We waited 4 whole years for Vieve to launch its first foundation – here's our honest review

Ever since she launched Vieve in 2020, Jamie Genevieve has given us sun-flushed skin with her award-winning cream bronzer and made Skin Dew the easiest, one-and-done nod to glass skin.

But there has always been one missing piece among Vieve's glowing complexion products, and fans have long been clamouring for a foundation. Well, the wait is finally over. Meet the new Vieve Skin Nova Complexion Balm, which goes on sale today and promises to both tend to skin and deliver a natural-looking veil of colour.

Foundation is undeniably a saturated makeup category. Making your mark with a standout product takes both time and innovation, not to mention a lot of testing and tweaking of the formula. Especially as the compass has shifted away from simply coverage and colour.

These days our demands have grown, and multi-tasking hybrid cosmetics are booming. Every layer of product we apply has to nourish our skin and make it look as though it's bathed in candlelight.

So Jamie has spent over two years finessing the Vieve Skin Nova Complexion Balm formula to create a foundation powered by skincare. Think light-to-medium buildable coverage but with the added benefit of high-performance ingredients, including niacinamide to improve skin tone and brightness, polyglutamic acid for hydration and refined pores, while collagen amino acids deliver plumpness.

Texture-wise the foundation is true to its name: all 20 shades have a balmy, buttery feel and the formula has been designed to stretch and hug your facial contours.

So if you love the glow-boosting benefits of Skin Nova, but want a tinted finish, this, say Vieve, is your new must-have. But what did our four team members and a surprise guest think when they tried it?

The product:

Shade: 230

Personally, I love a natural glowy finish, which gives skin a ‘your skin but better look’, which is why we created a foundation that gives exactly that in a tube. I love the fact this foundation is packed with skincare ingredients but is also pliable and lasts on the skin.

Polyglutamic acid is the star of the show for me in this foundation as it means your skin stays hydrated and looking fresh all day. Whoever created it really is a genius…! Hydration is what gives your foundation longevity and keeps skin looking incredible through the day.

It’s so easy to apply – you can use fingertips, a brush or a sponge. I find it's the perfect foundation for ‘off duty’ looks, if you are going to the gym and you just want your skin to look a touch better. But because of the buildability, it's also perfect for a night out or even your wedding day. It fills a gap for me. What more could you ask for from a foundation?

Shade: 210

I'm finicky when it comes to foundation, which is why I often skip it. I don't want anything too glowy as that tends to translate to a shiny finish after a few hours of wear in real life. But I don't want a base that is too heavy or matte, either.

I first tried the Skin Nova Complexion Balm at the press launch back in June. It was a muggy day, so I was hesitant about applying a product with the word ‘balm’ in its name. But the formula felt so addictively comfortable to wear, any worries quickly went out the window and I received so many compliments on my skin from friends at dinner later that night.

Over the past two weeks, I've been road-testing the Complexion Balm in all sorts of weather. It isn't just a formula that suits one time of year, although I feel like dry, winter skin will thank you for its hydrating properties. Applying it feels like you've swept your moisturiser on with a makeup brush and the fresh floral scent only adds to that impression.

Most important for me, though: it hits the Goldilocks sweet spot of being dewy, without feeling sticky, and has just the right amount of pigment to still look like skin and let your freckles peak through. I'm seriously impressed and will be using this down to the last drop.

Rating: 9.5/10

Shade: 340

I’ve always struggled to find my perfect foundation match, but Vieve has knocked it out of the park. I was genuinely astounded to finally find a foundation that would match my neutral and cool undertones without any red hints. The foundation glided onto my skin like butter and blended out beautifully.

I’m also someone who doesn’t like a cakey or thick foundation, but this looked just like skin. It covered up any kind of scarring or texture I had on my face but no one could tell I was wearing a full face of makeup. I also didn’t have any issues with my other products, and was able to apply my usual concealer, blush, powder and setting spray with no issues at all.

I would absolutely recommend anyone try this out if you’re looking for a glass skin-like finish or a natural makeup look. My only issue with it, is that I don’t have a bigger bottle!

Rating: 9/10

Shade: 310

Vieve is responsible for one of my favourite blushes, so I was excited to try the new Complexion Balm when it landed in the GLAMOUR office. Beyond the sleek packaging, the first thing I noticed when I began applying the foundation was the delicious light, floral smell that it gave. I don't think I've ever used a foundation that actively smells good, so right off the bat Vieve gets extra marks for that.

Skin Nova's texture is slightly thicker than the lighter formulas I tend to opt for, so a little felt like plenty to cover my entire face, with the product being buildable depending on the type of coverage you're after.

Using the shade 310, I found the colour itself a close match for my tanned olive skin and it evened out any redness or blemishes with ease and wore well through the day.

The thing I was most impressed with, however, was the lit-from-within, dewy glow it gave me without making me look oily – a fine balance! All in all, I can definitely see myself getting through this entire tube and will be repurchasing promptly when I do.

Rating: 8/10

Shade: 130

A quality medium coverage foundation is always welcome in my makeup arsenal, especially when it's coming from a brand like Vieve. In fact, dare I say that this might just be the most exciting product launch from the brand to date?

I loved the natural-looking skin-like finish, which was a perfect balance between dewy and matte. The coverage is easily buildable and the creamy formula blends with ease. And as someone who has dry skin, I appreciated how hydrating it felt on the skin (no dry patches in sight). I can easily see myself reaching for it through all seasons – rain or shine.

Rating: 9/10

For more from Fiona Embleton, GLAMOUR's Associate Beauty Director, follow her on @fiembleton.