I’m going to be frank; I’m very rarely raving about a No7 product. The brand has been a mainstay in my mum’s makeup bag for decades, so I would dip in and try things, but I think as I started exploring with the wealth of skincare and makeup brands out there, No7 took a back seat.
However, there’s no denying that the brand knows how to craft a good base product, as it usually mixes in some of its skincare prowess too. And the new Restore & Renew Serum Foundation is no different. The brand describes it as a "multi-benefit” foundation thanks to its ingredient credentials, which include collagen peptide technology, pro-retinol, ceramide complex and vitamin C alongside the SPF 30. With 18 colours to choose from, the shade range is more limited than some other mid-range foundations, but these 18 shades are divided equally between light, medium and deep skin tones.
Keeks before application.
I went for the shade Amber, and it’s my perfect winter hue. The finish is light, but you can definitely build up coverage to medium if you prefer a fuller look. I applied it with my buffing brush of choice, the By Joyadenuga Foundation Brush ( £18), and it blended so well. Evening out my skin tone is the main thing I look for from my base products, and this foundation does this really well. Sometimes when you have different skin tones across your face, you find yourself having to match one part, and the other can end up looking a bit like a mask, whereas this is so sheer it can be blended and layered up where appropriate.
You can tell it has skincare qualities, as the texture is really serum-like and smooths on top of other products really well. In terms of lasting power, as it’s a natural-looking finish, if you have oily skin, you’ll need to powder your T-zone throughout the day. I had to do this, but luckily, with translucent powder, there was no caking when I layered it on.
Keeks after applying Restore & Renew Serum Foundation.
I’m honestly so impressed with this foundation it’s made me curious to try more from the No7 range… without pinching stuff from my mum’s makeup bag.
7 of the Best Serum Foundations
A hyper-lightweight skin tint that gives sheer coverage. Perfect for a dewy, subtle finish and available in 12 stretchable shades.
This foundation contains hyaluronic acid, vitamin C and salicylic acid to help with moisture retention and skin texture. It has a medium-to-full finish, so a little blends a long way, and it's is available in 42 shades.
If you have dry skin, you’ll love this skin tint from Milk Makeup, as it makes the skin look ultra hydrated. It has a very dewy finish, so stay away if you have oily skin. Available in 14 shades.
There are 21 shades of this lightweight foundation from the cult skincare brand. It’s perfect for days when you want a little coverage to perk the skin up but nothing that shows you’re wearing any makeup at all.
Hyaluronic acid helps with the plumping action for this serum foundation if you’re concerned about fine lines. This smooths skin and leaves you with a light, dewy finish with up to medium coverage. The only down side it the range is limited to just nine shades.
The texture of this is really interesting and takes some getting used to, as you have to mix the pigment in the serum with a brush before you apply it to your face. It’s beyond sheer but creates a lovely luminosity on the skin and is available in 14 stretchable shades.
Foundations that deliver dewy skin but also medium to full coverage are hard to come by, but this is exactly what this base gives you. There are 20 shades to choose from across five skin-tone intensities.
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