I adore everything about Paul & Joe Beauté makeup, but a couple of things really stand out for me.
First is their adorable, feminine, fanciful packaging. Recently, I reviewed a couple of their eyeshadow quads in charming print compacts here as well as their girlie primer here. Second is the heavenly scent that the brand fragrances many of their products with. I often apply their Silky Pressed Powder (reviewed here) just so I can get a whiff! I wish I could describe the scent because it’s unlike anything I have ever smelled. It’s sweetish, slightly floral, slightly powdery, and totally unusual. And for a scent-lover like me, it’s wonderful that it doesn’t disappear immediately. I love that it lingers a bit.
So I mention those two Paul & Joe Beauté characteristics because their new Gel Foundation and Compact fits that bill to a T!
Like the eyeshadow quads that I mentioned above, the Gel Foundation and its Mirrored Compact are sold separately.
After you finish up the foundation, you can buy the foundation on its own and just pop it into the pretty pearlized plastic embossed compact. Environmentally-friendlier and no need to buy another compact.
BTW, it comes with a handy mirror and flat blending sponge that is a useful tool and that is fairly easy to clean.
The water-based gel foundation has an amazingly lightweight solid creamy texture. P&J refer to it as a “veil”, and I think it’s a perfect description. It’s great for summer because it feels like I’m not wearing any foundation at all!
Although Paul & Joe describe it as full coverage, I’d say it’s medium coverage that looks very natural on me. My freckles do show through, but maybe I could do a second application. On other people, it may provide more coverage. Another thing I love about it is its easy to carry it with me to touch up.
Paul & Joe Beauté Gel Foundation is sooooooo hydrating. It really feels like wearing a skincare product rather than makeup. Although I just said that it’s great for summer because it’s so lightweight, it’ll be terrific for winter too because it’s so hydrating. It’s got about a million hydrating ingredients in it. The key hydrators include:
- a dual form of marine collagen that has hyaluronic acid and amino acids
- theanine, a constituent of green tea that retains a high degree of moisture in all environmental conditions
as well as Great Burnet extract, oyster extract, pearl calc, green tea extract, and zostera marina extract. A number of ingredients that I am unfamiliar with but cool nonetheless.
The foundation is also formulated with two different powders that:
- both even and brighten skin tone
- diffuse reflected light
- make pores less visible.
I chose the lightest shade (10) of five available shades that range from Fair to Medium or so IMO. The shade looks darker in the pan than it does on my face or in a swatch.
It’s a good match for my face which because I wear sunscreen is now slightly lighter than my neck and chest though I wear sunscreen on them too!
In addition to loving the lightweight feel, I just love the scent of Paul & Joe Beauté Gel Foundation. In fact, I often reach for the Gel Foundation because the lovely scent is so calming.
Paul & Joe Beauté Gel Foundation is priced at $32 and the Gel Foundation Case/Mirrored Compact is $18. It is sold on BeautyHabit.com. Made in Japan.
All in all I found Paul & Joe Beaute Gel Foundation to be quite similar to IT Cosmetics Confidence In A Cream: it comes in the same form, it’s about the same weight on the skin and about the same coverage. Although Confidence In A Cream offers 7 shades to P&J’s 5 shades, I found the IT Confidence In A Cream shades to skew a bit yellow for my more pink-toned skin. The key differences are that Confidence In A Cream contains a substantial sunscreen, and I don’t think Paul & Joe Gel Foundation has sunscreen. But I love the Paul & Joe fragrance. Glad I have both!
What do you think? Is this Gel Foundation from Paul & Joe something you’d consider?
What a lovely review, Allison! I would have thought the coverage and finish would be thicker but good to know that it’s very lightweight.
Shireen L. Platt recently posted…THE ‘LET’S GET NOSEY’ EDITION: WHAT’S IN MY BAG?
Like Confidence In A Compact, it’s the perfect weight for summer.
I love that your freckles show through! I have two redhaired sisters. One covers her freckles and the other does not and I love the freckles that show through. Just reminds me of a time when women went with what they had and didn’t try to blur their beauty. Now on the other hand I have age spots that I have tried to cover with every product available. Lol
Thank you, Sandy! I think freckles are cute too so I don’t really mind that they show through. I like this lightweight coverage for the heat of summer, but like you, I have age spots that are the result of sun damage in addition to the few cute freckles, and those require coverage with a heavy duty concealer. For me, Judith August cream concealer (I have the trio called Orange Masking Cream) works best.
