good thing, because with this foundation a little goes a very long way. I have made the mistake a few times where I have used my usual dollop and ended up using far too much which wasn’t a good look. I never use that much foundation to begin with, but I found out that with this foundation less is more. Luckily for my makeup preferences that means you can easily customize your look depending on your needs. I don’t like a very thick and cakey layer and I feel it does lose that weightless feel when I put on too much. If I get the amount just right, it indeed looks very natural on the skin and looks and feels great all day. It is just something to look out for.
How does this foundation swatch?
Do you see how little product I put on the back of my hand? I really didn’t use much and still it was more than enough to cover the back of my hand for this swatch. The texture of this foundation feels quite thick: indeed like you are putting on a very thick, balmy moisturizer. It is a texture I have never experienced in a foundation so I am happy to see Urban Decay not just repackaging an old product, but actually coming out with a new and updated formula too. It blends in nicely but you can see lines of a brush or a the marks of a sponge quite easily in this because of the thicker texture. Nothing a good blend can’t fix, but that does mean you have to be a bit careful when applying this one to get that smooth and eve finish we’re after.
What kind of coverage does this foundation have?
As you can see here, with just a little pea sized amount I can get this effect. I could go in with a smidge more on my nose and cheeks, but overall this foundation gives me the kind of coverage I need. I always go in with concealer anyway. However, this is the type of foundation that could be used on its own if you wish to do that. It has a good bit of glow and that is what I love. What I don’t love is how this accentuates pores when I put on too much product. I have had a few days where I didn’t get the amount right and it just ended up looking quite messy on my skin. I have dry/ dehydrated skin and hardly ever experience foundations looking ‘oily’ after a full day of wear. If I apply too much of this one that is what happens to me. If I get the amount just right I achieve that glowy, healthy, dewy look I love. I have found the best way to use this is to go in with as little product as possible and take it from there.
What is the shade match like?
Since I can only buy this online (it should come to stores 1 March over here) I was a bit unsure which shade to get. There are no undertones in this line and I wasn’t sure how yellow this would lean. I think it leans more neutral rather than yellow or pink, which is great. In the end I picked shade 10 Ultra Fair because I prefer a foundation that is a smidge too light rather that too dark. I made that decision after I saw Allie Glines using the next shade up and I knew she was deeper than me. Like her, I experience this foundation being a bit too light at first, but as it sits on the skin it oxidizes slightly becoming a much better match and a lot more natural looking. However, in my neck, the shade blends in perfectly from the start and so for my snow white winter skin, this foundation is the right match for sure.
My final thoughts
The Urban Decay Hydromaniac foundation is a great new offering in makeup land. It is a product I had to get used to and figure out how to best make it work for me and my makeup needs though. It can look heavy and cakey if I don’t use the right amount, but because of the handy packaging I feel I have no issues getting that right amount. I just have to be careful how much I use. If you have oily skin though, I would not recommend this product and I also think this isn’t a great product going into spring/ summer. I get a slightly oily t-zone during those months and I don’t think I would like it much then. In winter, when my skin is as dry as a piece of parchment: yes. This is an excellent alternative to one of my longstanding winter loves: the It Cosmetics CC cream. That product has an even more atrocious shade range though, so I think this is a good option if that product didn’t work for you. However, in the warmer months I think this will make me look like an oilslick which is just the wrong side of dewy for me.
Would I recommend the Urban Decay Hydromaniac foundation?
Yes, for my dry skin guys and gals this is a great new offering from Urban Decay. It is not the replacement of the original Naked Skin that I had hoped it would be, but I think this is the kind of hydrating foundation many people will love for that dewy look. It lasts a long time on me (provided I used the right amount) and it just makes my skin look pretty, healthy and glowy all day. I only need a touch of powder to make this last (in fact, I feel that powders don’t look the best with it) and it doesn’t transfer one bit either. With that I think the Urban Decay Hydromaniac is one of my favorite new foundations I have tried recently (and I have been trying a few behind the scenes). If you are looking for a great hydrating foundation that will see you through those cold winter days, then this is definitely one to try.
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