Ariana Grande’s R.E.M. Beauty Sweetener Foundation flooded my FYP with girls doing that half-face swipe test. Looked flawless in 15-second clips.
But nobody showed what it looked like at hour 8. Or after a lunch salad. So I tested it for three weeks straight — no primer, no setting spray, just me and this pump.
It’s $30 for 1 oz. Medium-buildable coverage. The claim: “sweat-proof, transfer-resistant, lasts 24 hours.” Bold for a bottle that smells faintly like watermelon Jolly Ranchers.
The Pump
Thick, creamy, almost mousse-like. One pump covers your whole face — two if you want full glam.
The Finish
Satin. Not matte, not dewy. That “I just moisturized” look that photographs well but clings to dry patches if you skip prep.
The Shade Range
22 shades. Fair to deep. The undertones lean neutral-warm, so cool-toned girls might struggle.
The formula leans into skincare-bait — hyaluronic acid for hydration, vitamin E for antioxidant protection. But the real star is dimethicone, which gives that slip and blur effect. It’s basically a silicone veil that smooths pores on contact.
- Hyaluronic Acid: Holds 1000x its weight in water — keeps it from cracking
- Vitamin E: Prevents oxidation so it doesn’t turn orange by noon
- Dimethicone: The blurring agent that fills fine lines
- Titanium Dioxide: SPF 20 — enough for your commute, not a beach day
First pump felt like whipped cream on my skin — thick, almost too thick. It sets in 90 seconds, so you have to work fast or it drags. I used damp sponge, and it sheered out nicely, but fingers left streaks.
Week two I got lazy. Applied over sunscreen with no primer. It separated on my T-zone by hour 4 — weird little dots of pigment pooling in my pores. Week three with primer? Held strong for 7 hours before fading at my chin.
My redness? 70% covered in one layer. My laugh lines? Didn’t settle into them until hour 6. But my oily zones needed blotting by 2pm — this is not a mattifier.
It’s a good foundation for dry-skinned girls who want that “I woke up like this” finish. But the 24-hour claim is marketing BS — you’ll need a touch-up by dinner.