After 57 Combined Hours of Testing, We're Still Split on This Viral Foundation
Welcome to Internet Famous, a monthly series in which we ask our Instagram followers to vote on a viral beauty product that's taken social media by storm. Then the beauty team will take the winning pick for a spin and share their reviews—pictures included.
Am I the only person who likes my makeup the most after a long day? I like to think that all the products in my 20-minute makeup routine have marinated to form the perfect finish (at 10 p.m.). Because of this, the state of my makeup before my nighttime skincare routine has become a way to test whether or not I like a new product. Is the blush completely gone from my cheeks? Are my eyelids super oily? Is my concealer creased? If the answer to any of these questions is "yes," I know exactly how I need to adjust my makeup routine.
The latest product I decided to put to the test is Patrick Ta's Major Skin Hydra-Luxe Luminous Skin Perfecting Foundation ($58). I enlisted eight other editors to see how it holds up after a few hours, and the tea is hot. With a variety of skin types, weather conditions, and schedules, we've covered all the bases—and we have a whole lot to say about the foundation that's been taking social media by storm.
Before we dive right into our opinions—which were readily shared IRL and on Slack—let's talk product details. This is Patrick Ta's first-ever liquid foundation, so the anticipation was high. This lightweight formula has serum-inspired ingredients like hyaluronic acid, plant-derived squalane, and kombucha to boost hydration and blur any imperfections. Aside from the skincare-like ingredients, everyone's after that luminous glow we've seen radiating from Ta's clients over the last couple of months. Ta's incredible blush duo taught us that application is everything. He recommends stamping a beauty blender into the foundation one dot at a time, then slowly pressing the product into your skin over your blush and contour for makeup that looks like skin. Ta wanted to create "red carpet skin in a bottle," and we couldn't say no to that. If you want to see what our editors have to say about this new buzzy product, keep scrolling.
"For the past week, I've been putting this foundation to work on the streets of NYC. On my first day testing it out, it was 80 degrees and humid. On the last day of testing, it was 60 degrees and raining. The first application was a tough start—I love a glowy foundation, but this one highlighted my texture in a way I did not love. I have dry skin and could always use a dewy boost, but this was too much. Not even my go-to setting powder (Givenchy) and setting spray could keep this from moving around my face. I thought it would do better on a cooler day, but I'm sad to report the result was the same. I am determined to make this foundation work for me, but it may take some trial and error." — Natalie Gray Herder, editor
"In my mind, my summer glow is darker than it actually is. After putting the shade Golden Neutral on, I knew it was going to be a bit too deep for my skin, but I loved the formula and was determined to make it work. Since it was such a bronzy glow, I went ahead and mixed it with a lighter foundation I had on deck, and it made the most perfect shade. I loved the consistency, coverage, and how it felt on my skin. I'm usually more of a lighter-coverage person, but this will be perfect for days when I need to do a bit more." — Anneliese Henderson, senior fashion editor
"This has everything I look for in a foundation—it's lightweight, buildable, and leaves behind the prettiest dewy finish. (I will say, if your skin runs oily, you might not fall in love with it as much. My skin's on the drier side, so I personally loved the slight sheen.) The shades are perfect. The first time I swatched shade five (Golden Neutral) on my jawline, I genuinely couldn't tell where I had applied—that's how effortlessly the pigment fused to my skin. To test its longevity, I applied it before taking a day trip to Connecticut for a friend's bridal shower. When I got home around 5:30 p.m., my skin looked a tad shinier (nothing a dab of powder couldn't fix), but the blemishes and discoloration I wanted to cover remained unseen. This is also the foundation I wore during my own seven-hour-long engagement photoshoot back in August, and it stayed immaculate all day long." — Jamie Schneider, senior beauty editor
"I'm always excited about a Patrick Ta product—I wear the blush in She's That Girl every single day and have put multiple people on. Because of that, I really wanted to love this foundation. On the first application, it blended extremely well. It was like I was applying moisturizer—it felt amazing on the skin, which I don’t get from other foundations! However, upon closer look, I had to apply more to get better coverage. And after only an hour or two, I was already looking shiny, despite setting it with Huda Beauty's peach powder. I have dry skin, so it's not often that I have to deal with shiny or oily skin. I think for next time, I'll save this foundation for fall and winter months when my skin is extra dry and needs the glow this product provides." —Yusra Siddiqui, associate fashion editor
"I'm not a regular foundation wearer, but I had a hunch that I'd like this formula. First of all, I'm pretty much obsessed with any Patrick Ta Beauty product, but I could also tell that this light-to-medium coverage foundation could look extremely natural if intended. Thankfully, I was right. When applied sparingly with a brush or sponge, this formula feels like a sheer, lightweight, incredibly breathable tinted moisturizer on the skin. I can see myself wearing this on an everyday basis and building up the coverage for a night out." — Emma Hughes, social media editor
"There are some polarizing reviews of this foundation, so I wasn't sure what to expect, but I was pleasantly surprised with the results. I loved the formula. I'm not a foundation girlie at all and can almost always tell if I'm going to love or hate a product based on its texture. This applied smoothly and didn't crease around my nose and chin. It also felt great on my skin—I didn't need a lot of product so that may be why, but my skin felt like it could breathe all day, which is a win in my book." — Caitie Bellamy, group executive director
"Lately, I've been in a toxic relationship with my skin, so I'm wearing foundation more as opposed to my typical skin tint. I've loved all the results I've seen from this foundation—I mean, you can't deny the glow. This one was much more lightweight compared to the other foundations in my makeup bag, but I do wish there was a bit more coverage. I felt like I had to put a lot on to cover my dark spots, but when my skin is in a much better place, I think I'll be able to wear this with no problem. The luminous finish is really pretty and my makeup didn't look too bad after a long office day and a subway commute." — Aniyah Morinia, fashion and beauty editor
"I'm picky when it comes to foundation. I only wear light-to-medium coverage, natural-looking formulas. I have some favorites, but I'm always looking for more. This is the newest one to join my collection. I like its buildable coverage and glowy finish. Best of all, it covered my redness without looking too obvious on my skin. However, it did require some minimal touch-ups throughout the day (I applied some powder to my T-zone whenever I started looking too shiny for comfort). Overall, I'm a big fan." — Kaitlyn McLintock, associate beauty editor
"I used to wear foundation pretty often for dance recitals (applying Dior Airflash was a part of my pre-performance ritual), but now I really only reach for it when I have a photoshoot or special event. I figured if anyone could influence me to bring it back into my everyday routine, it would be Patrick Ta. I took a pump of the Golden and Neutral shades and blended them together for the perfect shade match. I applied it with just my fingers and woah—it blended in kind of flawlessly. It gives me the dewy, skin-like finish that my go-to tinted SPF does, but with more coverage to even out my complexion and blur imperfections. I was so dedicated to testing this foundation's longevity that I even committed a major beauty sin: I wore my full face of makeup to a workout. (I know, I'm cringing, too.) But, I'm happy to report that this foundation held up all the way through, and my skin was still looking fresh at the end of the day. If you want the perfect luminous, medium-coverage foundation, this is it." — Emma Walsh, associate beauty editor
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