Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum Gel Foundation review

Another day, another foundation review.

Bourjois Healthy Mix foundation has a bit of a cult following in the UK where it has been available for quite a while. It never quite reached American shores but is available on ASOS for around $14 with free international shipping. The serum version came out in the UK sometime late last year and finally landed on the shelves of Shoppers Drug Mart about 2 months ago.

Damage:
CAN$27 from Shoppers Drug Mart
Promises:
Give your skin a radiance boost with Bourjois’ Healthy Mix Serum Gel foundation – made from a vitamin-rich fruit therapy formula for an even complexion and an instant anti-fatigue result!
Its fresh and instant blending gel texture blends and glides onto the skin for an even, natural finish with no mask effect. Imperfections are erased, signs of fatigue are smoothed and the skin’s radiance is boosted for up to 16 hours*. Made from an instant anti-fatigue vitamin-rich fruit therapy formula with litchi, goji berries and pomegranates. Available in 6 radiance-boosting shades. Tested for you:
69% more radiance after 4 weeks of use!** And…it’s good for my skin!

· Hypoallergenic, lets skin breathe

· Dermatologically tested

Tested for you** :

• Complexion is perfectly even => 97% agreed

• Skin looks rested => 94% agreed

• The complexion is radiant => 89% agreed

• The product feels light feel on the skin => 91% agreed

*Scientifically tested on 10 panellists.

**Tested on 100 consumers for 4 weeks

Review:
I got this foundation in shade 52 Vanille and it is a perfect match for my NC15-20 (Justine did an awesome job guessing my shade! <3). Ladies who are lighter than me will be happy to hear there is shade 51.
It is billed as a "gel foundation" but I don't find the formula very gel-like, instead I find it very similar to Diorskin Nude - light and slightly runnier than normal foundations. It blends beautifully and leaves a slightly dewy, natural looking finish. I do feel that my skin looks brighter when I have the foundation on.
Coverage is medium at best, it won't cover up dark scars but will cover up redness and uneven skin texture nicely.
Perhaps due to the runnier formula, the oil control and lasting abilities of this foundation are rather weak sauce. At around the 5th to 6th hour of wear I begin to notice shiny patches where the foundation has disappeared. Setting with a powder helps but that also takes away the lovely glow this foundation imparts.
As doggedly against fragranced products as I am, I find the light floral scent of this foundation rather pleasant and soothing. Yeah, soon I'm gonna like roses.
At $30 after tax for 30mls of product, I feel the price is a bit steep and definitely not drugstore budget friendly.
Has anyone else noticed that more and more foundations are now coming out in that size? I still remember days when foundations came in 50ml bottles...
I love this foundation, it gives a beautiful finish and my skin looks healthy and glowing when I wear it. I do wish it had better staying power and oil control. I would recommend this foundation to people with dry skin or those who live in regions with dry winters.

Swatchey swatch:

Without foundation:

With foundation:

Close up of finish: