Foundation Quest: ZA True White Liquid Foundation OC0W Swatches & Review

Provided for review

Hey lovelies,

It's about time we had another look at the Foundation Quest, huh? ZA were kind enough to provide me with a few of their foundations and I've been busily testing them for a while now. The first one I have to show you is the True White Liquid Foundation. Spoilers - it's my favourite from their range!

As a reminder, here's what I'm looking for in my ideal foundation:
  • Medium-full coverage
  • Doesn't clog pores (non comedogenic)
  • Lasts all day
  • Is a good match for my skin tone (obvs)
  • Doesn't oxidise
  • Doesn't emphasise skin texture - by this I mean settling into lines, making dry patches resemble the Sahara
  • Moves with my face - ever had your foundation form cracks along your expression lines? Do not want.
  • Is oil free (my skin type is combination/oily with some dehydration issues, so it's been suggested that I opt for oil free foundations.)
I haven't mentioned cost because although I'd obviously love not to pay an arm and a leg, at the end of the day if the formula is right for me I am prepared to pay a bit more.

Foundation Quest: ZA True White Liquid Foundation OC0W Swatches & Review



Foundation Quest: ZA True White Liquid Foundation OC0W Swatches & Review

Foundation Quest: ZA True White Liquid Foundation OC0W Swatches & Review

The True White Liquid Foundation comes in glass bottle with a pump. The hourglass shape toward the top of the bottom is a unique touch and is quite good to grip too! It contains 30ml, which I am discovering is pretty much the standard amount for foundations, and retails for just $25.00. That's a pretty good price for NZ, where foundations from comparable drugstore/pharmacy brands like L'Oreal or Revlon can easily set you back $40.

Here's what True White Liquid Foundation claims:

Spotless Brightening Powder and Poreless Powder create Pearly White Skin. Contains Vitamins C & E derivatives, minerals and hyaluronic acid for skincare. Its base formula leaves skin feeling satiny, smooth and bright.

I have the lightest shade, OC0W, which has a yellow base. There are six shades altogether in the range, five being yellow based and one being pink based.

Foundation Quest: ZA True White Liquid Foundation OC0W Swatches & Review

Swatched on bare skin under daylight bulbs

Foundation Quest: ZA True White Liquid Foundation OC0W Swatches & Review

Before & after ZA True White Liquid Foundation OC0W

Foundation Quest: ZA True White Liquid Foundation OC0W Swatches & Review

And with the rest of my makeup including concealer - FOTD here

True White Liquid Foundation delivers medium, somewhat buildable coverage. I think I could get it to full coverage if I layered on enough but due to the lightweight, runny formula, I think I'd need to use quite a lot. Instead, I prefer to conceal where needed and then set with powder. 

It blends and sits well on the skin and is forgiving of dry patches, even without primer upon first application - I prefer a dampened blender sponge but fingers work fine too. The formula reminds me quite a bit of Estee Lauder Perfectionist Youth-Infusing Makeup (reviewed here) and with a retail price that is $55 cheaper than Perfectionist, I like to alternate between them - makes the tears at the lowering level in my bottle of Perfectionist flow a bit less often.

I experience some subtle separation and settling into pores after five hours wear and this gradually increases towards the end of wear, which is about eight and half hours. This didn't seem to change whether or not I used primers and setting powders, but the setting powders helped to keep shine at bay - without them I'd find my t-zone getting shiny after four or five hours.

OC0W is a good match for my skin, but with just six shades, others may find it to be more difficult to find a match. I haven't had any problems with True White Liquid Foundation clogging pores or otherwise causing any skin issues but I haven't noticed any skincare benefits from using it either. Perhaps I just haven't been using it often enough? I do wonder about the validity of the skincare benefits many foundations claim. What do you think about them?

What I liked:
  • Smoothes over skin nicely
  • Doesn't appear cakey
  • Doesn't oxidise on me
  • Is forgiving of dry patches
  • Comes with a pump
  • Comparatively low price
What I didn't like:
  • I see a little separation after 5 hours wear, worsening after eight and half hours wear
  • Small shade range
  • T-zone becomes shiny after 4-5 hours
Where to buy:

What do you think of this foundation? Are you on a quest for the perfect foundation too?

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Lani

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