
What is Deep Dive? I’m glad you asked! It’s a new series in which I’m reviewing a bunch of Estée Lauder Double Wear products from their permanent collection. Let’s find out what’s good! ?
Back in the day (like, when people carried pagers and weren’t at all trying to be ironic about it, and beards on hipsters weren’t ubiquitous), my skin was Oil Slick City. Now, my face resides in a rustic hamlet called Oh So Dry It Hurts, although it’ll visit its former residence every once in a while.
Does it do this because it has nothing better to do? Or, does it do it because it thinks it’s funny (haha!) to torment me? Or, maybe it just goes there because it’s hot.
Estée Lauder Double Wear Nude Water Fresh Makeup SPF 30 ($42 for a 1-oz. bottle)
A couple weeks ago, during a blisteringly hot week in Novato when my forehead produced enough grease to fry a whole chicken, it was clear to me that I needed to change my foundation game to better handle the heat. Luckily, the Double Wear Dream Team over at at Estée Lauder cooked up Double Wear Nude Water Fresh Makeup SPF 30, an oil-free AND oil-controlling liquid foundation that’s both lightweight (it’s runny like a serum foundation) and long-lasting.
“Real-skin flawless. Real protection. 24-hour staying power. Waterlight. This fluid, long-wear makeup feels like you have nothing on. Moves comfortably with your skin. Looks fresh, natural, healthy, even-toned. With SPF 30 and anti-oxidants, it’s your invisible defense against environmental damage from UV rays and pollution. Instantly and continuously hydrates with a moisture complex of red fruit extracts, including watermelon, lychee seed and apple. In shades for all skintones.”
Back in my oily-skinned heyday, the only real way to lock down shine was with a heavy layer of matte, caked-on makeup, but it’s a totally different story now. Now, there’s no reason why oil-prone peeps can’t get comfy coverage that feels like they aren’t wearing anything at all.

Not only does it smooth pores and even out freckles, pigmentation and blemishes, but the satin finish looks lifelike and real, as opposed to looking like skin that’s suffocating under a thick layer of spackling paste, and the SPF makes it perfect for summer days.

INGREDIENTS
Active Ingredients: Octinoxate 5.0%, Titanium Dioxide 3.1%, Zinc Oxide 2.2% Ingredients: Water\Aqua\Eau, Methyl Trimethicone, Phenyl Trimethicone, Silica, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Dimethicone, Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Butylene Glycol, Dimethicone Silylate, Lauryl Peg-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Glycerin, Polysilicone-11, Litchi Chinensis Seed Extract, Peg-10 Dimethicone, Laminaria Saccharina Extract, Polyglutamic Acid, Lens Esculenta (Lentil) Fruit Extract, Pyrus Malus (Apple) Fruit Extract, Thermus Thermophillus Ferment, Citrullus Vulgaris (Watermelon) Fruit Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Lactate, Sodium Chloride, Glycine Soja (Soybean) Protein, Tocopheryl Acetate, Zinc Stearate, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Pca, Lecithin, Dimethicone/Peg-10/15 Crosspolymer, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Laureth-7, Triethyl Citrate, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Hexylene Glycol, Silica Dimethyl Silylate, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Calcium Chloride, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Potassium Sorbate, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Xanthan Gum, Dextrin, Disodium Edta, Bht, Phenoxyethanol, [+/- Titanium Dioxide (Ci 77891), Iron Oxides (Ci 77492), Iron Oxides (Ci 77491), Iron Oxides (Ci 77499)]
There are four light shades, five medium and three deep, and the one I wear is Honey Bronze, which is the darkest of the medium shades.
Double Wear Nude Water Fresh might not be as Fenty as other foundations, but I think there are enough choices for most people to find a match.
Estée Lauder Double Wear Nude Water Fresh Makeup SPF 30 is similar to these serum-style foundations…
- Shiseido Synchro Skin Lasting Liquid Foundation Broad Spectrum SPF 20: Double Wear Water Fresh Nude has a wider color selection and better oil control.
- Diorskin Nude Air Serum Foundation: Double Wear is more matte than the Dior and has slightly more coverage. But Dior is a better choice for dry skin.
- MAC Studio Waterweight SPF 30 Foundation: Double Wear has significantly more coverage; the MAC one, like Diorskin Nude, is better for dry skin.
I’m into it, and during the next heat wave, I’ll be wearing it with a flirty, flippy summer dress. 🙂 It’ll be more comfortable than a strapless bra — that’s for sure!
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
Hi,
Would you call this a full or medium coverage? Also, since there seem to be so many Double Wear foundations, if you are looking for topic ideas, maybe you could do a comparison of all of them? I did like how you compared this to other foundations.
I hate the heat, so you have my sympathy.
I got a sample a few months ago and really loved it! I want to buy it next time I have a chance to catch it on sale. Do you know if EL ever does good sales on their website?
Thanks for the review! I used to do the heavy, matte foundation back in the day too and I’m glad there are more options now. With the humidity where I live, it’s difficult to keep the grease to a minimum. I always keep blotting paper on hand, but I’ll have to check out this foundation too!
My t-zone is always pretty “glowy” but my under-eye area is definitely Sahara-ville. Even lightweight, dewy options (Becca Aqua Luminous, NARS Pure Radiant) seem to catch on every dry spot. Thank goodness for Tarte, which seems to be my skin’s favorite option. Though I did just pick up another cushioned compact from Amore Pacific for the SPF 50.
We still have an ongoing heatwave, and there are no signs of it stopping anytime soon, so some comfortable foundation that helps control oil is much needed. I only know the original Double Wear, and while it is good at oil control, it is far from comfortable.