'I tried the $12 Kmart foundation that's supposed to rival the expensive stuff. Here's my verdict.'

Mamamia’s Tried and Tested series is your review of the latest to hit our desks in beauty, health and wellbeing. You won’t find any #sponsored content here, just honest, relatable and independent advice. This week, Mamamia's Beauty Editor trials OXX Cosmetics Hyaluronic Acid Hydrating Foundation.

If there's one affordable brand my You Beauty podcast co-host and fellow beauty lover Kelly McCarren always raves about, it's Kmart brand OXX Cosmetics. Heard of it? She always seems to find some really good golden nuggets that often rival some of the high-end skincare and makeup products — and goodness knows, we all LOVE a good beauty dupe.

And while I always mean to grab a couple of her fantastic makeup recommendations when I'm in there every second day of my life, I either a) have my hands too full with things I don't need, b) I'm furiously looking for *that* puffer jacket everyone raves about or c) I'm hunting for the $30 TikTok jeans everyone keeps hiding from me.

Watch: Mamamia's beauty editor tries the viral 10-pump foundation hack. Post continues below.

But FINALLY, the other week I went in for a stroll and drifted straight towards the beauty aisle on a g-damn mission. And goodness, it is positively BURSTING with affordable gems. 

So many brands! So many things! Must try it all!

At the top of my list, however, was a new everyday foundation. You see, I've nearly hit the bottom of my everyday favourite from Flower Beauty — so I was keen to see what else was getting around. Because not to be dramatic or anything, but after I tried Flower Beauty, I promised myself I'm never going to spend big on foundation again.

And then I saw her. OXX Cosmetics Hyaluronic Acid Hydrating Foundation, at a very impressive $12.

I snagged one (and maybe a few other things) (see: the Charlotte Tilbury Beauty Light Wand dupes) (and also: the Drunk Elephant Bronzing Drops dupe) (and omg what's this...).

ANYWAY. Back to the foundation. 

In case you're also in the market for a new everyday foundation that won't tear your wallet apart and rip it into teeny little shreds, I thought I'd share my experience with you. 

So! Is Kmart's affordable foundation about to be my new everyday formula? Here's everything you need to know.

What is OXX Cosmetics Hyaluronic Acid Hydrating Foundation?

Oh, how rude of me! The introductions. 

On the Kmart website, it says OXX Cosmetics Hyaluronic Acid Hydrating Foundation is enriched with the goodness of skin-nourishing and hydrating ingredients such as hyaluronic acid and vitamin E. It also says it has a serum-like finish and offers medium-to-full coverage.

Sounds pretty good!

Here's what it looks like:

Say hi! (Be nice).

Cute!

Now, as someone with perpetually dry, thirsty skin, any kind of makeup x skincare hybrid formula with the word 'hydration' slapped on the front sounds like a very good time for me. 

I also love foundation coverage that boasts a serum-like finish, as I prefer more minimal coverage and hate feeling like I'm wearing a mask. 

How did you go with it?

Okay, now for the juicy part! I went with the shade 'Cool Sand' and tested it out on a day where I had to be on camera for a podcast interview and attend a client meeting — which was ultimately very brave/silly but apparently I like to take risks like that. ¯\_ (ツ)_/¯ 

Now, just as a background, my skin has been VERY dry as of late (like, even drier than usual) so I knew this would be a tough test for any foundation, let alone a newbie. 

Alright. My first impression? The formula was a little thicker than I expected. Not thick, thick — but certainly not serum-worthy runny. You know? 

See?

Upon application, I found it covered redness and niggling spots around my chin/entire face really well and it actually offered way more coverage than I expected. 

I did find that I had to switch from applying the formula with my hands (I usually just apply foundation with my fingers) to a brush/sponge situation in order to really blend it in seamlessly — so, I noticed it took a little more work than my usual Flower Beauty or Rimmel Kind & Free faves.

The formula itself feels lightweight on the face, but as I said, offers a decent amount of coverage (even with only one layer!). However, throughout the day I did notice some patchiness around my nose and chin. And look, it's hard to say if it was the fact I touch my face every two minutes or if it's just not as long-wearing as some of the other formulas but it maybe wasn't as hydrating as I'd hoped. 

The second time I wore it, I switched out my SPF for another SPF formula (I've found the OG sunscreen I usually use can sometimes be a little funny with different makeup) and discovered there was way less pilling and patchiness. 

Hooray!

The verdict.

While I was just a little conscious about the patchiness on the first day, the process of elimination when it came to certain skincare products really helped. I also think that next time, I would probably ramp up the hydration a little bit more beforehand to really make sure things are juicy and happy underneath — because while it boasts hydrating ingredients, my dry skin needed more. 

All in all, I think this is a great affordable option if you're looking for a new everyday foundation that won't break the bank. At $12, I don't think you can go wrong. 

While it certainly doesn't beat my other two favourite everyday formulas, I'll certainly get the wear out of it and feel like it's a great gem if you really don't want to spend big on coverage.

Give it a whirl for yourself!

What are your thoughts? Have you tried any of the OXX Cosmetics range? Share your experience with us in the comment section below.

Feature image: Supplied.

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