You remember the old formula—that dewy, “I just woke up like this” radiance that made people ask if you got facials. The new Chanel Les Beiges Healthy Glow Foundation is… different. And not in a subtle way.
The real tea: they swapped the liquid-y, light-reflecting finish for something that sits more like a second skin. It’s prettier up close but less luminous from across the room—which defeats the whole “healthy glow” promise, doesn’t it?
This is the “reformulated” version of a cult classic—$60 for 30ml of SPF 30 foundation in 10 shades (still too few, Chanel). The brand claims it’s “more natural” and “more breathable.” I call it: safer for Zoom calls, less fun in real life.
Micro-pigments
They diffuse light instead of reflecting it—so your skin looks smooth, not glazed.
SPF 30 (mineral)
Zinc-based. No white cast if you blend fast, but it dries quicker than the old formula—work in sections.
Photo: Evangeline Sarney / Unsplash
They swapped the old oil-heavy blend for a water-silicone hybrid. It’s lighter but less forgiving on dry patches—and the glow factor dropped by about 40%.
- Zinc Oxide: SPF that doubles as a mattifier (shiny girls beware)
- Glycerin: Hydration that sits on top, not sinks in
- Rose Flower Water: Fragrance that smells divine but does zero for glow
- Silica: Blurs pores but can cling to texture if you’re not moisturized
Photo: pmv chamara / Unsplash
Out of the tube, it’s a runny serum—almost watery. On skin, it sets in 20 seconds to a demi-matte finish that feels like nothing. No tackiness. No slip. I missed the old slickness.
Week two: I realized it settles into smile lines by hour four. And the “healthy glow” is more “healthy sheen”—you need a highlighter to get that old lit-from-within look. Disappointing for the price.
Photo: Nick Noel / Unsplash
After three weeks: my skin didn’t break out (good), but it also didn’t look like I was glowing (bad). The finish is more “polished” than “radiant”—which is fine if you’re a matte person. I’m not.
Photo: Marek Studzinski / Unsplash
The new formula is a perfectly fine everyday foundation—for someone who doesn’t want the glow. But if you’re here for the cult-classic radiance? This reformulation missed the mark.