Review of The Ordinary by Deciem Colours Coverage foundation- the £5.90 foundation with a 250,000 long waiting list 

I don’t normally post twice weekly, but I couldn’t wait to write this review. I have, after all, been waiting since March to receive my The Ordinary Colours Coverage foundation (bit of a mouthful), it’s in such crazy demand. Apparently Deciem received 250,000 orders in one week and there was no way they could keep up with demand. I waited 3 months but I think if you order now it won’t be so long. They are just waiting for pumps to be manufactured. 

I had some experience with The Ordinary Colours foundation when I visited the Deciem store in Spitalfields. There is the full shade chart in my previous post about Colours. At that point the bottles were droppers, Deciem have since changed that and now all the foundation bottles come in a handy pump. 

The Ordinary Colours Coverage foundation comes in a racially inclusive 21 shades and costs just £5.90 for 30mls, that’s crazy cheap. If I bought a six pound foundation in Boots I wouldn’t expect much, it wouldn’t last very long. Because of this bonkers waiting list expectation is heaped upon The Ordinary foundation in spades. 

Here are some of Deciem’s claims about Coverage foundation-

• Highly pigmented and richly saturated
• SPF 15 provided by non nano Titanium Oxide with no whiteness
• Long lasting, with The Ordinary’s proprietary high spreadability formula
• Even distribution of pigment that doesn’t settle in lines making it suitable for aging skin
• Natural semi matte finish
• Free from oil, alcohol, soy, gluten, chemical sunscreen, nut oil and cruelty free
• Vegan

Available from Deciem.com

The Ordinary Colours Coverage Foundation Review

Firstly I must say that Coverage foundation is MAKEUP, as in it’s proper full coverage and visible. It’s akin to Estée Lauder Doublewear in heaviness, Coverage doesn’t muck about. It has a fluid texture and the pump is a godsend, I’d make a right mess without it. 

I went with two shades- 1.2 Neutral and 2.0 Pink, just to make sure I got the right shade. Here are the swatches- 

I would say that the shades in Colours Coverage lean towards yellow. Does that 2.0 swatch look pink to you? I have fair neutral skin and normally wear NW20 in MAC and Cool Bone in EL Doublewear. The 2.0 Pink does look warm to swatch but I think it matches my skin tone well, the 1.2 N is a little light. When selecting shades I would take this into account- if you’re neutral choose pink as the shades run warm. Here are the foundations worn-

The coverage is full but the finish is a really natural near matte. The Ordinary Colours Coverage does require careful handling to avoid looking heavy. 

I’ve been using The Ordinary High Adherence Silicone primer as Deciem recommends the pairing- it’s important to pair foundation and primer correctly so it doesn’t separate. I apply using a buffing brush (Real Techniques, pictured above). One pump is quite enough for the whole face. Then when I have an even coat I go over it again to really work the product into the skin. Then grab a damp sponge applicator to dab over the top and absorb the excess foundation. I use powder on top as I have really oily skin. 

My skin has tolerated The Ordinary Colours Coverage well and it hasn’t exacerbated my acne as yet. The top ingredient is Coconut Alkanes, which made me nervous as Coconut oil is a major pore blocker. The Cos DNA entry lists Coconut alkenes as non comedogenic, so that’s a relief. 

The Ordinary Colours Coverage foundation lasts well. After about 6 hours it will start to separate on my oily T Zone, which is standard, I haven’t yet found a foundation that doesn’t do that. 

The Ordinary Colours Coverage Foundation- Summary

I really like Coverage foundation, I think the shade match is near spot on, and at just £5.90 it’s no big spend to just buy a different shade to blend a custom colour. The longevity is great, the finish is natural. The only issue is that without careful handling Coverage will look cakey and collect in the pores, beaucoup blending is required for sure. I love Wayne Goss for tips on how to do this well. There is so much hype about this product it will be hard for it to live up to it. With a bit of work, Colours Coverage is a foundation that rivals more expensive big hitters like Doublewear. 

Find The Ordinary Colours Coverage foundation at Deciem.com the waiting list is definitely shortening, so you might not be waiting too long. 

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