Sponge on Cream Makeup from Elizabeth Arden - Flawless Finish or faux finish?

Author's Rating:

Pros: Medium to Full Coverage for a truly flawless look, high quality product

Cons: TOO heavy for me! Noticeable scent, Mineral Oil as first ingredient

The Bottom Line: 
This foundation is not for me ... but someone who likes a heavier full coverage may love it!

Author's Review
I swear! Epinions is going to drive me to a split personality! I thought reviewing yet another make up product from one of my favorite cosmetic lines would be simple … I got out the Elizabeth Arden Flawless Finish Sponge on Cream Makeup compact that has been relegated to my desk drawer for emergency use and thought I’d offer up a scathing “like spackle for your face” kind of review … then the more I thought about it, I didn’t feel that was fair … and decided to go for a “not right for me, but it has it’s good points” kind of neutral review … but then I decided to apply the make up before writing the review (since it’s been a while since I last used it) … and I’m getting more of a “Wow … I’d almost forgotten what beautiful coverage it provides” kind of vibe. So this review will probably go in circles, but hopefully I can offer some useful info for anyone considering purchasing this product!

What is Elizabeth Arden Flawless Finish Sponge on Cream Makeup?

It is a sponge on thick cream foundation that you can apply with a wet or dry sponge to control the coverage. Use less water for fuller coverage or more water for sheerer coverage. Elizabeth Ardent tells us that it provides excellent coverage for complexion flaws while still allowing the skin to look natural though flawless. The moisturizing aspect of the foundation keeps it looking fresh and velvety smooth for hours with little or no touch up needed throughout the day.

My personal opinion and experience:

I've used several of Elizabeth Arden's liquid foundations and have found a favorite, a second favorite and another that I like but didn't feel was anything special. However I just couldn't resist trying something new ... especially when I had read such great Epinions on it and I could purchase it for a fraction of it's retail price from a seller on Ebay.

Right off the bat, I have to say that while I like the flawless look that this foundation provides, it is just too heavy for my personal preference. I like a lighter, more liquid foundation, such as Elizabeth Arden Flawless Finish Bare Perfection Makeup. With the Flawless Finish Sponge on Cream Makeup, even wetting the sponge and experimenting with different degrees of sogginess and blending, I just never felt that the final outcome was as light or sheer as I preferred. My face looked fine … not mask-like at all … but it just didn’t feel right.

Normally with a liquid foundation I don’t even feel the make up I’m wearing once it has set … with Elizabeth Arden Flawless Finish Sponge on Cream Makeup I can feel the makeup from the time I apply it in the morning straight through till I remove it at night. Perhaps I’m overly conscious of the feel, and other people might not even notice it, but for me this was the one deciding factor that banished the makeup from my everyday routine. When I do happen to use this foundation, I allow it to set, apply my lip and eye makeup, et.c and then lightly brush a little Elizabeth Arden Flawless Finish Pressed Powder over my entire face for a more matte finish. Those who like a dewier finish might prefer to skip the powder.

My complexion fluctuates from being almost china doll perfect some of the time to having noticeable (hormone driven?) breakouts on a monthly basis. Others don’t seem to notice this as much as I do, but I’m pretty self-conscious when I do have blemishes and I try very hard to avoid using anything that would make them more prevalent. A foundation with mineral oil listed as a main ingredient sent off huge flashing warning signs in my head. Though actually, this foundation did not seem to worsen my occasional break outs (and it covered them wonderfully without the need for a separate concealer), but it also did not help do away with them … but I don’t know that any foundation could. I’ve noticed that cheap or poor quality foundations do cause me complexion problems, so in comparison I think I can safely say that this one did not cause any complexion problems … but I’m just never 100% certain what factors are affecting my face to what degree.

I notice a distinct scent when I apply this foundation, but I don’t find it to be unpleasant and it dissipates after my makeup sets.

Who should buy this product? Who shouldn't?

Make up is such a personal thing, it's truly hard for me to answer this question. Some people will love this foundation, others won't like it at all, some may have mixed feelings about it as I do. Skin tone, skin type, age, complexion problems, expectations, desires, personal style, desired look, etc. all vary from individual to individual.

