Kevyn Aucoin Sensual Skin Enhancer Review & Photos!

Kevyn Aucoin Sensual Skin Enhancer 

Kevyn Aucoin Sensual Skin Enhancer ($45) was created to mimic the appearance of healthy, radiant skin. It's a cream foundation and concealer wrapped up in one product. Containing honey and jojoba oil, this foundation is creamy, moisturizing and creates a soft, natural dewy finish.

Kevyn Aucoin Sensual Skin Enhancer is available in (16) shades: SX01, SX02, SX03, SX04, SX05, SX06, SX07, SX08, SX09, SX10, SX11, SX12, SX13, SX14, SX15 and SX16.

I chose SX08, which is a warm medium shade with strong yellow undertones. It's suitable for the MAC NC35 coloring.

The texture of this cream is a bit different than other cream products I've used. It compares to the creaminess/goopiness of Benefit Erase Paste, but it's more dense and not as tacky. For instance, it's absolutely nothing like MAC Studio Finish Concealer (MAC Full Coverage Foundation) or Cinema Secrets/Graftobian/Ben Nye Foundations which are like the standard cream compact makeup - often dry and dense or with a similar consistency to a concealer stick. It's so much more creamy - luxuriously creamy, but it's also very thick/dense. Because of this, you need a tiny amount (about 1/4 the size of a pea or less) to provide full coverage to the entire face.

Since the formula is so concentrated, it doesn't move around well on dry skin. Whenever wearing this foundation, moisturizing and/or priming the face is an essential step. I usually use a silicone based primer for it to spread better, or apply a generous amount of moisturizer. Then, I like taking a concealer brush and wiping a line of product on each cheek, my chin and forehead. Then, I take a duo-fiber brush and with small circular motions blend it in completely. After it's blended, I like taking a facial mist and spritzing my face and using the duo-fiber brush again buff my face more to make sure everything is perfectly blended.

The result is completely flawless skin that actually looks like skin.

(Wearing Kevyn Aucoin Sensual Skin Enhancer SX08)

The consistency is a little tricky, so it might take a few trials and error to get it right. You might benefit from mixing equal parts moisturizer or primer to thin it out a little bit, or using a dampened beauty blender or cosmetic sponge. I've read a review where the person mixed it with a BB cream with amazing, full coverage results. I have yet to try a BB cream, but I'm definitely going to give that a try when I do.

The finish isn't really what I'd call dewy - it's more of a satiny, healthy finish. I feel it's necessary to set with a powder, otherwise I'll get a little shiny on my nose and chin area.

The lasting power is amazing. It gets me through a full day (still looks amazing at bedtime) without touch-ups.

One thing I love the best of all is how comfortable it is on my face and how it doesn't break me out. I love how much coverage cream foundations provide, but you tend to feel them on your skin. After wearing a cream/cake foundation, by night time I'm feeling anxious to wash my face. It's almost like I can feel the pimples forming. As much as I love wearing Cinema Secrets, at the end of the day it starts feeling uncomfortable and I can't wear it more than a few days in a row before getting a blemish. Not this though, I can wear it every day with no problems.

In the photo on the left, I wiped a couple lines of product on my cheek - this will cover half of my face. In the photo on the right, I've started to blend the product with my duo-fiber brush. (The color is a little darker than my face right now, but it matches my neck perfectly.)

In the photo on the left, I've completely blended the product on my face. Everything is covered, but my face looks very one dimensional. To add a little dimension to my face, I added YSL Touche Eclat (highlighter), bronzer and blush. My makeup is finished on the right.

I love this foundation and I think it can work well for almost anyone. Even though it's a heavier coverage foundation, you can really adjust it however you'd like. For those with pigmentation and acne scars, I can see this working miracles. 

I'm planning on purchasing a couple additional shades - maybe a lighter shade I can use for a concealer and highlighting, and an additional shade for when I'm not tan. SX 08 works fine as long as I'm self-tanning, but it's too dark/yellow for when I'm not. 

Kevyn Aucoin Sensual Skin Enhancer is rated 4.1 out of 5, with a 71% repurchase rate based on 296 reviews on Makeupalley.

The Round-Up

Pros:

• Covers undereyes and blemishes really well
• Super pigmented/full coverage - you can sheer it out for a lighter or medium coverage
• Long-lasting - doesn't budge all day and night with a setting powder
• Comfortable

Cons:

• Can be a little tricky to work with at first.
• The first ingredient is mineral oil, and although it doesn't bother me at all, I know that it can be bothersome to some.
• Expensive, but a little goes a long way

Repurchase? Yes! I'm planning on purchasing additional shades.

Price: $45, Barney's, Dermstore.