Jumping on Jouer

Alongside Chanel Vitalumière Aqua, Jouer Matte Moisture Tint is the one foundation I've been eager to get my hands on for quite some time. The number of base products I have is simply a waste considering I will never get through them all, but that didn't stop me from snagging a tube of Matte Moisture Tint after spotting it in pristine condition on a blog sale. What I thought was my shade, Linen, seemed to be perpetually out of stock when I searched online, so I couldn't say no when that was the exact shade on offer.

The Jouer Matte Moisture Tint is a generous 50ml, significantly more than the standard 30ml for a foundation. Not that it makes a practical difference since I struggle to finish up any foundation (I'm still trying to get through my bottle of Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum in 53 which I've had since last year and use regularly), but it does appease the part of my brain wanting value for money.

The texture of this foundation was somewhat unexpected. It's not very liquid or runny. Rather, it has an almost whipped, airy consistency, a bit like mousse but denser. Once worn, it feels extremely lightweight and works into the skin effortlessly, sinking in and becoming undetectable once blended out. I found it evened out and brightened my skin tone around all areas of the face, but does tend to cake slightly around the edges of the nose. The coverage is light-to-medium, ideal for an everyday foundation, but perhaps not for special occasions or an evening out where you want extra flawless skin.

Linen is a little too light for me (not helped by the SPF 15 which gives off that additional white cast under certain lighting), but I normally prefer to go too light than too dark, and I'm not sure how the next shade up (Nude) would fare. To create a closer match, I've been using my beloved Real Techniques Buffing Brush to apply the Jouer over my bare face, then darkening my skin slightly with a thin layer of Chanel Soleil Tan de Chanel buffed all over with a baby Ecotools kabuki brush. I also set everything with a dusting of Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder in Dim Light. I'm not sure if it's all that layering, but I've been experiencing better than average lasting power compared with my other go-to daytime foundations. Usually my foundation has largely slid off my face by the end of the day, looking far from fresh with greasiness and areas of redness peeking through. I'm not saying that the Jouer looks exactly the same as after I put it on in the morning, but it definitely does its darndest to hang on in there.

The two adjacent words "matte" and "moisture" seem to be an oxymoron, but I suppose the intention was to connote superior oil control combined with a still somewhat glowy finish that doesn't make the skin look dry and painted on. I'd be inclined to say that this foundation delivers in both respects. My T-zone is less shiny 2-3 hours into the day (normally the time I have to do a major blot), but I wouldn't describe the foundation as looking typically matte on the skin. It does start with a slightly more velvet/satin finish, but becomes more glowy and radiant as time goes on, without ever crossing into greaseball territory.

I had high expectations of Matte Moisture Tint, and they've mostly been met. If only the shade was more spot on for me, it'd be near perfect. Having said that, the fact it's a tad too light is a major inconvenience, as every single time I have to either mix it with a darker foundation (which I haven't yet tried), or apply something over it to make it darker. I could potentially get away with wearing it alone, but I'd be paranoid of looking unnatural and noticeably the wrong colour. The importance of shade matching when it comes to foundation cannot be overstated, but remains a frequently frustrating endeavour. Still, it's worth the extra effort to reap the benefits of the foundation's other qualities, including better staying power than most and how it wears off in a smooth and softly radiant way.