Could This Viral Dior Product be the Best Foundation Stick I’ve Ever Tried?
Towards the end of summer 2024, Dior launched Forever Skin Perfect Foundation Stick (£48 from Sephora UK /$52 from Sephora US). And the buzz online has been pretty much non-stop ever since, with makeup artists, influencers and beauty editors raving about its texture, finish and ease of use.
LA based makeup artist Nikki La Rose-Bonaldi declared on Instagram that it might be the best foundation stick she’s tried adding, “holy moly, it glides onto my skin with such ease.” While UK makeup artist and influencer Cher Webb wrote, “[it] has the most divine texture which glides onto the skin and blends so beautifully.”
Image – Courtesy of writer
Its liquid foundation equivalent, Dior Forever Skin Glow is one of my absolute favourites, so I was interested in finding out how the stick fared in comparison.
Because sometimes applying a liquid can be time consuming, messy and unnecessarily heavy. So, perhaps a stick equivalent was just what I didn’t know I was looking for.
This is the only foundation stick Dior have on the market – no pressure – so I was hopeful that this one would perform as well as the chat online said it did. Because whilst foundation sticks are quick and easy to apply, a lot of them can feel like they’re being dragged across the skin. We shall see.
Keep on reading for my honest review.
The product details
Coming in 18 shades, this foundation stick claims to provide continuous hydration, a lightweight texture and 24-hour wear. It can be used as a targeted concealer, a light to medium coverage foundation or simply for on-the-go touch ups – the choice is yours.
Apparently, it blurs the skin on application and has been described on Dior’s website as ‘skincare in a stick’. Meanwhile, the brand’s promotional TikTok promises ‘flawless skin’. A high bar has been set.
@diorbeauty Unlock flawless skin with the new Dior Forever Skin Perfect. @Lera #DiorBeauty #DiorMakeup #DiorForever
As for the finish, Dior doesn’t actually specify whether this foundation is matte or glowy – the only words used to describe it are things like ‘natural’, ‘blurred’, ‘hydrated’ and ‘soft’.
Finally, the 18 shades correlate with the shades of the Dior Forever Skin Glow. So, if you know your shade in that, then you’ll know which one to go for when buying the stick.
First impressions
Soon after you open the lid, you notice ‘that’ Dior beauty smell. Their makeup products always smell clean, fresh and slightly floral. So I should say that while some might enjoy a ‘fragranced’ foundation, others may want to avoid this one if fragrance isn’t their thing.
The suggestion online is to apply it directly onto the skin from the stick. I know some people like to swish a brush over a foundation stick first and then apply it to their skin – each to their own – but since one of the main things I’ve read about it is that the stick ‘glides’ straight on, I wanted to experience this for myself.
Image – Courtesy of writer
I did my usual skincare routine – cleanse, hyaluronic acid serum and mattifying moisturiser (I have oily, acne-prone skin so could do without any extra shine). I chose not to use a primer as I wanted to see how the foundation stick got on without it.
I ran the stick twice over each cheek, onto my chin, forehead and down my nose. And yes. The word ‘glide’ is highly relevant. Wow. It’s not a slippery glide, just a very comfortable, steady one.
Usually the first thing I look for at this stage is whether I’ve got the right shade. But in this case, I was at an advantage as I already knew which shade was right for me thanks to my love for the Dior Forever Skin Glow. I am fair-medium, neutral toned so the shade ‘2N’ is perfect for me. I’ll have to go up a few numbers when summer hits though.
Dior Forever Skin Perfect Foundation Stick swatch. Image – Courtesy of writer
So after the infamous ‘glide’, I blended the product in with my foundation brush (I use the Real Techniques Face Blending Brush).
As a slightly cynical beauty editor of almost 20 years, I’m not prone to being blown away, but I honestly can’t tell you how impressed I was. Not only was it soft and flexible to move around my skin, but it also looked incredibly flattering straight away. Not heavy or cakey.
I’m always sceptical of brands that use the word ‘blur’ as I feel it’s a little far-fetched but in this case, ‘blurred’ is exactly how my skin looked. The formula just sort of…melts. It disappears into the skin with a quick swish of the brush – poof!
Once it was all blended in, my skin looked even, fresh, natural and smooth. There was no particular glow, nor any particular matte finish either. It was just my skin – a blurred, even, younger looking version.
It’s not a thick consistency and it doesn’t feel heavy. In fact, my skin doesn’t feel like it’s got much on it when I touch it after applying the stick.
