Finally, the most awaited launch from Kay Beauty is here! Yes, Kay By Katrina has just launched their Kay Beauty Hydrating Foundation! Kay Beauty has always been a brand that supports minimal makeup that brings out your natural beauty and skin tone. Hence, we were all hoping for a light-weight foundation with a skin-like finish and a variety of shades to suit Indian skin tones. Does the Kay Beauty Hydrating Foundation live up to these expectations? Let’s find out together!
The Shade Range
The Kay Beauty Hydrating Foundation range currently has 20 shades with different undertones to match a spectrum of Indian skin tones. Each shade name comes with a shade number, a letter to denote the undertone of the foundation (Pink, Yellow, Neutral), and a shade name that denotes how light or dark the shade is (Light, Medium, Tan, Deep). I am happy that the brand has coded their shade names in this manner as it can help us find our match while shopping online. Also, it is great that they have included different undertones in each shade spectrum. While 20 is still not a huge number, it is a good start for a newly launched foundation range.
The brand sent me 4 shades and out of those 135N Medium matched almost perfectly with my skin tone (I am an NC35 in MAC and 230 in Maybelline Fit Me for your reference).
The Packaging
The Kay Beauty Hydrating Foundation comes in a glass bottle with a white pump and lid. The bottle has the same white print that is synonymous with Kay Beauty products by now. The outer carboard box has a lining of foam inside to ensure that the bottle does not break during transit. Also, the lid snaps on tight on the bottle, making the packaging leak-proof and travel-friendly. The shade name and ingredient list is clearly mentioned on the packaging, which I appreciate too. It is these tiny details that make the foundation stand apart from drugstore foundations, and justifies the price tag of INR 1200 for me.
The Formula Of Kay Beauty Hydrating Foundation
As the name suggests, the Kay Beauty Hydrating Foundation has a hydrating formula which in enriched with avocado and mango butter. It has a slightly liquidy, creamy consistency that feels cooling and hydrating on the skin. It blends really easily and offers a skinlike finish without looking cakey or streaky. One layer provides a medium coverage that hides redness, but stubborn blemishes will require a second layer. The formula and coverage is pretty buildable, so you can work in thin layers to achieve the desired coverage.
As for the finish, I was expecting this foundation to be very dewy, but it is in fact velvety matte with a slight sheen to it. It does not make the skin look shiny but gives it a healthy glow that looks quite natural. Even those with extremely oily skin will find this finish suitable for their skin type. Those with dry patches may need a hydrating primer underneath. Another good thing is that this foundation sets within minutes and is almost transferproof after that (which is a blessing for those wearing makeup under masks).
My Final Verdict On The Kay Beauty Hydrating Foundation
Overall, I am quite impressed with the formula of the Kay Beauty Hydrating Foundation. It does not feel heavy on my skin, lasts all day long, and does not look streaky or cakey. The packaging is user-friendly too, and the shade range will hopefully get even bigger with time. As long as you don’t go in hoping for an extremely dewy foundation, I think you will like this one. Like I mentioned before, it has a matte finish with a slight sheen, which you can customize based on what primer you use underneath. As for my oily-skinned beauties, this can be the perfect foundation for summer! Do grab it if you are in the market for a new foundation!
Click here to buy the Kay Beauty Hydrating Foundation!
*PR sample sent by the brand before the launch. The review is based on my true experience. Nykaa links are affiliate.
Mrinalini
Mrinalini is a beauty blogger with over 7 years of experience in reviewing skincare, makeup, and wellness products. Her professional experience in the biomedical space plus her keen interest in testing products spanning decades gives her the upper edge when it comes to reviewing new beauty products, particularly for oily, acne-prone, Indian skin.
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