Anastasia Beverly Hills Impeccable Foundation Review: My Honest Wear Test

At A Glance

Shop: Anastasia Beverly Hills Impeccable Blurring Second-Skin Matte Foundation, $79 at Sephora Australia and Adore Beauty

I am currently searching for a new holy grail full-coverage foundation after the Beautyblender Bounce Foundation was discontinued.

That formula set a high bar for me, so I have been testing new releases to find something with convincing coverage, a matte finish, and enough longevity to make it through a proper day.

The Anastasia Beverly Hills Impeccable Blurring Second-Skin Matte Foundation sounded promising. The brand describes it as a medium to full-coverage, long-wearing foundation with a soft velvet-matte finish.

It is also marketed as blurring, non-drying, non-settling, and non-comedogenic, with up to 12 hours of wear. Sephora Australia currently lists the 35ml bottle at $79 and offers 28 shades.

At the time of filming, it was 30 per cent off at Sephora, bringing the price into the mid-$50s.

That made it more tempting, but it did not change my advice to sample it first. Sales return, and a discount is not helpful if the shade or finish does not work for your skin.

Those are ambitious claims, particularly for a matte foundation, so I tested the formula without changing the less flattering details of my day.

I ate, went on a long walk, touched my face, and pulled a hoodie on and off. This was not a controlled studio test. It was a realistic first wear.

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My Shade Match In 1N

I usually sit somewhere around fair to light neutral, with an olive undertone. I had two shades available: 00CR, which is cool rosy, and 1N, which is neutral. I chose 1N because I am often matched to the first neutral shade in a foundation range.

On application, 1N already looked a little deep. As it settled, it oxidised slightly and pulled more orange against my complexion. I could balance it with a lighter concealer, a translucent powder, and a cooler purple blush, but it was not my ideal match.

If you also have fair or light olive skin, I would swatch this in person and give it time to dry down before deciding. Undertone was one of the main reasons I stopped short of recommending an immediate purchase.

Read: Maybelline Fit Me Matte + Poreless Foundation: Is It Actually Worth It?

Texture, Application And First Impressions

I applied the foundation with the brush supplied by Anastasia Beverly Hills. The texture felt thicker than a fluid or serum foundation, almost mousse-like, and it gripped the skin where I placed it. That slight drag was not unpleasant. It made the formula feel substantial and suggested that it would hold onto the skin.

Despite the coverage, it did not feel heavy. I could tell there was a matte layer on my face because my skin felt slightly tighter when I moved it, but I could not feel the weight of the makeup itself.

My first impression was strong enough that I thought I might have found a contender. The question was whether the smooth initial finish would last without turning dry, grainy, or cracked.

Did It Look Better With Primer?

I tested the foundation two ways. One side went over my basic morning skincare, which included a hydrating serum and moisturiser. I did not apply sunscreen because I was staying home. On the other side, I added the Go-To Very Glowy Primer, a hydrating illuminating primer I regularly wear under matte foundations.

The primer made that side look a little more luminous later in the wear test, but it did not completely change the foundation’s performance. Both sides still developed issues around movement-prone areas, and oil eventually came through.

Good skincare preparation may be enough for many foundations, but I like pairing a matte base with a plush, hydrating primer when my skin is feeling dry or textured. I would test this formula again with my full usual base routine before making a final decision.

Read: My Honest Review Of The Mecca Max New Primers

How The Foundation Looked After Powder

I set the foundation with the By Terry Hyaluronic pressed powder. I chose it because it is a finer, more hydrating powder and would not add extra orange pigment to a shade that was already too deep.

Once the rest of my makeup was on, the foundation still looked good across the main areas of my face, but the dryness became more obvious around my eyes. It creased quickly on the thinner under-eye skin and started settling around my mouth more than I am used to.

I would not bring this foundation beneath my eyes again. Using concealer alone in that area, applying less product around the mouth, and setting the T-zone with a more traditional mattifying powder would give it a better chance.

I also skipped setting spray because I wanted to see the foundation’s texture without mist changing the finish. That may have made the wear test harsher, but it also showed me how the formula behaves with fewer corrective steps.

Anastasia Beverly Hills Impeccable Foundation Wear Test

The foundation did not fall apart immediately.

For the first part of the wear test, the skin itself remained smooth and the coverage looked strong.

The problems were concentrated around my under-eyes and smile lines, where creasing appeared early.

After eating, the under-eye creasing had become severe enough to disturb some of my concealer.

I also noticed possible lifting on my chin. Later, oil began coming through on both sides of my face, including the side with primer.

I then went on a 90-minute walk and touched my face repeatedly while moving cobwebs away and pulling my hoodie on and off.

By my final check-in at 9:30 pm, the foundation had largely disappeared from my nose where I had wiped it.

