Cover FX Foundation Line Guide: Which Is The Perfect Choice For You?
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Never heard of Cover FX? Well, you’re in for a real treat. This is a diverse makeup line, but they’re best known for their foundation. When I worked at Sephora, I loved this line and recommended it to so many clients. What makes Cover FX stand out, at least for me, is they have a diverse foundation and primer line. Their products are made for a wide variety of skin types.
And when I say skin types, I mean more than just dry and oily skin. I would especially recommend Cover FX to those with acne-prone skin since this brand creates amazing primers and foundations that target makeup. You also won’t find another brand that has as extensive shade options as Cover FX.
So, what is Cover FX? And what is their foundation line?
What to Know About Cover FX
While Cover FX has a cult following, I still don’t see this brand as hyped up as they deserve. That’s why I want to disclose some information about this brand before getting into their foundation. First and foremost, this brand stands by clean beauty. Their products aren’t made with gluten, mineral oil, fragrance, parabens, or talc.
All of their foundations are available in 40 skin tones and three undertones. This stands out for many reasons. I see so many foundation brands, even ones sold at Sephora, that are available in limited shades.
I’ve written many of these foundation line guides, and it’s incredible how limited the shades are. Especially for certain products; for example, let’s say you have oily skin and need a mattifying foundation, but a brand’s mattifying foundation is only available in four shades and your skin tone isn’t one of them.
I see this happen more often than you think. And with Cover FX, you can be sure your shade is available in any foundation they sell.
I mentioned this before and I will say it again. They have foundations and primers available for every skin type. No matter if your skin is dry, oily, combination, acne-prone, sensitive, mature, whatever, there’s a Cover FX foundation and primer for you.
Plus, this brand is vegan and cruelty-free! You can’t go wrong with that. All of their foundations have different coverages, but they’re all buildable. They have multiple finish options, from radiant to matte. You’ll also find Cover FX foundations in liquid, cream, and powder formulas.
You can buy Cover FX products on their website and Ulta. Sephora did sell Cover FX when I worked there, but I no longer see their products on their website.
Why Is Cover FX a Great Brand?
If I haven’t explained why Cover FX is a great brand yet, well I will do this in this section. First, there are so many customization options with this brand. Again, their foundation is all buildable and you can add different enhancers to create the foundation look of your dreams. I will cover these products in a later section.
Their products also have amazing coverage. I would work on clients with cystic acne, serious redness, the whole nine yards. Cover FX products covered everything and the coverage was always flawless. In general, their line is so unique thanks to the skincare benefits they offer.
Cover FX Foundation Line
Are you ready to discover the Cover FX foundation? Here’s their whole foundation line.
Natural Finish Foundation
This was the one I recommended the most when I worked at Sephora. It’s an oil-free and water-based foundation that looks like your skin, but better. The foundation is also formulated with a unique antioxidant blend of vitamins C, E, and F to moisturize and protect your skin. This product lasts for 12 hours.
Pros
- Natural finish
- Feels light
- Variety of shades
- Clean ingredients
Cons
- New packaging comes with less foundation than old packaging
Power Play Foundation
This is a cult favorite and for a good reason. This foundation is virtually sweat-proof, waterproof, and transfer-proof. Though it has a matte finish, it feels totally weightless on your skin. Made with fermented algae extract, this foundation protects your skin against environmental stressors.
This is especially a great foundation if you struggle with large pores. The foundation is made with an ultra-fine powder trio to reduce the look of pores. Plus, it’s non-comedogenic so it won’t break out your skin.
Pros
- Lasts a long time
- Blends well
Cons
- Some reviewers reported breakouts
- Reviewers mentioned the shades in this foundation don’t match others in the line
Luminous Tinted Moisturizer
Want a tinted moisturizer that does more than moisturize the skin? Try Cover FX’s Luminous Tinted Moisturizer. It’s made with a prebiotic and probiotic formula that restores your skin’s natural protective barrier. Ingredients such as lotus flower, bamboo, and water lily replenish hydration. It also offers decent coverage to reduce the look of pores, fine lines, and other imperfections.
Pros
- Applies smoothly
- Makes skin look healthy and glowing, not too dewy
Cons
- Doesn’t offer a lot of coverage
- May not be moisturizing enough for extremely dry skin
Total Cover Cream Foundation
This was one of the most popular Cover FX products when I worked at Sephora. You’ll especially want to use this product if you want full coverage. It’s a foundation and concealer all in one. It’s not only oil-free but is formulated with the antioxidants vitamins C, E, and F.
Pros
- Amazing coverage
- Ideal for sensitive and acne-prone skin
- Lasts all day
Cons
- Many customers have issues matching the foundation to their skin tone, some even saying they mix shades to get the perfect color
Pressed Mineral Foundation
Don’t confuse this product with the setting powder. The Pressed Mineral Foundation has buildable coverage and evens out skin tone, so you can wear this by itself. Its talc-free formula has a weightless feel. It not only has a mattifying finish but is also made with kaolin clay for better shine control.
Pros
- Ideal for sensitive skin
- Suitable powder for dry skin
- Doesn’t smudge
- Applies easily
Cons
- Customers reported this foundation is patchy and chalky
- Doesn’t offer the best coverage
- May settle into fine lines and wrinkles
What to Wear With Cover FX Foundation
After you find the best Cover FX foundation, you should look into their other products to complete your makeup look! Here are a few essentials.
