Clinique Even Better Foundation - Better than BB?

I recently got my grubby hands on several bottles of foundation via a beauty swop meet with a girlfriend and Clinique's Even Better Foundation was one of them~ I think this was a Spring/Summer release back in 2012?

30ml / Retails at Changi Airport DFS for S$35 / Sephora USD27

Dermatologist developed, this foundation suits 2 - Dry Combination and 3 - Combination Oily skin and claims to help brighten and even skin tone as well as lighten spots gradually over 4-6 weeks with its cocktail of Vitamin C, Vitamin E, grapefruit peel, mushroom yeast extract and white birch extract.

Extracted from Clinique.com:

Wear oil-free, dermatologist-developed Even Better Makeup SPF 15 and something amazing happens: Without any makeup, see improved clarity, a more even skin tone, visibly diminished age spots. For all ethnicities. In just 4 to 6 weeks. Broad spectrum SPF helps protect against future darkening. For continued benefits even after you take it off, partner with Even Better Clinical Dark Spot Corrector.

Comes in 20 shades in the US but only 10 locally (boo~) so some may find that a tad restrictive. My girlfriend is slightly fairer than me (63 - Fresh Beige) but being quite light-handed makes this shade alright for my medium fair skin. Spreads and blends very easily so I only use a pearl-sized blob for my entire face!

Blends quite nicely as you see~



Yep, this amount. For my whole face~

I don't have any acne issues at the moment...so my main areas of concern are the sun spots/pigmentation around my temples.

With 1 layer of Clinique Even Better with concentration on temples

Coverage is exactly as the bottle says i.e Moderate. If my spots were just a tad lighter it might have been sufficient coverage but I find I need 2 layers or a light dusting of powder to have those spots concealed to satisfaction.

Here's a before and after comparison between absolutely no makeup and Clinique Even Better plus a very light layer of bareMinerals powder, Sleek Makeup Blush by 3, Canmake Balm Rouge and eye & brow liner~

Those are my new glasses from Furla =P Sorta in a love-hate relationship with 'em at the moment.. (>__<)

I think the Even Better liquid foundation is....ok. I like that it's light, blends well and doesn't oxidise or cake much with 2 or 3 layers except on my undereye area but that's pretty normal for me. The finish is neither powdery nor dewy on me so it looks au natural~ Holds up quite decently in our humid weather and on my combination oily skin. Touchups were required after about 6 hours even in an air-conditioned environment but this might be due to my light-handedness with it.

I can't say much about the evening or lightening of skin tone and age spots though as I'm juggling this with a couple other foundations I have open.

In a nutshell, Clinique's Even Better Foundation is:

•  A light creamy textured liquid foundation that gives natural-looking light to moderate coverage; for 2- Dry Combination and 3- Combination Oily skin types.
• Light sunblock capabilities; SPF 15/PA++, also claims to help even out skin tone and lighten spots with continued use.
• Not pricey per se but properties are easily comparable to drugstore options e.g Maybelline or Kate.
• Natural finish holds up decently in Singapore's humidity on my combi-oily skin with touchups required abt 6 hours in.
• Moderate coverage would be perfect for those with just light spots and zits to conceal.
• Doesn't oxidise or turn cakey with layering.

Would I buy this? Not likely.

I like the lightweight formula but with this level of finish and coverage, I'm inclined to think my usual drugstore BB creams can give this Clinique product a run for its money~