The Estée Lauder Double Wear Foundation is a popular “Stay-in-Place” foundation that came out in the mid-90’s. But at around $52 per ounce in 2025, is it worth the price? In this economy?
Summary
The Estée Lauder Double Wear Foundation came out a while back, in the 90’s. To this day, I continue to see rave reviews of the foundation, from years past. It seems revered, well-loved, and trusted by many.
Do a quick search online, and you’ll easily find tens of thousands of reviews for the Double Wear foundation. Its rating has stayed at (higher) 4-something stars nearly 30 yrs. since we were granted this special potion.
After having used this foundation for nearly 20 years, I myself consider the foundation nothing short of magical. And its staying power is no secret.
Variations and changes
Checking online, I discovered that the Double Wear line comes with variations. Though I’ve only tried the Double Wear Maximum Cover Camouflage Makeup for Face and Body with SPF 15 and the Double Wear Stay-in-Place Makeup with SPF 10, which is what this review is for.
The other variations are the Sheer Long-Wear Foundation with SPF 19, and a Stay-in-Place Matte Powder Foundation.
Is there more to Estée Lauder using the term makeup, as opposed to foundation?
Is this like that situation where sparkling wine can only be called champagne if it comes from France’s Champagne region? 🤨
Either way, I personally find this “makeup” so pigmented without being heavy (unless you decide to apply a thicker layer), that I would consider it a cross between foundation and concealer.
In fact, if I remember correctly, Estée Lauder used the tag line “semi-permanent makeup” before. Even though they have since changed this. Probably because…semi-permanent makeup sounds a little bit scary. Like a lot of us want makeup to stay on our faces only until a certain point.
My first encounter with the Double Wear foundation
It was the mid-2000’s, and I was just learning makeup. From the US, grandma (may she rest in peace) sent a 1 oz. tube of the Estée Lauder Double Wear Maximum Cover Camouflage Makeup for Face and Body (with SPF 15).
Back then, I lived in a very humid part of Asia, where makeup slides off easily because you’re always sweating. The shade of the Double Wear makeup that grandma sent was about 2 shades darker than my skin tone. I decided to try the makeup anyway.
The sticker on the tube said it was a tester. Now I like to think that grandma had a friend that worked at the Estée Lauder counter and gave her half-used testers every now and then. But I’d be lying if I said it didn’t cross my mind that maybe our grandparents had antics they never talked to us about. 🤔
Comparing the Double Wear with other foundations I’d tried before, it was hard not to notice the Double Wear’s superior quality.
The GOOD: What I LIKE about the Estée Lauder Double Wear Foundation
As I was writing this review, I realized how much the Estée Lauder Double Wear Foundation, like Mr Perfect, could also be much like a person or friend with great characteristics. Let’s call her… Be………….stée.
Like your makeup bestie. This is what Bestée is like.
Understanding, makes you feel welcome
With 57 shades available, the brand is no doubt inclusive, and appears to see and understand different skin tones and undertones. The 57 shades makes sure that the Double Wear shade you get is as close as possible to your exact skin tone. I remember when this wasn’t the case, growing up.
Double Wear has also been the best for my combination skin type: oily around the T-zone, but dry around my cheeks and the sides of my nose, mouth and forehead.
Of substance, kind
Bestée is like your friend that supports you as you struggle to take the last few steps to your doorstep, after a night out when you’ve partied too hard. And of course, they’re DD. Always.
At the beach, they always remember to bring you an umbrella. Bestée will do anything and everything for you.
Likewise, Estée Lauder’s Double Wear makeup seems to be made of quality ingredients that work amazingly on my skin. I’ve had people tell me
“You have good skin.”
But idk.
I think it’s the foundation.
Double Wear is smooth and creamy, has a small amount of SPF (10), and is mattifying, yet not drying. And of course, it’s fragrance-free.
Ewg rates 2 shades of the Double Wear foundation low hazard.
(Below: I realize this foundation is lighter than my skintone, being Asian, I have tan skin that tans even more during the hotter months of the year).
Ended up laying on a thicker layer of the makeup than usual here (left), but, to me at least, the makeup looks really smooth upon first application. Compared to (right), after 8 hours having the Double Wear on.
Sorry I missed a spot around my hairline there.
Has your back
Applies and blends seamlessly without much effort. Whether you use your fingers, a sponge or a makeup brush. This is giving Bestée works well on her own, or with others.
The Double Wear foundation feels lightweight, but offers good coverage. Yes. Bestée has got you covered every time, tells your mom (per your request) that you’re with them, when your mom calls. Even when the truth is that you’re at the beach with your summertime person that you’re just hanging out with. Don’t get ideas.
The foundation seems to “get along” with other products. I like to use my Smashbox Photo Finish control mattifying primer under this foundation, and set the look using setting powder. This gives me that “good skin” look.
Used with different products from other brands, Double Wear makeup doesn’t get cakey. It can also be applied in layers and works fine without primer.
Presents well
All the gold on the bottle (cap, lettering) almost makes you feel rich (or bougie).
