Review: Flower Beauty Get Real Serum Foundation

Hi friends!

We’ve come to my last review of 2020, and I’m happy to report it’s a good one! Who doesn’t love a good foundation review here in beauty blogger land?! I know I sure do. So let’s dive into the discussion on the Flower Beauty Get Real Serum Foundation. I believe this is the third foundation launch we’ve seen from this brand – my first complexion purchase from them – and I’ve been eyeing it since it launched this fall. (In fact I listed it as one of my top five new and exciting fall launches in this September post.) So back in late October when I heard that CVS has started to carry Flower, I quite literally ran over there to grab this foundation!

Why was I so drawn to this launch? Firstly, any complexion product with the word “serum” in it has my attention these days since it usually translates to something that’s both lightweight and hydrating – two sweet spots for me when it comes to bases. Secondly, I’m a big, big fan of the quality of Flower Beauty products, which I’ve spoken about several times here on the blog. While they definitely land on the higher end of the price spectrum at the drugstore, I just think their stuff is really good and high-performing. Lastly, I also wanted to see how this stood up to my beloved ILIA Super Serum Skin Tint; so while this is not a direct comparison post I will speak to some similarities or differences that I’ve noticed between these two products whenever I can.

Let’s get started!

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THE DEETS ON THE FLOWER BEAUTY GET REAL SERUM FOUNDATION

Our Get Real Serum Foundation conceals and smooths skin leaving you with a natural-looking, radiant finish. The light to medium buildable coverage is an adaptable formula that is suited to match a wide range of skin tones. Infused with a hydrating weightless antioxidant serum blend to help nourish and care for skin as you wear it, our formula doesn’t settle into lines and skin appears youthful and healthy.

It features lavender flower water that brightens and refreshes the skin while olive oil, a natural anti-inflammatory, provides antioxidants and ultimate glowing hydration.

Cruelty-Free. Vegan. $15.00. Find at CVS, Ulta, Walmart, Kroger, Superdrug, Chemist Warehouse.

– Flower Beauty Website

 

MY THOUGHTS ON PACKAGING

This has a lightweight frosted plastic bottle with a pump and cap; totally user-friendly and not really messy at all. I’m a huge fan of a pump when it comes to dispensing liquid or gel textures because I hate leakage and wasted product; so that really excites me with this foundation. I also think the amount of product dispensed in each pump is perfect; not too much, not too little, it’s just right.

For comparison, the ILIA Super Serum Skin Tint has a pipette or dropper delivery system compared to the Flower’s pump and cap. Some may say that a dropper is messier than a pump, but to me it all depends on just how liquid the foundation texture is. Personally I’m OK with both the Flower and ILIA packaging, and don’t really prefer one over the other.

RATING: 5 / 5 ⭐️

MY THOUGHTS ON APPLICATION

This has a pure liquid texture, very similar to the ILIA, that needs to be shaken well before dispensing. On a day-to-day basis I apply one pump all over my face and use my (clean) fingers to spread out the product. I then go in with my aDesign Professional Blush Brush – which has dense, synthetic bristles – to gently stipple the product into my skin; if you have a beauty sponge that will work a treat I bet. I’ve devised this method over some weeks of trial and error and have found it’s the most effective in getting that seamless blend. You really need to push this foundation into your skin, rather than swipe or rub it in; otherwise it tends to just sit on the top of the skin, rather than blend in.

I will occasionally apply two layers of the Get Real Serum Foundation, and have found the texture builds very nicely and evenly on itself since it’s so lightweight. No pilling, bunching or patchiness.

For comparison, the ILIA is a little less fussy when it comes to application despite the similarities in texture. I can use any means I want, fingers or brush, to fully apply and blend the product into my skin.

RATING: 4 / 5 ⭐️

MY THOUGHTS ON COVERAGE

Overall I do agree with the buildable, light-to-medium coverage claim. Apply one pump or layer and you’ll get something very light coverage. Apply two pumps or layers and you’ll get something that’s more light-to-medium, etc, etc. I haven’t tried layering any more than two pumps, but I bet you could achieve a solid medium coverage if you really wanted to. I always prefer sheer-to-light coverage on a daily basis, so one pump is perfect for me. But I always appreciate the ability to customize coverage levels.

