The IT Cosmetics Your Skin But Better Foundation + Skincare Is Super Lightweight

We put IT Cosmetics Your Skin But Better Foundation + Skincare to the test after receiving a complimentary sample from the brand. Keep reading for our full product review.

I’ve been a longtime fan of the IT Cosmetics Brow Power Universal Eyebrow Pencil, which lasts for months, comes at a better price point than many of my other brow products, and knows how to nail a cool undertone, so I was really excited to try the IT Cosmetics Your Skin But Better Foundation. While this product is categorized as a foundation, it's technically a foundation-skincare hybrid—it's formulated with hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid and aloe vera extract, and is meant to actually improve your skin while you're wear it.

Rather than just being another heavy foundation, this product is focused on being buildable so that you can choose the level of coverage you’re looking for. So does it live up to the promise? Read my full review ahead, and fair warning—I'm a tough critic when it comes to foundation.

About My Skin: Combination, acne-prone skin

When it comes to makeup, I’m definitely a less-is-more type of person. I’m someone who really, really doesn’t like a heavy foundation. More often than not, I’m the type of person who just uses concealer and keeps it moving, but I’ve found that—especially in cooler months—this method can result in some weird flaking and can make it too obvious that I am, in fact, just spotting my face with concealer. When paired with foundation, it’s much easier to make concealer look natural.

Because my skin is combination, I’m constantly battling dry patches (and oily ones, too—oh what fun). I break out often along my cheeks and chin, and these breakouts tend to scar. I’m not looking for something that will make me look 100 percent flawless (we all know texture is normal and there's no such thing as perfect skin), but I am looking for something that can hide those dark spots and survive both the oily and dry parts of my face without forcing me to reach for a primer or to be too careful with the application.

How to Apply

To incorporate Your Skin But Better Foundation, I started with my usual routine of a hydrating cleanser, a vitamin C serum, and my go-to moisturizer, which is a heavy gel. Then, to test it out solo, I skipped my concealer (Tarte Cosmetics Shape Tape) and went right to the foundation. The brand recommends that you use a foundation brush, so I tried it too ways: first, with a standard foundation brush, and then with a sponge I sprayed with rose water. I tried two shades, both Tan Neutral 42 and Tan Warm 41, and found that Tan Neutral fit better with my current skin tone, which is paler than usual considering the current state of the world and a massive lack of sun in my day-to-day. 

The Feel: Not too heavy, and not too light, either

I was surprised by how much came out of the pump when I first pressed down, but it ended up being just the right amount to hit my entire face. I was pretty pleased that it didn’t take a ton of product considering the price point. The foundation is very much a liquid, so there’s nothing out of the ordinary there. The color descriptors of neutral versus warm were very on point, as the warm shade was much, much warmer than the neutral shade. I think I could have even tried out a cool shade and been satisfied. When I used the product with a brush, as the application instructions recommended, I found it tricky to not be too heavy-handed. A little really does go a long way, so it was hard to avoid that thick foundation look that I can’t stand on myself. I think someone who is more of a beauty guru would be happy with the way that the foundation brush provides so much coverage, but I was much more into the way it looked when I applied it with the damp sponge, as it became more buildable. The best part by far was that it didn’t feel like I had anything on my face at all. It dried quickly and it didn’t feel like I had layers on layers on top of my skin. 

The Results: Moderate coverage with no new breakouts

 When I first applied it at the start of my day, I worried the Your Skin But Better Foundation was settling strangely into my pores. This was even more true in the places where I have acne scars and some pitting; it felt like the foundation was highlighting them. As the day went on, though, the foundation seemed to lighten up a bit as the oils in my face blended with the foundation itself, and, by lunch time, I was much more pleased with my appearance. I realized that spritzing the foundation with a mist about ten minutes after I applied created that more natural look I’m always aiming for without causing it to run or uncover the dark spots I was trying to hide.

I was really interested in the study that IT Cosmetics ran around this foundation that said it would improve skin in two weeks. On this, I’m unsure. It’s a little hard to tell these days what’s doing what to your skin. Am I getting acne because of this mask, or because of this new foundation? Is my skin just getting dryer because I’m constantly indoors, or is it that new serum I tried? I can’t speak much to whether it improved my skin, but what I can say is that it didn’t at all break me out. For me, this was a relief. One big reason I tend to avoid foundations is that they leave my skin covered in small bumps or lead to massive breakouts a few weeks in, and Your Skin But Better Foundation didn’t cause any new or surprising breakouts on my end. 

The Value: What you'd expect

Your Skin But Better Foundation typically retails for around forty dollars for one ounce. These days, that’s really not much for a high-quality foundation, especially one that boasts skincare benefits. I wouldn’t put this in the budget-friendly category, but if you’re someone who reaches for foundation on a daily basis, this is one that’ll last you long enough for it to work out price-wise in the end. 

Similar Products: You have options

Glossier Perfecting Skin Tint: Like the IT Cosmetics Your Skin But Better Foundation, Glossier Perfecting Skin Tint (which I wear in G6), is all about hydrating. Rather than hyaluronic acid, Glossier uses glycerin to keep skin moisturized. Of course, Glossier’s is much, much lighter, but it does have the similar moisturizing factors and promises to refine skin over time. It’s also much cheaper at $26, though it doesn’t offer nearly as much coverage. I use Glossier’s on a daily basis because it is so affordable, and because it offers a quick apply-and-go option that really requires no skill or special tools to apply. 

Tarte Shape Tape Hydrating Foundation: The closest comparison in my arsenal is Tarte Shape Tape Hydrating Foundation, which has hyaluronic acid just like the Your Skin But Better Foundation. With Tarte’s foundation going for around 40 dollars, it’s at a very similar price point. If I were to choose between the two, I’d put Tarte’s at the heaviest foundation, whereas IT Cosmetics’ is at a mid-point between Shape Tape and Skin Tint. I also wish Tarte’s offered a wider range of shades.