I was slightly nervous that the epic Lancome Teint Idole Ultra Wear foundation had been reformulated. And I say epic without even a hint of irony because it was just that: very few high-coverage, ultra-longwear foundations came close to this in terms of finish quality, ease of application, shade range and longevity. The original Teint Idole covered every blemish and blemish – no concealer needed – but somehow managed not to drain all the life out of your skin at once. It seemed flexible, comfortable, slightly juicy, but also gave this perfect, flawless, airbrush that completely removes redness, dark circles, areas of pigmentation. And it had a subtle sheen, a precise luminosity, yet the finish was velvety-matte.
Advertising information: no paid or sponsored content. Contains type samples sent without obligation to review and link partners, marked *
And the feeling! Oh the feeling of the thing. It was cushiony, didn’t sit in lines, moved with your skin…if ever there was a full coverage foundation for grown-ups, this was it. And so: my nervousness about redrafting. What would Lancome change? What aspect of the original formula would us die-hard fans cry about? How could Lancome improve on perfection and a face foundation that has been around – successfully – for decades?
So let me tell you; they have. Lancome have taken Teint Idole Ultra Wear foundation and made it just as full coverage, just as cushiony in application and just as long wearing, and somehow they’ve added a lot of skincare ingredients to the mix along the way. And you know what? You can really feel the difference.
Buy Lancome Teint Idole Ultra Wear*
After a week of daily testing, with the old formula on one half of my face and the new formula on the other (how much I suffer for my art) I can unequivocally tell you that the new side of my face feels consistently hydrated throughout the day. Plumper. The other side does not feel dry, therefore, it just feels… normal. There is a clear difference. I was skeptical beyond all polite reason about the skin hydration component of the revamped formula, but it’s there. And it works. The new side of my face is juicier and more supple to the touch but with the same skin coverage.
I really don’t think many (if any) Teint Idole users will be disappointed with the new version. It’s the same great foundation, plus a (very) slightly more hydrating feel. I personally welcome the added comfort because I still have the same coverage but now it feels even more comfortable and flexible on the skin.
This newly reformulated Lancome Teint Idole Ultra Wear is not to be confused with the new Teint Idole Ultra Wear Care & Glow. It’s incredibly confusing and I wish Care & Glow was just a completely different product line, in a way – it’s less coverage, more dewy – but you can easily tell the two foundations apart by looking at the lids. White for lighter coverage Care & Shine* and black for it higher Idole coverage*.
Interestingly, I prefer the feel of Idole high coverage on my skin to Care & Glow. But Care & Glow offers an exemplary level of high-powered brightness – it’s the kind of glow level where I personally feel like I don’t need a highlighter. (Though as a disclaimer, I feel like highlighter is one of the most overused and misused products in the entire makeup world. It looks great on the gram, but honestly, in real life, some people look absolutely wild. Like a robot. At least it looks incredibly unnatural, which is definitely the opposite of the desired effect.)
I should add, because it’s very important, that I use very little product when applying Teint Idole. It really doesn’t need a spatula and I think it looks best when applied very lightly, from the center of the face and only puffed up if needed. A light coat is enough to reverse most blemishes, dark circles and areas of redness – check out the before and after photos:
The single layer of foundation, very cleverly applied with a small powder brush rather than a flat top brush, even partially hides the marks of the glasses on my nose. These are always a nightmare to disguise when I shoot because they are red and indented and just a general pain in the ass to deal with. No problem for Teint Idole. And if I had gone back with another light coating, then I would have completely wiped them off.
The photos do a really good job of showing the finish too: it looks quite velvety-matte, but there’s a real luminescence to it that’s not glittery or glossy, but just…precise looking. It’s the kind of base that really is a base, that comes into its own as the bronzer goes on, then the blush… it’s the perfect starting canvas, flawless and soft.
You can find the new Teint Idole Ultra Wear online at Lancome here*, LookFantastic here* and Selfridges here*. There is a huge range of 45 shades and Lancome has also refined the pigments to create tones that are always flattering and empowering on the skin. No ash undertones. I use shade 220C – I used 02 in the old formula which was always slightly warmer in tone. I’ll do some experimenting next time I’m near a bench!
It suits all skin types and doesn’t slide off oily patches or settle into fine lines. Here’s a short Quickfire video if you want to see the app:
