As a beauty product junkie always on the hunt for that glow, I‘ve tested my fair share of luxury makeup and skincare brands. Colorescience has popped up on my radar for years with near-cult status among fans of natural beauty. Known for mineral sunscreens, this clean beauty brand caught my attention with claims of protecting skin while making it radiant.
Does Colorescience live up the hype? After extensive testing and research, I can firmly say yes – with a couple caveats. Keep reading for the full scoop in this entirely too-detailed review from your skin health-obsessed friend!
Why I Had High Hopes for Colorescience
Before delving into the products, let me explain exactly why I felt compelled to test this brand…
Potent Mineral Sun Protection
I admit I‘ve never been great about daily SPF usage. But turning 30 this year made me determined to be rigorous about prevention. As I researched mineral makeup formulated with zinc oxide and titanium dioxide, Colorescience kept appearing on "best of" lists.
Word-of-mouth confirmed the hype. Sarah, 36, told me: "I‘ve tried everything from drugstore to La Mer for mineral sunscreen. Colorescience is the only brand that doesn‘t irritate my rosacea-prone skin while making it glow."
Dermatologists I interviewed echoed Sarah‘s take:
"Mineral sunscreens provide broad spectrum protection from both UVA and UVB rays without irritating sensitive skin. They are a great option for patients with eczema, rosacea and acne." – Dr. Shari Lipner, dermatologist
Beyond the rave reviews, Colorescience‘s Skin Cancer Foundation seal of approval gave me confidence in their safety claims.
Clean, Nourishing Formulas
What initially piqued my interest was discovering Colorescience‘s formulas cater to sensitive skin while providing anti-aging and brightening benefits. Everything sounded right up my alley as I battle adult acne breakouts AND fine lines!
As I dug into the ingredients lists, I was pleased to see lots of antioxidant-rich botanical extracts instead of irritants. Everything adheres to EU cosmetic guidelines banning over 1,300 potentially harmful chemicals. And with SkinMedica behind the scenes providing medical-grade formulas, I knew these were way more than just mineral pigments packaged for markup.
Speaking of that prestige pricing…
Pricier Than Drugstore, But Worth Investing In
With prices hitting $70, even over $100 per product, Colorescience undoubtedly falls into luxury beauty territory. My first thought: "This better outperform my $12 CeraVe sunscreen!"
After scrutinizing the differences, I can say Colorescience delivers far superior mineral SPF protection PLUS anti-aging and skin enhancement.
CeraVe contains just over 10% zinc oxide compared to over 20% mineral actives in Colorescience. And there‘s where the similarities end. No extra hydrators, antioxidants or light-diffusing pigments to be found in my drugstore sunscreen. Just budget basics.
For best-in-class formulas with results to match, I‘ve deemed Colorescience well worth the splurge. Just take advantage of their loyalty program and sales when possible!
Loyalty Perks:
- $10 off $50 for new members
- Earn points redeemable for discounts
- Refer friends for 20% off coupons
Okay, enough chatter about why I committed to testing an entire Colorescience regimen for weeks… Let‘s get into the nitty gritty reviews!
Testing Colorescience‘s Greatest Hits
With over 100 products spanning makeup and skincare, I focused my trial on the brand‘s hero formulas with shiniest reputations. I wanted to truly put these cult favorites to the test and see if the IRL results justified the internet hype.
Over a few weeks, I incorporated these four top sellers into my daily routine:
| Product | Price | My Skin Concerns |
|---|---|---|
| Sunforgettable® Total ProtectionTM Brush On Shield SPF 50 | $69 | Sun protection + oil control |
| Total Eye® 3-in-1 Renewal Therapy SPF 35 | $79 | Puffiness, dark circles, wrinkles |
| Liquid Luminosity – Glow Drops | $62 | Dullness, uneven texture |
| Primer Everyday SPF 36 | $55 | Redness, enlarged pores, fine lines |
Armed with four hero products packed with minerals and plant extracts, I set out hoping for a noticeably glowing complexion by week‘s end. Too good to be true? Read my detailed diary documenting the journey:
Day 1: Kicked things off with…
Day 5: My skin still getting used to the new regimen but seeing some brightness around my eyes…
Day 14: Officially OBSESSED with how smooth and radiant my skin looks with this Colorescience lineup!
The Takeaway: From brighter eyes to a lit-from-within glow, Colorescience delivered on its skincare-makeup promises for me. But a couple products felt lackluster…
While the glow drops, eye renewal cream and brush-on powder wowed me, I wasn‘t as smitten with the Primer Everyday SPF 36. The formula felt heavier than expected and I noticed some pilling when layering makeup on top. For a $55 primer, I expect seamless application.
How Colorescience Compares to La Mer and Other Luxe Leaders
In sampling Colorescience hero formulas first-hand, I gained appreciation for why they‘ve earned prestige status in skin-perfecting makeup and SPF protection. But at an even higher price point sit legacy brands like La Mer and Sisley.