It’s a very light veil of coverage but at the same time, it’s not sheer. I can’t do sheer because of acne scarring and a few spots on my chin so I need ample coverage. But the stick formula helped to cover them up easily and quickly without masking my skin completely.
That’s one of the (many) things I enjoyed the most about it – the ease and speed of it. One minute I had slightly blotchy, spotty skin and within literal seconds it had been completely evened out in the most natural way. First impressions? Pretty damn excellent.
My results
I talked about that ‘wait…what?’ moment people have on Instagram when trying something new in a review I wrote about the Il Makiage foundation last year, and the fact that it didn’t happen for me. Well it did with the Dior Forever Skin Perfect Foundation Stick.
And – embarrassing confession. I actually get excited about applying my makeup in the mornings now. Because it has raised my confidence tenfold and saves me a hell of a lot of time too. Even my son commented on how early we’ve been for school recently.
It’s also worth noting that this stick doesn’t just make my skin look good for an hour. It lasts throughout the day, as does its subtle hydration. I usually have to do some sort of touch-up halfway through the day, but there really is no need with this.
Image – Courtesy of writer
I mean, if I’m going somewhere special or meeting a friend, I will probably add a few more dots of it to my notoriously tricky areas (around my nose and on my chin) but that’s just vanity. I could easily get away with not adding any more product for the whole day and my skin would still look even and fresh.
I’ll never understand the whole ’24-hour wear’ thing. Why would anyone want to have makeup on their face for a whole 24 hours unless they were planning an all-nighter?! But hey, no judgement.
The longest I’ve worn this is around 12 hours, but as I went to remove it after this time, I noticed my base still had plenty of life left in it so maybe 24 hours isn’t completely out of the question, given the longevity of this formula.
And, crucially for me, it doesn’t make my skin oily or shiny. My skin stays balanced, hydrated and healthy looking. This is a really nice change for someone who is constantly worrying that people can see their reflection in her face (oh the oily skin struggle is real people)!
What other users are saying
I was intrigued to see a few comments saying the Dior Forever Skin Perfect Foundation Stick made their skin greasy. One user on Reddit says, “not sure how I feel about this one. It’s a little shiny for my liking.”
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community on Reddit
Whilst another replied, “I bought this last week too. I’m still undecided.”
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Another said, “it is beautiful for two hours. Absolutely incredible blurring, yet somehow still skin-like finish. Unfortunately I am oily as heck and it starts breaking down quickly.”
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As someone with a very oily skin type, I am surprised – and relieved – that I didn’t experience the same oiliness. Perhaps the solution is to reassess the skincare you’re applying underneath. My moisturiser is oil-free and matte so this might be helping to dumb down my shininess a little.
Lots of people are happy with the shade range and how flattering it is. “Gorgeous texture, colour match was perfect!” says Laura K on the Dior website.
“Perfect colour tone for me. Easy to apply and blend,” writes Christal.
“This was a great color match for my complexion, and forgiving. It definitely covered some redness and was virtually weightless,” says Sprkifly on Sephora UK.
Overall value for money
£48/$52 is a lot to spend, particularly if you’re taking a punt on your shade and it’s unreturnable once opened. I get it. And I strongly believe more companies should allow you to return a product if you’ve bought the wrong shade (Trinny London is fabulous for this).
However, if you do happen to get this one right, you love the way it glides, you love the finish and it does everything you want it to do – covers spots, gives an even, fresh finish and balances out oily skin in my case – then it’s worth the investment. I will definitely be purchasing this again.
Foundation sticks don’t typically go down very quickly. It depends on how hard you press! But you don’t need to press hard with this one at all, just swoosh it lightly around your skin and it’ll give you plenty of coverage (and shelf life).
If you’re unsure about your shade and you don’t want to take the risk, I recommend going in store and asking for a sample first. £48/$52 is a lot of money to spend on a mistake.
If you buy the correct shade but you don’t like the formula, you could try adjusting your skincare slightly. If you find it too dry, mix it in with a bit of facial oil and apply it with your fingers.
The takeaway
Well hallelujah! Finally, a foundation stick I wholeheartedly love. It reminds me a little of the Max Factor Pan Stick which I used to drag around my skin before college in the early 00s. Only this one is less drying and doesn’t drag in the slightest. It glides.
It leaves my skin hydrated but not greasy. My skin is left looking naturally even, and my bad bits are blurred out on application. It’s smooth, creamy, and oh-so speedy to use too. A massive winner in my eyes and, for once, I’m so glad I listened to the hype.
The best foundation stick I’ve ever tried? Yes. Hands down.
Get Glowing!