Primer
I honestly recommended Cover FX primer as much as I recommended the foundation. They have multiple primer formulations that offer so many benefits. At the basic, try the Blurring Primer to reduce the look of imperfections. Your foundation will also last longer and will look better.
Setting Powder
No foundation is complete without setting powder and I absolutely love this one by Cover FX. Unlike the powder foundation mentioned previously, this one is completely translucent and only works to set your foundation. It’s a loose powder and doesn’t contain any talc.
The powder never settles, just softens and mattifies and complexion. This powder also protects and hydrates the skin, made with skin-loving ingredients such as vitamins C, E, and F as well as green tea leaves.
Custom Cover Drops
Remember how I said Cover FX is totally customizable? This product is one of the reasons why! The Custom Cover Drops consist of pure pigments to add a tint and adjust the shade of your foundation. You can also mix this product into your moisturizer or primer to create your own foundation!
Illuminator
Similar to the Custom Drops, the illuminator doesn’t add coverage or adjust the shade. Rather, it lets you customize your glow! It’s available in seven shades, from a bronzing to a holographic effect! You can use this with your foundation as well as any other makeup product to create the multi-dimensional glow you’ve always wanted. It’s safe for the eyes and lips, so you have no worries.
How to Find Your Foundation Shade
As stated previously, Cover FX offers so many shades for just about everyone. So, how do you find your shade? Cover FX offers a Foundation Finder tool. I’m demoing this out so you know what to expect.
First, it asks about your skin type. I usually put normal, but makeup makes my skin sensitive. For this reason, I’m selecting sensitive. You can also choose Oily, Combination, and Dry.
Next, you select your finish. I usually select a Natural finish, though they offer Matte (for oily skin) and Radiant (for dry skin). From here, select your coverage preference. I prefer Medium and buildable coverage, so I’m selecting Medium. They also offer Full coverage.
From here, they ask about your shade range. I wish they offered more information and examples. Otherwise, I’m choosing Light because I’m more on the pale side. Then, they show three models. You’ll have to select which one matches your skin tone. I have fair skin but I’m not the fairest person, so I’m selecting the model in the middle.
From here, they ask your undertones. This is actually unique how they word this. They ask you a series of questions to find your undertone, which is more effective than simply asking whether you have neutral, golden, or cool undertones.
First, they ask which jewelry you look best in: gold, silver/platinum, or both. That’s because certain skin tones look best with certain jewelry types. I prefer silver jewelry, but I also look okay in gold. I know because I have neutral undertones. I select both.
The next question is if you burn in the sun (easily, sometimes, or rarely). I usually always burn in the sun, but it depends on how much time I spend in the sun and how often I reapply sunscreen. I know others burn more easily than me and I do get tan, so I select sometimes burn.
Next, they ask about the color of the veins on your wrist. The options are Purple, Blue-Green, Green, and Not Sure. Mine are blue-green, so I select that. As I expected, the quiz says I have neutral undertones (though I know I’m slightly more on the yellow side). After you discover your undertones, you again have to choose the model that has the closest skin color to you.
You’re given five options and they all look extremely similar. Still, I notice subtle differences and choose the second from the left. The one on the far left was too pale, the one on the far right was too dark, and the other two looked too cool-toned. The second from the left was pale but had slightly stronger yellow undertones, so I chose her.
From here, I’m matched with a foundation and shade! The Cover FX Natural Finish Foundation (my fave!) in N10.
FAQs
Questions: Is Cover FX Going Out of Business?
Answer: I hope not! But as of now, no they’re not. But this has been a common question as of late. Remember when I said Sephora sold Cover FX when I worked there, but I can no longer find their products on the website? That’s because Sephora no longer sells that brand. Cover FX switched to Ulta as their third-party seller. But this confused many people, which is why the “Cover FX is going out of business” rumors circulated.
Question: Where Did the Name “Cover FX” Come From?
Answer: The “Cover” stands for “Coverage,” the “F” stands for “Foundation,” and the “X” stands for, well, it doesn’t stand for anything. X is a concept in math that means it can stand for anything. Because of Cover FX’s extensive line, the X can be anything you want!
Question: Is Cover FX Clean?
Answer: Clean beauty is all the rage! So, is Cover FX a clean brand? They pretty much are. All of their products are made without sulfates, parabens, paraffin, mineral oil, and similar harmful ingredients. Their products are also formulated with ingredients that improve skin health and their products are suitable for nearly every skin type.
Question: Does Cover FX Foundation Expire?
Answer: Yes. On the website, Cover FX states unopened foundation has a three-year shelf life. Not all Cover FX products have an expiration date, so I suggest throwing them out after a year.
Question: Where Are Cover FX Headquarters? Where Are Their Products Made?
Answer:Â Cover FX is headquartered in New York City. Their products are made in the US, Canada, and Italy.
Question: Does Cover FX Foundation Oxidize?
Answer: Before we answer this question, let’s explain what oxidation is in the makeup world. Oxidation refers to the foundation changing color throughout the day, usually turning orange or even darkening. I’ve never had this problem with Cover FX and it seems like other beauty bloggers agree. It also never feels cakey and looks natural.
Cover FX Foundation Line Guide: Bottomline
Cover FX is a brand that I feel deserves more hype. Their high-quality and natural-looking foundations granted them a cult following, but this brand deserves even more. They’re a great brand, making clean products with skin-loving ingredients. Available in 40 shades, you’re bound to find a shade that will match your skin.
Plus, their products are always vegan and cruelty-free. While I haven’t tried their other products, I can confirm their face makeup is some of the best out there.
