Is Vieve’s Viral Skin Nova Complexion Balm Too Good to Be True? I Find Out
Main Image – Vieve
With 1.3m followers on Instagram, and 7.8m likes on TikTok, makeup artist and founder of Vieve, Jamie Genevieve is a social media and YouTube star. So when I heard about the launch of her new Vieve Skin Nova Complexion Balm (£34), having never had the fortune of trying any other Vieve products before, I was keen to try it out.
If Jamie’s tutorials and images online are anything to go by, this Complexion Balm should give my usual favourite base products a good run for their money. So did it? Keep reading to find out.
The product details
This 30ml tube promises to be filled with a ‘powerhouse of skincare ingredients’, including polyglutamic acid for hydration, niacinamide for evening out the skin tone and vegan collagen amino acids to plump up the skin.
It also promises to be easy to build, leave a second-skin finish and it comes in 20 shades which, apparently, ‘adapt seamlessly to your skin tone’.
First impressions
When I squeezed out a bit of the formula onto the back of my hand, I was met with a smooth-looking liquid – not too runny, not too stiff. Just how I like it.
Blending it onto my hand, I noticed that despite being called a ‘balm’ this would actually give me way more coverage than any other balms I had tried before, which have typically been quite sheer. And, for someone who likes her coverage, this was great news.
I applied a blob to each cheek, as well as my forehead and chin and realised, as I was blending it in with my fingers, that I had applied way too much. This stuff was way thicker than it looked, and I had massively messed this up.
Once I’d started again, with a lot less product this time, I really enjoyed the texture on my skin. It’s quite slow to blend in but the word that springs to mind is ‘sturdy’. It feels a little heavier than I usually enjoy but, for once, it didn’t feel like this was a bad thing.
Image – Courtesy of writer
My skin didn’t feel clogged up or weighed down, it just felt like this formula meant business in the hydration and coverage department. Which got another tick from me.
Once one layer had gone on, I tested out Vieve’s theory of it being easy to build and, sure enough, it layered up nicely. Although I didn’t really need another one if I’m honest as the coverage was ample. You get a good idea of the coverage and finish in the video below.
@its_staceylouise trying on the NEW @vievemuse Skin Nova Complexion Balm ? launching 29th August!! ? one of the main reason I love this, is that it is completely weightless on the skin, I haaaaate the feeling of make up so this is an absolute dream! it’s as it describes, it’s a balmy texture & it just melts into the skin! I love that the coverage is customisable, I’ve tried it as more of a light coverage & I’ve also tried it more full coverage so it’s basically all I’m going to be using as it’s really versatile!! I’m an oily girl but I am dehydrated too, however this lasts really well! I’d say the finish is more of a skin like finish, not too glowy but not too matte, so suitable for all skin types! I knew I was going to love this, @jamiegenevieve I’m still waiting for you to make something I don’t love? ?? oh, plus it smells exactly like skin nova ?? wearing shade 200 thank you @vievemuse for sending me this ????? *using the Vieve foundation brush (best brush ever, I have 4 of them) ? *gifted with no obligation to post #newmakeup #vieve #makeuptutorial #makeupreview
One very important point is that I have very oily skin. So, using anything with the word ‘balm’ in it is always a bit of a red flag. However, I didn’t feel like my skin looked greasy or shiny after I had finished blending it in.
It did, as the packaging had promised, really look like a second skin. In fact, it looked better – more even, more balanced – than when I apply my usual, trusty foundation. And that’s saying something.
My results – greasy or glowy?
Well, definitely not greasy that’s for sure. In fact, my usual grease-o’clock came around (11:30am ish) and I was seriously impressed. My skin was still nicely balanced and – shock horror – I didn’t feel ashamed of my chip pan face. Amazing! The only thing I would change is the fact that it doesn’t contain SPF. (I despair!)
But back to the positives – no chip pans present. I didn’t look or feel greasy yet the coverage was still impressive, it was light in weight and my skin felt comfortably hydrated. I know it doesn’t claim to be a matte formula, but I feel like I can still wear it as one and still feel like my skin isn’t being deprived of moisture (or a bit of a glow).
Image – Courtesy of writer
What other users are saying
I’m pleased to say this product has made other users as happy as it’s made me. Hannah says, “melts into the skin perfectly. Lightweight and buildable. Such a gorgeous glow to it too. My skin has never looked so stunning!”
Natasha writes, “in love with this balm! It makes your skin look like your skin but better! I don’t like heavy matte products, so this is perfect.”
Apparently, the shade finder’s good too. “The shade it recommended is a perfect match for my skin,” says Danielle C. “I have recommended it to so many people and had lots of compliments about how my skin is looking.”
To each their own though – some people don’t enjoy using a liquid formula. “Still think I prefer my stick foundation,” says Linda S. If you’re a powder or cream base kind of girl, then definitely steer clear of this one.
And Carol says, “It made my skin look dry and seemed to highlight my fine lines. The coverage is great but it just doesn’t feel nice on my skin as a full face foundation.” I do feel like this base might be best on oilier skin tones as the finish does come up quite matte. Also, make sure you’re applying it to freshly cleansed skin as balms can feel quite uncomfortably ‘cloggy’ on the skin if applied on top of uncleansed dead skin cells.
The takeaway
I think I might be a little bit of a Vieve convert, and this is after trying just one of their products. Once you get used to the formula (it does take a while to sink in), and you’re happy with a semi-glow rather than full-on radiance, hopefully, those with an oily skin type will like what I like. Mainly, a complexion that doesn’t require a whole re-do by lunchtime.
Get Glowing!
