CoverFX CC Cream Time Release Tinted Treatment SPF 30

While I love CoverFX’s foundation, I wasn’t too impressed with its primer. Because of those two experiences, I wasn’t sure what to expect from CoverFX’s CC Cream Time Release Tinted Treatment SPF 30, which I received in my November Topbox.

According to the company, I should expect, “A do-it-all CC Cream that provides colour and complexion correction with time release anti-aging benefits.” CoverFX’s product page for this item really emphasizes its anti-aging properties, stating that its, “… synergistic complex of ingredients produce retinoid-like, anti-aging results without irritation or sun sensitivity,” including the use of licorice root extract that supposedly, “…reduce(s) hyperpigmentation and prevent future discolouration” and “...an advanced multi-sphere microsome technology which delivers time release anti-wrinkle actives and treats skin continuously for 8 hours.”

It also lists off a slew of stats from an eight-week long self-assessment study that all come to the same conclusion: Over time, this product made the users’ skin look younger and better.

Cover FX Anti-Aging Primer

One of the reasons why I like beauty box subscriptions is because they help keep me from wasting money on products that don’t work. I love Cover FX foundation and because of that, I might have picked up the company’s anti-aging primer. But, after receiving a sample of that product in my September Topbox and discovering that it’s kind of useless, there’s no way I’m buying that item. Thanks Topbox!

According to Cover FX, this primer, which was previously known as SkinPrep FX, is a multi-purpose product that, “In addition to prepping the skin prior to foundation application and facilitating blending and extending wear, this reparative primer hydrates and smoothes skin to blur the appearance of fine lines and pores.”

To do all of this, as well improve clarity and radiance, soothe inflammation and reduce redness and moisturize the skin, this primer is packed with such fancy ingredients as Coenzyme Q10, a multi-peptide complex, vitamins F, C and E and more. Between this ingredients list and my previous, positive history with Cover FX, I had high hope for this primer. Unfortunately, this product falls completely flat. Okay, this silky-feeling primer did allow me to blend my foundation a little easier but other than that, it did nothing.

Cover FX Bonus Days at Shoppers

So the other day I did a review about Natural FX foundation where I mention how Shoppers sometimes runs Optimum point bonus promos for the whole Cover FX line. Well, one of those promos kicked off on Friday.

From November 6 until November 20, you can get 3,500 extra points when you spend $50 or more on Cover FX products (and trust me, it’s easy to hit $50 with this stuff).

The only catch is that you need to have a coupon. I saw it in yesterday’s Toronto Star, in the Weekend section. If you don’t have a copy, I have feeling that it’ll run again in next Saturday’s Star too (I checked Shopper’s site and there was no sign of the coupon on there).

This weekend is a spend-$75-or-more-on-cosmetics and get 20 times the times so if you need to do a makeup run, now’s the weekend to do it.

Cover FX Natural FX Water Based Foundation

You may have heard of the Cover FX brand; it was originally developed at Toronto’s Sunnybrook Hospital to cover scars left by burns, surgery and other nasty events.

It’s quite the story that’s led to quite the product, one that’s not cheap (the stuff I’m reviewing runs about $37 for 30 ml) but that’s well worth the price.

I’ve been using  Natural FX Water Based Foundation for close to a year now and while I wouldn’t call it a miracle product (that would be something that could somehow cover up raised pimples and other 3-D flaws) it’s definitely an amazing one. Small pimples, uneven skin tone, bruises, veins, scratches and other flaws can all be “erased” with this two-in-one concealer/foundation.

One of the reasons why it covers so well is that it’s more heavily pigmented than your typical foundation. This also means that you can do a lot more with less, allowing you to really stretch the life of this product (I can get about three-four months out of a bottle and that’s with almost daily use).

The downside to this quality is that it’s easy to go overboard with this foundation and end up with a “mask-y” face so apply it with a light hand.

Surprisingly though, Natural FX doesn’t feel like you’re wearing a mask; it really does have a “natural”, lightweight feel to it.

I would strongly recommend wearing this foundation over a good primer. It does “fill in” large pores, lines and other facial indentations and while this looks great at a distance, close-up, under the wrong lighting, it can look makeup-y. Also, a primer will give this foundation more staying power.

If you have serious scarring, acne issues or rosecea you’ll probably want to check out the original Cover FX line since it’s intended to cover up those types of issues but for most people, the cheaper Natural FX line, which does include a SPF 15 in it, will work just fine.

While you can order the Natural FX Water Based Foundation off the company’s website, you can also get it at Shoppers, which occasionally offers big Optimum bonuses for buying the brand. I’ll be sure to let you know if I see any ads up for that promo.

Would I buy this again: Yes
Should you buy it: If you often use fondation, yes