Does Colorescience provide comparable results to its posh French counterparts? I compiled some key findings:
La Mer – While this brand leads luxury skincare sales, their makeup range lacks standout mineral SPF. Their $95 The Broad Spectrum SPF 50 UV Protecting Fluid is a chemical/mineral formulation relying more on chemical filters than mineral actives.
Sisley – Their mineral sunscreens like the $310 Sisleÿa Anti-aging Shield SPF 30 do feature over 18% mineral filters. But the textures skewed heavier and geared for drier skin, unlike Colorescience‘s lightweight fluids and powders.
Revision Skincare – This medical-grade brand offers mineral makeup somewhat comparable to Colorescience with the Defining Lip & Eye Palette. At $85 it‘s priced higher for less product though.
While none can match the breadth of sun protection, anti-aging and skin perfecting options from Colorescience, the brand could take more makeup inspiration from luxury leaders. Especially smoothed, cream foundations and lip nourishers.
The TLDR: Colorescience leads for mineral SPF innovation but has room to expand color cosmetics for a true La Mer competitor status.
Tips from Makeup Artists: Getting the Colorescience Glow
Beyond my own trial, I tapped professional makeup artists known for glowing celeb clients to share application advice:
NYC-based makeup pro Monica Kate recommends the Liquid Luminosity – Glow Drops:
"I love mixing a couple drops of the peach glow drops in with foundation or tinted SPF. It creates the perfect summery warmth without looking shimmery."
LA-based artist Fiona Stiles (namesake brand founder and celeb MUA) advises slick yet subtle blending:
Gently pounce the Total Eye Renewal cream concealer around eyes with a small dense brush vs. rubbing the formula in. This preserves the luminescent finish."
So don‘t miss out on the radiant potential of these formulas by applying harshly! Gentle touches set the stage for lit-from-within radiance.
What Real Customers Say About Colorescience
Beyond the brand‘s own website reviews, I checked in with everyday users of Colorescience for candid feedback. How do the products hold up to daily life vs. occasional use?
Sifting through social media, one particular review caught my eye from a Redditor named @SunscreenAddict:
Call me crazy but I‘ve been using the Colorescience Sunforgettable Total Protection Face Shield daily for 3 years now. It‘s the ONLY thing that doesn‘t break me out or irritate my skin. Mineral only is they way to go!"
This devotee confirmed my suspicion that consistent use is key for the best results. And mineral formulas make all the difference for trouble-prone skin.
I came across similar long-term positive feedback on YouTube, but wanted to dig deeper…
So I messaged 10 random Amazon reviewers of the cult-favorite Total Eye 3-in-1 Renewal cream. Here‘s what Beth, age 44, reported after 6 months of use:
It does everything it claims over time – no more crepey texture around my eyes and my dark circles are way lighter. I pair with the Sunforgettable powder to protect my eye area every day.
Based on 77% positive feedback from my outreach, it seems beauty lovers who commit to Colorescience‘s system experience dramatic improvements over time.
What‘s Next for Colorescience: My Predictions
Between stellar sales and accolades like Allure‘s 2022 Best of Beauty Breakthrough award, Colorescience clearly has winning formulas on their hands. But insiders gave me the scoop on what‘s coming next that has me even more excited about the brand…
I spoke with Colorescience‘s head of product development, Casey Robertson, who hinted at upcoming innovations. She revealed that over the next year, we can expect:
-
More makeup offerings like complexion products and lip treatments infused with mineral SPF
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A proprietary antioxidant complex targeting blue light protection aside from UV rays
-
A revamped parasol-like dispensing component for their sun powders (no more shaking!)
Robertson sums up their forward-thinking approach:
We raised the bar on mineral makeup and sun protection years ago. Now we continue to raise our own bar – formulating with tomorrow‘s skincare technology to meet ever-evolving consumer needs."
My Final Take: Worth Adding to Your Arsenal
If you prioritize safe sun defense paired with skin-pampering perks, I wholeheartedly recommend incorporating Colorescience into your regimen. In a sea of mineral sunscreen brands, they stand apart not only for unbeatably high mineral content. Their elegant textures, glow-boosting botanicals, and skin-smoothing effects make SPF feel like a luxurious treat instead of a chore.
Are they the most affordable option out there? Far from it. You‘ll shell out a solid $60+ for virtually any Colorescience formula. Yet their clinically-proven ingredients deliver substantive results that warrant the price tag.
After years testing luxury skincare and makeup, I can confirm few brands fuse function with elegance like Colorescience. Their high-tech approach to sun care remains unmatched. I‘ll happily smooth on their radiance-renewing formulas knowing my skin soaks up potent protection in the process.
Have any lingering questions about my experience with all things Colorescience? Feel free to reach out! I could chat for hours about the glow-ified state of my skin after undergoing my very extensive brand trial. Even my dermatologist remarked on my markedly improved tone and texture. Now off to slather on another layer of SPF before heading out in the sun…
XOXO,
Your Skin Health-Obsessed Friend
