Makeup
Oct 7, 2023

I Just Tried the Rose Inc Tinted Serum and I'm Never Using Foundation Again

by Grace Lindsay

My makeup never used to feel complete without foundation. In fact, when I was younger, I think I pretty much wore foundation every single day. Over the last few years I've learnt to embrace my bare skin, but whenever I do feel like wearing makeup, I still reach for a heavier base product. A couple of months ago, a facialist told me that my skin was quite congested, and advised switching my rich cleansers and day creams for lighter products instead.

Whilst doing so, I was also keen to find a lighter base product that would still give my skin that luminous glow that my beloved dewy foundations always delivered on. Before you ask, I've tried my fair share of tinted moisturisers over the years, but none of them gave me the finish I was looking for. After telling a fellow beauty editor about my makeup woes, she asked if I'd ever tried the Tinted Serum from Rose Inc. If you didn't know, Rose Inc is the brainchild of Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, and the beauty brand is just as chic as you'd imagine.

Photo:

@rosiehw

Photo:

@gracelindsay__ for Who What Wear UK

Let me start by telling you a bit about the product. This clever serum combines skincare and makeup properties to leave you with a hydrated, radiant complexion. It provides sheer coverage and gives a luminous finish, and the formula has been designed so as not to clog the pores. Although all of the skincare benefits sounded great, when I first read up about the serum, I wasn't sure if it would be right for me, as I wanted something with light-to-medium coverage at a minimum.

That being said, the product had so many rave reviews, so I made sure to hold all judgement before trying it myself. It's currently available in 14 shades, and although this is more than some other tinted serums on the market, I would like to see the brand introduce a larger shade range. After getting hold of it, I tried the serum out on the back of my hand, and was taken aback by the texture.

It almost feels like water on the skin, and contains microencapsulated pigment spheres that look like small bubbles. It's definitely lightweight, but I was initially confused on how best to blend it into my complexion. After looking online, it seemed best to mix the product with a brush to activate the spheres, so I grabbed my favourite foundation brush and gave it a go.

Photo:

@gracelindsay__ for Who What Wear UK

Turns out, the internet was right, and a brush is definitely the way to go with this. I still couldn't believe how lightweight it felt on the skin (it was actually as if I wasn't wearing any makeup at all), but I was also shocked at how glowy it made me look. In fact, the serum completely evened out my skin texture and given me that luminous finish that I had been desperately searching for. Result!

The coverage is in no way the same as a foundation, but thanks to the serum's silky texture, my concealer blended into my skin like a dream over the top, and I simply used that alone to cover any blemishes or dark circles under my eyes.

Photo:

@gracelindsay__ for Who What Wear UK

I've always struggled with my foundation rubbing off throughout the day, but I found this kept my skin looking amazing from morning until night, and the best bit was that I knew it wasn't causing any congestion. In fact, since using this for the last few weeks, my skin has looked better than ever. For under £40, I really couldn't recommend this product enough, and I don't think I'll ever reach for my foundation again. This serum has made my life so much easier (it takes me half the time to do my makeup in the morning), and I feel more confident than ever wearing the most minimal of makeup looks. BRB, off to stock up before it sells out…