ThelifeKVD Beauty 's Good Apple Skin-PerfectingFoundation Balm is a fan-favoritebeauty product.- I tried the foundation and really disliked how it enhanced the dryness of my skin.
- Though I wouldn't recommend this product, I commend the brand for being innovative.
Kat Von D's former
The company has since rebranded and launched its first two products after the tattoo artist famously sold her shares of the brand. Today, the company is seemingly thriving - largely thanks to the success of its new Good Apple Skin-Perfecting Foundation Balm.
After waiting weeks for the foundation to be restocked, I finally got my hands on one. Unfortunately, after trying the balm for a few days, I almost wish I hadn't.
KVD Beauty's Good Apple Skin-Perfecting Foundation Balm retails for $38
The foundation balm - made with apple extract - is sold in 40 shades. It's 100% vegan, according to the brand's website, and is meant to feel lightweight and look matte on the skin. It's also supposed to last "all day," apply "fast," and provide full coverage.
KVD Beauty recommends applying the makeup with a brush or sponge in patting motions. You can also use your fingers "to spot conceal," according to the brand.
Once you've finished using the entire compact, its outer packaging and clear container can be recycled.
I used the foundation four days in a row and had a disappointing experience each time
When I purchased the foundation on KVD Beauty's website, most shades were sold out. And out of the three shades I was considering, only the lightest - Light 002 - was available. Though it's a bit too pale to be a perfect match for me, it still works with the help of some blush and bronzer.
I used a Beautyblender sponge the first day I tried it and wasn't blown away by the foundation's coverage. I found it difficult to blend, and I noticed some of my worst acne and dry spots poking through.
That being said, I still understood that day after completing my makeup why people on TikTok can't get enough of the balm. At first, my skin looked smooth and almost blemish-free.
But when I stepped closer to my mirror, I noticed the foundation was clinging to dry spots on my chin and forehead. It also looked extremely patchy around my nose and settled into every fine line across my cheeks.
The next day, I applied the foundation with a dense brush on top of a thicker moisturizer in the hopes of combating those dry patches. Though the makeup's coverage was much better and smoother as a result, I experienced the same dryness and creasing as the day went on.
I also found that if I touched my face even slightly, the foundation would move, break apart, and need touch-ups.
For the third and fourth days of my
Again, I liked the overall look of the foundation - but only from a distance. Up close, I could see dryness on my forehead and chin, and creasing near my eyes.
Despite all my troubles with the foundation, I'm happy to report that it held up relatively well each day that I wore it. It kept my face matte and smooth after running errands and taking walks, and it didn't transfer much to the face masks that I wore.
I also loved how it paired with other makeup and gave the appearance of "skin that looks like skin," as the brand promises - albeit
The compact itself is also really beautiful, in my opinion, and I appreciate how it's entirely recyclable - something I think other brands should take note of.
I wouldn't recommend this foundation unless you already have flawless skin
I really wanted to love this foundation balm, but I just didn't. As someone with very dry skin, I found that this product's matte finish really clings to dry spots, and is overall difficult to work with.
While it feels like a balm in the compact, it applies on the skin more like a pot concealer that isn't meant to spread all over your face. And even when used as one, in my experience, it didn't cover my blemishes without settling into their fine lines and drying them out.
Based on reviews I've seen, it seems like the foundation doesn't work much better for oily skin. It seemingly becomes cakey throughout the day and looks greasy overall.
If you have slightly dry skin, and you want something that stays matte in the summer, this might work for you. But overall, it seems like you'd need to have relatively "perfect" skin that's not too dry or too oily for this to really work.
Still, I give KVD Beauty credit for trying to create something innovative, and though this particular product didn't work for me, I'm excited to see what the brand comes up with in the future.
This is an opinion column. The thoughts expressed are those of the author(s).