Is new Neutrogena Hydro Boost Hydrating Tint as fun as…sliding down the Summit Plummet at Disney’s Blizzard Beach or hiking to Wailua Falls on Kauai and frolicking in the secluded pool?
Hmm…maybe! It’s fun if your idea of fun is having your foundation look completely natural.
If I saw a friend, and he/she was wearing this foundation, I don’t know if I’d be able to tell. I’d just admire how even-toned and dewy his/her skin looked. Then I’d ask their secret!
Ultra smooth…
Hydro Boost is an oil-free tint/foundation with hydrating hyaluronic acid to plump skin for up to 24 hours, but ya know…the texture is the real special sauce. It’s fluffy, mousse-like and incredibly easy to blend. When I use the over-sized doe-foot applicator to dot it on my face, then blend it in with my fingers, it glides and creates a thin, even layer, which is then undetectable, even on my cray-cray dry skin.
Natural coverage
Essentially, it’s a lightweight medium-coverage tinted moisturizer with the slightest of slight dewy finishes (there’s no pearl, though). You can build the coverage up to medium, but even then, it still looks natural.
Like right now, I have a dark spot on my chin from a pimple that dried out a while back, and when I wear my shade, Honey, the spot isn’t completely hidden, but it’s less visible.
Same goes for the uneven areas on my cheeks. Hydro Boost evens out the darker and lighter areas so that my skin looks uniform, but it doesn’t look overly uniform… You can still see my freckles and whatnot.
It also blurs my pores ever so slightly, layers well under powder, and stays intact without going patchy as the day turns to night.
The verdict
Honestly, I can’t believe this is drugstore! It performs like a premium foundation — like something from YSL or Guerlain. It’s just so good, so yeah! Get thee a bottle, and one for your BFF, because sharing is caring.
For $14.99, it’s pricey for drugstore, but overall I think it’s a bargain, and you won’t have to sell your first born (which in my case would be my cat). There are 10 shades, and you can find them all now at drugstores and online.
Foxy lady
Happy Friday, my friend! 🙂 Here’s a rose for you…
When I think of red roses, I usually think of deep, almost garnet red roses, which I do like…but, to be honest, they don’t set my world on fire.
This year for Valentine’s Day, El Hub found these lovely lipstick red roses, and I just about died! The variety is called (wait for it…) Foxy Lady! — and they’re a bright, bluish red, like somebody took a tube of MAC Russian Red Lipstick, melted it down and poured it on a dozen roses.
Foxy Lady, LOL! 🙂
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
P.S. TGIF!
Chelsea says
I picked this up a month or so ago and it’s really quite wonderful! I have it in Classic Ivory, which is more neutral / yellow than pink, which is best for me. Also doesn’t make my freckles look weird.
Karen says
Hi Chelsesa,
That’s what I noticed too — it handles freckles great! I love that you can see them through the tint. Do you usually set yours with powder, or do you leave it as is?
Chris25 says
Rite Aid sometimes has 40% off sales on Neutrogena. I’ll look for Honey the next time they have a sale.
Efrain says
It’s a shame we don’t get any makeup from Neutrogena down the border that tint looks like a better option for me rather to spend in MAC Face & Body or NARS matte tinted moisturizer. I want a light base with low coverage but there aren’t many options in Mexican drugstore.
Also I’ll send you a mail, there are too many times I didn’t comment but I still want to tell you my opinion about some topics. Maybe on Sunday I’ll send it to you. Happy Friday!
Karen says
Hey Efra!
It’s always good to hear from you. Maybe one day you’ll be able to visit and we can go makeup shopping… I’ll take you to Ulta and we can go crazy. LOL!
I’ll keep a look out for your email. Hugs to you!
Ruchita says
Thanks for the review and swatches! I’m going to check this out when I go to the store this weekend. I like the idea of having something on hand for a quick, natural look.
Those roses are so pretty! What a gorgeous color. Happy Friday! 🙂
Karen says
You’re welcome, Ruchita. I hope you like this as much as I do. It’s such a great foundation for the price, and it feels lovely on skin.
