Nude Miracle SPF 15 Liquid-to-Powder Makeup comes in a frosted-glass bottle and includes a medicinal-looking pipette dropper to dispense the ultra-thin, liquid formula. Just a couple drops is all it takes to spread over the entire face, imparting light-to-medium coverage as it goes. So far, so good!
This foundation at first has an oily slickness, but it blends weightlessly and seamlessly into skin, drying down to a surprising natural-matte finish that is ideal for normal to oily or combination skin. Sounds great, right? Unfortunately, the formula is flawed in a number of ways. First, you cannot count on this to provide sufficient broad-spectrum sun protection. Not only is SPF 15 on the low end for daily sun protection, but also the sole active —octinoxate—does not fully shield skin from the sun's UVA rays (the ones that age you and can cause cancer). See More Info to find out which sunscreen actives to look for.
Making matters worse, the formula contains a high-amount of potentially skin-damaging alcohol, as well as fragrance and fragrance chemicals that can irritate skin. See More Info for the full scoop on these issues, but just know that irritation makes oily skin worse! Considering the potential risk to skin, we simply cannot recommend this foundation, despite its several strong traits.
Still, if you're curious, the extensive shade range offers several neutral, flattering options for light to deep skin tones. There are a few less-flattering shades due to their rosy or peachy undertones, and we suggest steering clear of those. Ultimately, you'll want to consider any of our top-rated foundations with sunscreen before committing to this one!
Pros: Blends weightlessly and seamlessly into skin. Dries down to a natural-looking matte finish. Extensive shade range for light to deep skin tones.
Cons: Insufficient broad-spectrum sun protection. Contains a potentially irritating, skin-drying amount of alcohol. Fragranced formula puts skin at risk of further irritation.
More Info: Insufficient UVA protection: This sunscreen does not include the ingredients needed to shield your skin from the sun’s entire range of damaging UVA rays, which is essential for anti-aging benefits. Thus, this formula should not be used as or substitute for your daily sunscreen. Any sunscreen rated as “broad spectrum” should contain one or more of these UVA-protecting ingredients listed as “active”: avobenzone, titanium dioxide, zinc oxide, Mexoryl SX (ecamsule) or Tinosorb (Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 2005). Alcohol-Based Skincare Products: A significant amount of research shows alcohol causes free-radical damage in skin even at low levels (Biochimica et Biophysica Acta, 2012).
Small amounts of alcohol on skin cells in lab settings (about 3%, but keep in mind skin-care products contain amounts ranging from 5% to 60% or greater) over the course of two days increased cell death by 26%. It also destroyed the substances in cells that reduce inflammation and defend against free radicals—this process actually causes more free-radical damage. If this weren't bad enough, exposure to alcohol actually causes skin cells to self-destruct (Alcohol, 2002). Research also shows that these destructive, aging effects on skin cells increased the longer skin was exposed to alcohol; for example, two days of exposure was dramatically more harmful than one day, and that's at only a 3% concentration (Alcohol, 2002). In fact, the effect of inflammation in the skin is cumulative, and repeated exposure to irritants contributes to a weakened skin barrier, slower healing (including of red marks from breakouts), and a dull, uneven complexion (Aging, 2012 & Chemical Immunology and Allergy, 2012).
At about $40 an ounce, that is some expensive makeup. I don't like fragrance nor alcohol in any of my skin care of makeup. So personally I wouldn't buy it. It's your decision though.
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