For those who can deal with the heavier feel of Flawless Finish Sponge on Cream Makeup … the coverage is beautiful and natural looking. The foundation will cover most blemishes and flaws without the need for a separate concealer. Within moments of being applied, the foundation will set and give a finish that is dewy soft but not oily or greasy looking. Of course this might depend on your original skin type. I would think it would work well on normal or dry skin, but possibly not so well for very oily skin. It's probably find for those with mature skin, and even with sensitive sking ... but it most certainly doesn't seem to be a beneficial product for those with seriously blemish prone skin, acne, or more than just occasional light break outs. (Though unfortunately those with skin problems such as these may be attracted to the full coverage this product offers!)

For those who like convenience in their cosmetics … If used directly from the compact without water the make up might be more convenient than a liquid foundation that requires a separate applicator sponge or brush. But in my opinion the hassle factor of having to keep up with a bottle of foundation and a make up sponge is just NOT that significant. Besides, if you use water with the Elizabeth Arden Flawless Finish Sponge on Cream Makeup for a sheerer coverage, then you have the added inconvenience of having to be sure to apply your foundation near a water source.

Those who have an aversion to make up with conspicuous scents or who find the smell to be vividly “old lady” like may not be able to get past the scent to give this foundation a fair try. Those who aren’t bothered by the scent or have no preformed associations may even find it pleasant.

Packaging, Availability, etc.

Flawless Finish Sponge on Cream Makeup is available at the Elizabeth Arden counter of most larger department stores, and on-line through various cosmetic retailers such as Beauty.com. First time buyers may prefer to purchase locally so that an Elizabeth Arden representative can help them choose the shade that best matches their skin tone. Repeat buyers may prefer the convenience and possible discounts of on-line purchasing, though the product is almost always priced at $28 per compact. This is a bit expensive compared to drugstore brand cosmetics, but it seems about average for foundation from most higher end cosmetic lines. On a positive note, one 0.8 ounce compact lasts a very long time … depending on how frequently you apply it, how heavily you apply it, and whether or not you use water when applying. If you try to make your purchase during one of the frequent “Gift With Purchase” events, you might end up with a new foundation as well as either a whole line of trial sized skin care products, or a whole face worth of color products such as eye shadows, lipsticks, and more. I can easily justify $20-$30 for foundation when I time my purchase to include a nice GWP set!

The color selection is less extensive with Elizabeth Arden Flawless Finish Sponge on Cream Makeup than with their liquid foundations (but I’ve found this to be true with several cosmetic lines) … however, even with fewer shades to choose from, I’ve always been able to find one that worked well for me. The basic selection includes: Porcelain Beige, Softly Beige, Warm Beige, Gentle Beige, Toasty Beige … though occasionally new shades are introduced or alternate names are used.

The compact itself is shiny black plastic which looks rather elegant when new and has a very generously sized mirror in the lid. I did find however that since I carried mine in my makeup bag in my purse, the compact became dull and scuffed long before the makeup was even half used up … and looked much less impressive. So if you are big on the "wow look at what I’m using" factor, you may want to be sure not to toss this compact in your bag with other products that might scratch it. It has a ventilated area for your sponge which keeps it conveniently handy as well as allows air circulation to keep it from becoming too icky. As with any sponge applicator, you should wash or replace it regularly to prevent oil and dirt build up as well as germ or bacteria contamination. Some Elizabeth Arden reps will even give you a new sponge if you ask nicely and are a regular customer … but otherwise you’ll probably need to purchase at least one replacement sponge before you finish off an entire compact.

Final Thoughts:

If you already know you like a cream foundation, if you are seeking very full coverage, if your skin tends to be more dry than oily, or if you want a product for occasional special occasion use ... then this might be the right one for you. I'd recommend it to those who are seeking what it offers ... but not to those who prefer a light sheer foundation.

Ingredients: Mineral Oil, Petrolatum, Isopropyl Myristate, Lanolin, Ozokerite, Polyglyceryl-10 Decaoleate, Calcium Carbonate, Kaolin, Carnauba, Phenoxyethanol, Propylparaben, Butylparaben, BHT, Fragrance, Iron Oxides, Titanium Dioxide, Zinc Oxide, May Contain:, Mica, Talc, Ultramarines, Yellow 5 Aluminum Lake