What are you and the kitties up to? Poor Tabs, he’s been going outside everyday for the past few days, but now that it’s raining buckets again, he’ll be living #thatindoorlife on Saturday and Sunday.
Ruchita says
Aww, poor Tabs! Hopefully the rain lets up a little bit so he’s at least able to get some catio time. Mingus can relate!
I just recently found this YouTube channel by Paul Dinning. It has lots of videos for cats with birds and squirrels. I put it on the bit TV and it was so cute to see Mingus sitting in front of the screen.
Yes, I’m off work today! I spent time cleaning the house so I don’t have to worry about it over the weekend. It’s going to be in the 60s here, which is not normal for Ohio weather. Wish I could send some sunshine your way!
I’m taking Ella to vet this afternoon for her annual checkup. I feel bad because right now, she’s sleeping in a patch of sun and doesn’t know what’s in store!
Hope you and the family have a great weekend!
Karen says
Oh, and aren’t you taking today off?
Jane says
Wow, that tinted moisturizer looks amazing on you. How do you match a drugstore foundation to your skin tone? I am a NC20 in MAC or Warm Sand in Bobbi Brown world.
Karen says
Hey Jane,
This is long overdue, and I apologize for it, but I just wanted to say I’m very sorry for the loss of your father-in-law. If I could, I’d send you a big hug. How are you guys holding up? I’m sure it must be rough for you, and really rough for your hubby.
Susan says
I’ve seen these in a new section of the Neutrogena brand product line. This looks like something I definitely need to pick up. Thank you for the review. Has anyone tried the lipgloss that came out with this release? I have incredibly dry lips and have to be careful because some items make this worse and more noticeable. TIA for any input on this question.
Karen says
Hi Susan,
I’m wearing the gloss right now! I have a full review coming soon, but in short, they’re great. On the sheer side (which is fine with me for every day quick looks) and very moisturizing.
jenna says
this looks very similar to the clinique beyond perfecting foundation, have you tried that one karen?
Karen says
Hi Jenna,
I swatched it a while back but never did end up taking it for a test run. From what I remember, the Neutrogena has a fluffier consistency compared to the Clinique. Next time I’m at Sephora, I’ll try to get a sample to see how they compare.
jenna says
that would be great karen! Looking forward to the comparison 🙂
Tanya Dufour says
How would this work with combo/oily skin? I’m oily in my tzone.
Karen says
Hi Tanya,
You’ll probably need to set your oily areas with your favorite powder. The one that I like to use with this foundation is MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural. It’s got a skin-like finish and layers on top of the tint beautifully.
Lynne B says
Girl, thanks so much for the swatches! I have a similar skin tone so that saves me trying to guess! I’ve noticed that the cost of drugstore makeup is starting to go up. (Have you seen the prices of the drugstore cushion foundations?!) I mean, really! That’s part of the fun, being able to try out new makeup and not hand over your first born. Anyway, love reading your posts!
Rhia says
Awesome post! I might have to check these out once I decided to end my no-buy (trying it out for at least this month, going well so far). Would have been nice if it also had SPF in it.
Suzanne C says
Thanks, girl- I’ve been needing something like this! I love my MUFE HD foundation, but I don’t always want to go to Walmart or the drug store with full-face makeup, ya know? But since I’ve been sick, I have to wear something or I look like a Walking Dead extra. The colors look a little dark for me, but I’m def checking it out ASAP.
In other news, can we just take a minute to absorb the fact that Kurt Cobain would be turning 50 on Monday? Ironically, the same day I go pick up the glasses I suddenly have to wear. Next I’ll be signing up for AARP and getting a LifeAlert. #IveFallenAndICantGetUp
Mary says
I just had to try this per your rave reviews and I absolutely LOVE it!!! It is completely worth the somewhat steep price for a drugstore product. It’s the first face product that I’ve used that actually looks like my natural skin, just better! The only thing I would say is that it seems to perform as if a primer is already built into the formula. It got a little streaky over my regular primer, but the way I see it, that’s just a 2 for 1 deal : )