The packaging definitely is adorable! The formula sounds divine, and I love the way that it look on you, Allison. I really like that your skin can be seen!
Lola Seicento recently posted…Makeup Wars! Summer Lip Colors to Covet
Thank you, Helen!
The packaging is so pretty and the light coverage is just what I like. I’m really happy that there is no sunscreen in it, too. I’d love to try this foundation!
Erika recently posted…My Favorite Summer Lip Colours | Makeup Wars
Yes, the no sunscreen can be a plus! I apply it over my Jan Marini SPF 45 Mineral Sunscreen and I love that it’s so light. I wish they sold P&J in stores so it would be easier for those who haven’t tried the brand to check it out
I always love seeing Paul & Joe’s foundation. I bought a water-gel foundation a couple of days ago, but sadly did not listen to the SA and went for the next shade, which of course is too deep on looking properly, so I have no idea if I’m going to love water gel foundations! And it’s Chantecaille which means I’ve literally burnt money for no reason and cannot return it as I’ve just left!
CosmetopiaDigest recently posted…Beauty Empties: July 2017
I’ll be eager to hear what you think about the Chantecaille water gel foundation. I love the feel of this one. I hope the shade you chose will work for you!!
I hate IT’s Confidence in a Compact formula; and this one seems like the coverage for me would be too light (darn rosacea!!) but on you – that pic shows a wonderful, natural result! I’m so curious about this scent. I may need to pick up a powder to experience it!!!
Judy recently posted…July Empties!
If you didn’t like Confidence In A Compact, then I don’t think this would work for you either. Nevertheless, the P&J scent is so nice. I hope you’ll have a chance to check it out in a product that suits you better someday!
The formula sounds nice – I would need more coverage though! Too many acne scars and melasma!
Jen Mathews recently posted…Is J.R. Watkins Cruelty Free?
I agree. This is a wonderful lightweight foundation but I wouldn’t describe it as full coverage.
The packaging is very pretty!
Kimmi @ The Plastic Diaries recently posted…Best New Beauty – July 2017
Yes, all of the Paul and Joe Beaute packaging is supercute!
I love P&J packaging but the fragrance part wouldn’t be good for me. Their eyeshadows on the other hand are beautiful.
MarciaF recently posted…The Sunday Scoop Giveaway post is shining today
You’re right, Marcia, I don’t think you’d like so much scent on your face 😉
I have a lot of Paul & Joe things but I end up never reaching for them.
Cindy (Prime Beauty) recently posted…Makeup Wars Summer Lip Colors!
I use their pressed powder most often of all the products that I have from them because I like the powder itself and I love the scent.
I love the sound of the foundation! I need to revisit P&J, I used to buy their lipsticks before
This sounds like a really nice foundation. I have always wanted to try this brand because of their cute packaging and I’ve heard nothing but great things.
I love a good light weight foundation. I’m one of those people that can’t stand super thick foundations that feel very heavy on, so I think I would probably enjoy this. Also, this packaging is to die for. How beautiful is that packaging
Paul & Joe Gel Foundation is super lightweight (but it doesn’t contain sunscreen) and oh so natural looking on. The packaging is supercute like all of their adorable products!
Well, I love that IT Cosmetics foundation, so I’d love to give this one a try! The packaging on that is so pretty!
Christine recently posted…June and July Beauty Favorites That I’ve Been Wearing and Loving
It is so lightweight it’s wonderful for summer though it is very hydrating. As with all of their products, the packaging really is adorable
They have the loveliest packaging! And I love foundations that look natural and don’t hide my skin.
Anastasia recently posted…Lancome Teint Idole Ultra Wear Foundation Swatches & Review
I think you’d like the Paul & Joe Gel Foundation especially for summer!
I’ve been very set in my ways using the same foundation, but I love the sound of this. Plus, how cute is the compact?1
Bailey recently posted…Pearlesque Box | August 2017 Osea
What is your HG foundation, Bailey? Just curious. I think I still reach for MUFE Ultra HD liquid or stick most often. But I must say, these gel/solid serum foundations are nice for the summer