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As a beauty editor, I don’t discern products by price. Rather, I discern by performance. Whether I’m shopping for drugstore heroes or high-end investment items, I will openly and gladly declare a product “overhyped” if it doesn’t give me exceptional results. Period. That context is critical for what I’m here to discuss today—Hermès’s first-ever foundation.
Now, obviously, Hermès is a luxury brand, and its beauty selection reflects that. (It makes sense that the brand that brought us the Birkin Bag is going to produce other investment-worthy items, beauty or otherwise.) Still, I was shocked to see that its foundation costs $145, and I had to know whether it was worth it. So I put it to the test. Ahead, read my truly honest review after using it for two weeks.
Hermès Plein Air Luminous Matte Skincare Foundation
hermès
Plein Air Luminous Matte Skincare Foundation
Here it is—Hermès Luminous Matte Skincare Foundation. It was conceived and created by Gregoris Pyrpylis, creative director of Hermès Beauty, to combine high-performance makeup, effective skincare, and a natural-looking result (the trifecta!).
It offers medium coverage and, as the name implies, a matte finish. Unlike the cakey, one-dimensional foundations of yesterday, this is a modern matte formula—it has a velvety cloud-like finish. It also offers 16-hour hold with heat, humidity, and sweat resistance. Oh, and skin benefits.
It’s actually more skincare than it is makeup. The foundation has an 82% skincare base with a trio of active ingredients: niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, and white mulberry extract. The first is a do-it-all ingredient that smooths, brightens, and improves skin quality. The second is our favorite hydrating hero. And the third is an antioxidant that plumps the skin and protects it from oxidative stress.
That all sounds very impressive, but does it deliver on those promises? And can it really make the complexion look flawlessly, velvety smooth? To answer those questions, I had to put it to the test. See my before and after photos below.
The Before-and-Afters
Before
Beauty editor Kaitlyn McLintock before applying Hermès Plein Air Luminous Matte Skincare Foundation
(Image credit: @kaitlyn_mclintock)
After
Beauty editor Kaitlyn McLintock after applying Hermès Plein Air Luminous Matte Skincare Foundation
(Image credit: @kaitlyn_mclintock)
My Review
I have incredibly dry, dehydrated, and redness-prone skin. In fact, I put this foundation through a trial by fire because I used it for the first time during a particularly intense rosacea flare-up. Lo and behold, it disguised my patchy redness without highlighting my dryness and texture. It looked smooth, like a second skin, blurred my pores, and made my complexion look like it had a natural, lit-from-within luminosity. And it continued to do all of those things, hour after hour, day after day, for two full weeks of testing.
Honestly, I feel like my “after” photo doesn’t even do it justice. IRL, the foundation looked almost undetectable on my skin, and it didn’t cling to fine lines, oxidize, or separate when I kept hitting it with face mist throughout the day. When I added blush, bronzer, and powder on top, it looked nearly flawless.
Needless to say, I’m impressed by this formula, but I strongly feel I should be, seeing as it’s so pricey. I’ll never claim that anyone *needs* a $145 foundation, but I will say I recommend it if your budget allows it. And I’m officially welcoming it into my list of hall-of-fame foundations for rosacea, which I don’t do lightly!
hermés
Plein Air Moisturizing and Unifying Perfecting Primer
It’s also worth noting that Hermès offers an accompanying primer (for a whopping $110 per bottle). I personally didn’t use it alongside the foundation since I wanted to put the latter to the test without any help. That said, it’s designed to prep the skin and enhance the results of it thanks to a lightweight texture and a smoothing and moisturizing formula.
It’s a universal primer that suits all skin tones and melts into the skin, offering a totally transparent finish and a lit-from-within radiance, while blurring pores and smoothing skin texture. It’s also heat-, humidity-, and sweatproof.
Shop 3 More Hermès Beauty Products
hermès
Matte Lipstick in Rouge Casaque
I’ve waxed poetic about Hermès’s Matte Lipstick in Rouge Casaque for years. I know it’s expensive, as all Hermès products are, but in my opinion, it’s truly worth the investment if you (even occasionally) wear red lipstick. It has a velvety-matte texture and the most stunning color payoff. And the shade! Rouge Casaque is the ideal fiery red. Like I said, it’s been years, and I’m still just as obsessed as I was at first swipe.
hermès
Les Mains Hermès Nail Polish in Rouge Casaque
The only thing that’s chicer than wearing a luxurious red lipstick is to match that lipstick to your nail polish. Hermès Rouge Casaque Nail Polish is another must-have.
hermès
Rose Hermès Silky Blush in Rose Ambre
I also have an unhealthy obsession with Hermès’s powder blushes. They dust across the skin like a dream, requiring virtually no blending for soft, blooming color.
Why Trust Us
At Who What Wear, we know that beauty isn’t one-size-fits-all. Over the years, our editors have tested thousands of products—including skincare, makeup, haircare, and nails—while also working closely with trusted experts, like renowned dermatologists, celebrity makeup artists, and other leading industry insiders. Together, this ensures every guide is well-researched, inclusive, and relevant to you.
We focus on formulas that deliver, whether they’re affordable favorites or luxury investments. Our product selection is based on tangible results, ingredient know-how, and what we’d truly recommend to our closest friends and family members.
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