I’d say that the Flower formula is more buildable than the ILIA, just for reference. I haven’t been able to achieve anything more than a light coverage with the ILIA.

RATING: 5 / 5 ⭐️

 

 

MY THOUGHTS ON FINISH

The Flower Beauty Get Real Serum Foundation definitely has a dewy, radiant finish which I love. It’s not insanely radiant – you won’t look like a sweaty mess – it’s more of a natural radiance, if that makes sense. There’s no shimmer or anything sparkly in sight. It does give some sense of moisturization to the skin, but I wouldn’t say it’s incredibly nourishing. If you have normal skin or drier skin like I do, you may want to layer this over your skincare or your favorite hydrating primer to really boost the hydration level.

The ILIA is dewier in finish, and much more nourishing and life-giving to the skin. It’s a true skincare-makeup hybrid that boasts a holy trifecta of yummy ingredients like niacinamide, hyaluronic acid and squalane.

RATING: 4 / 5 ⭐️

MY THOUGHTS ON SHADE / SHADE RANGE

I have the shade Porcelain, the second lightest shade in the range which has a more neutral undertone. I always struggle with foundation matching (who doesn’t) but I think this shade and undertone suit me quite well with no weird cast. There are 16 shades in total in the Get Real range with a pretty good distribution between light, medium, dark to deep-dark.

It’s quite comparable to the ILIA Super Serum range actually, which has 18 total shades. I think the difference when it comes to shades and shade-matching here is that the ILIA website is more comprehensive and helpful; it describes each shade/undertone and provides a matching service. The Flower Beauty website doesn’t offer any of that from what I can see.

RATING: 4.5 / 5 ⭐️

MY THOUGHTS ON WEAR

On my dry, dehydrated skin this liquidy serum foundation wears quite well without much fading or patching, but do keep in mind that I haven’t yet tested this in hot, humid weather conditions. (I tend to wear my makeup about 10 hours a day, for reference.) The one thing I have noticed is that it will occasionally cling to little dry patches around my nose; it doesn’t look horrible or terribly noticeable but it still manages to annoy me a bit!

However, I do think that the thin, lightweight texture of the Get Real Serum Foundation is optimal if you want/need to wear a foundation under a mask since it doesn’t add any heaviness to the skin, nor is the texture overly sticky or tacky. I’ve worn this multiple times under a mask and really haven’t noticed much wear, but do take into consideration that I only wear masks very briefly throughout the day.

RATING: 4.5 / 5 ⭐️

 

MY THOUGHTS ON PRICE

Like I mentioned in the intro to this post, Flower Beauty is a more premium drugstore brand so while you may be able to get a foundation for under $10.00 from Wet n’ Wild or Rimmel, the Get Real Serum Foundation will run you $15.00 for 30mL. To me that’s still quite affordable but of course you may feel differently. But for $15.00, I think this foundation performs very well. I really have no complaints with the price. If you use just a pump like I do, it will probably last you quite a while too.

For reference, the ILIA Super Serum is much more luxury in price – it’s $46.00 for 30mL – so it’s really not fair to compare them in this way. They are not meant to sit in the same category.

RATING: 5 / 5 ⭐️

FINAL THOUGHTS

I really like the Flower Beauty Get Real Serum Foundation, and if you like lightweight liquid bases that offer buildable coverage, radiance and some hydration you’ll probably like it too. It’s a perfect everyday foundation that’s affordable and overall pretty easy to use. Just remember my application tip to push or stipple the product into the skin, rather than swipe.

Do I think it’s a dupe for the ILIA Super Serum Skin Tint? Not 100%, but it’s a similar experience on the skin. So if you don’t want to spend almost $50.00 on that, get the one from Flower Beauty. But just know that it’s not as nourishing and luxurious-feeling as the ILIA.

 

I have one more post scheduled for the year, which will be coming to you guys next Monday: my ‘Best of’ product list for 2020. I’m super excited to share with you all what I loved the most throughout this crappy year, and I hope you’ll come back and join me for that! In the meantime, have a very Merry Christmas (if you celebrate, that is)!

Stay healthy, and stay sane! xo Erica

 

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