My forehead and chin were noticeably shiny, and the wear around my eyes and mouth was not flattering.

That context matters. No foundation should be expected to remain untouched after being rubbed through fabric, and this was not a gentle day of sitting still. However, it also did not outperform the affordable foundations I already rely on.

For a formula with a soft-matte finish and up to 12-hour wear claims, I expected stronger oil control and less creasing.

Is It Good For Acne-Prone, Oily Or Dry Skin?

Acne-Prone And Textured Skin

The pigment is a major advantage if you want to cover active blemishes or post-acne marks without building several thick layers. It looked smoothing across the main areas of my face and did not feel heavy.

This was only one wear test, so I cannot say whether it will cause or avoid breakouts for my skin. The formula is marketed as non-comedogenic, but your removal routine and individual sensitivities still matter. You can find more tested options in our guide to the best foundations for acne-prone skin.

Oily And Combination Skin

I can see the formula suiting combination skin when paired with a powder that has stronger oil control. My hydrating powder was probably not the ideal match, and I would use something like Huda Beauty Easy Bake for the next test.

If you are very oily and want an all-day matte finish, I would sample it first. Shine came through on my forehead and chin despite the matte dry-down.

Dry Or Dehydrated Skin

This is where I would be most cautious. My combination skin has been drier lately, and the formula made that obvious around my eyes and mouth. Hydrating preparation helped the overall finish, but it did not prevent creasing.

If your skin regularly flakes, feels tight, or makes makeup separate, the formula may require more work than it is worth. Avoiding the under-eye area and applying a thinner layer around expression lines would be my starting point.

Who Is The Anastasia Beverly Hills Impeccable Foundation Best For?

I think this foundation is best for someone who prioritises high coverage and wants a polished matte base for a shorter event. If I had a three or four-hour occasion and wanted the most coverage from my current collection, this is the formula I would choose.

It may also suit normal to combination skin that tolerates matte foundations well, particularly with careful skin preparation and a powder chosen for your level of oiliness.

I would be more hesitant if you have dry under-eyes, prominent expression lines, or very dehydrated skin. The finish is beautiful at first, but it was not forgiving in the areas where my skin moved or felt drier.

Final Verdict: Is The ABH Impeccable Foundation Worth It?

The Anastasia Beverly Hills Impeccable Foundation has excellent coverage. That is the clearest reason to try it. It gave me a smooth, highly pigmented base within minutes and looked beautiful before the wear issues appeared.

After the full test, I was less impressed. The creasing was significant, shade 1N oxidised too warm for me, and the foundation became shinier than expected. It also wore away from my nose and showed lifting on my chin after a realistic day.

I am not ready to write it off, because my powder choice and lack of setting spray may not have brought out its best performance.

I plan to test it again with stronger powder, no foundation beneath my eyes, and my complete usual skin-prep routine.

For now, my recommendation is to get a sample from Sephora and wear it for several hours before buying.

Check the colour after it dries, look closely at your under-eyes and smile lines, and see how it responds to your usual powder. There will always be another sale, so there is no need to rush based on a discount.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does The Anastasia Beverly Hills Impeccable Foundation Oxidise?

Shade 1N oxidised slightly on my skin and looked deeper and more orange as it settled. The starting shade was already a little too deep for me, so I recommend allowing a swatch to dry before choosing your match.

Is The ABH Impeccable Foundation Full Coverage?

Yes. Although the brand describes it as medium to full coverage, I reached true full coverage very quickly with a brush. High pigmentation was the strongest part of the formula for me and I was impressed by how buildable it was, too.

Is It Suitable For Dry Skin?

It may work with careful hydration and a thin application, but it would not be my first recommendation for very dry or flaky skin. It creased around my eyes and mouth when my combination skin was leaning drier than usual. I think there are better picks for dry skin, but if you’re still tempted to try grab a sample first.

Does It Last 12 Hours?

It did not look fresh for 12 hours in my wear test. By the final check-in, oil had come through and the foundation had worn away from areas I touched. My walk and repeated face touching made this a demanding test, but the formula still did not deliver the longevity I expected and have gotten from other foundations.

Should I Use Primer With It?

The Go-To Very Glowy Primer made one side of my face look slightly more luminous, but it did not prevent the main wear issues. I would focus on good skin preparation first, then choose a primer based on whether you need more hydration or oil control. I personally like using primers because they give me a consistent (and predictable) base, but they’re not essential.

Related Reading

• Best Foundations For Acne-Prone Skin (Tried, Tested, and Breakout-Safe)
• The Best Foundations for Light Olive and Fair Olive Skin Tones
• Maybelline Fit Me Matte + Poreless Foundation: Is It Actually Worth It?
• My Honest Review of the Mecca Max New Primers (Swatches Included)