Apart from that, this makeup covers like a dream, and results in a flawless finish. Offering between medium and full coverage, the product hides my huge pores and skin’s texture.
Stays with you
Bestée is like a tried and true friend that stays with you and will cut their hair with you after you’ve just broken up with your long-term boyfriend. The Double Wear foundation’s longevity is nothing short of amazing, the makeup stays on for 8 hours, easy.
The few times I had the Double Wear foundation on for 12 hours or so a few times in the past, it just gave this faded but still flawless look, and didn’t completely come off until I needed it to.
Once dry, it transfers minimally. In humid environments, it performs much better than other foundation I’ve tried.
But does not overstay their welcome
Removes easily. I use a Glossier makeup remover with some water and a reusable makeup remover.
Awesome travel buddy
The glass bottle is travel-friendly (checked bag), and the glass is thick. I’m not sure how likely it is to break, but I’ve dropped mine at least twice, and that hasn’t happened.
No friendship drama
With Double Wear, I have experienced no breakouts, or skin irritation. Of course, your skin may react differently. But this has been my experience with the Estée Lauder Double Wear makeup.
Nothing compares
Just…nothing. Bestée always has your back. I remember when I opted to wear drugstore makeup to my cousin’s wedding in San Diego. It became so hot and humid that I was basically left makeup-less by the end of the wedding ceremony. Pretty sure this wouldn’t have happened with Bestée!
Who would Double Wear makeup work best for?
As someone that works a client-facing job, I find that this foundation works best for me at work. I’ve used other foundation, but I feel like I start to look like melting wax after a couple of hours, with lower quality makeup.
Which left me in a particular quandary, and had me asking myself…
“Are there days when I want to look nice, and days when I want to look like melting wax?“
me
And I came to the conclusion that…there are probably 0 days when I want my face to look like melting wax.
The BAD: What I DON’T LIKE about the Estée Lauder Double Wear Foundation
The Double Wear foundation packaging could be better
While the gold on the packaging makes you feel rich (or bougie) and all the nice feels, I think the container could be improved, and the process of getting the product out could be better. The packaging is somehow giving me Anastasia Beverly Hills vibes.
I have to Master the Art of Pouring?
Since there’s no way to squeeze the glass bottle, I’ve poured this foundation out onto my makeup mixing palette many times since I got my first bottle. Yet while I’m familiar with how thick the product is, I still haven’t mastered the art of pouring it out, to get just enough product.
So “ngl,” as my kid says—it’s hard not to wish for a dropper, stick or pump to get the foundation out.
My $10 foundation has one. Why can’t Estée Lauder include that, too?
At the end of the day, why should one have to develop a skill, just to get foundation out of a bottle? Or should I really have to buy a pump separately?
It’s 2025, everything is more expensive and at $52 (Ulta, Sephora, Nordstrom) for 1 ounce of product, Estée Lauder could probably do a little better.
It would also be nice to easily get the last few drops of this foundation out. So far, I’ve mostly used my cosmetic spatula, and that helps, but not all that much. I wish someone would invent a contraption that could suck the last few drops of this expensive makeup and deliver it to me on a small palette. 🤔 Like a robotic spider assistant.
Tends to settle…
Not for less—but around the big pores of my nose, after a few hours.
Gurl knows her worth
And that’s a good thing. However… It’s like, hard to chill with Bestée because of her basic requirement that you pick her up in a Mercedes (or better) whenever you guys plan a night out.
Once you’ve picked her up, she’ll make it known that she’s only hanging out at the nice bars, as per usual, where the apps are molecular in size and cost $30-something a pop.
Bestée’s not the friend you do free, makeup-free activities with, either, like laying around on the grass at the park while lip-syncing to some T-Swizzle hits.
With inflation skyrocketing, it isn’t easy to afford expensive makeup.
Plus, with prices set to go up even more, what do we do?
So while Bestée is super awesome, sadly, it isn’t always easy to enjoy Bestée’s company. 🥲
Estée Lauder the brand is not OK
Apparently, it turns out, Estée Lauder has struggled to revitalize its image, market effectively and stay relevant to Millennials and Gen Z, the company’s market cap. going down $100B+ in 3 years.
Which to me is unfortunate, because I and many others I’ve met believe in the power of the Double Wear makeup.
and I’d just put on this ‘HD’ foundation
There’s this one “HD” liquid foundation that I like, but at around 1/3 of the price, it isn’t nearly as outstanding.
The product seems to slide off after a shorter period of time.
It leaves me looking like an ‘oil tycoon‘ on particularly hot days.
I recommend the Estée Lauder Double Wear Foundation
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5)
This Estée Lauder Double Wear makeup is expensive, but if you can afford it and want to look like you have “good skin” working your client-facing job, then I highly recommend it. Or maybe you want to look flawless on your wedding day or other special occasion. It’d be the ideal makeup for those, too.
Hands down, this, in my book, is what foundation is supposed to be.
However, since the foundation is not cheap and times are tough for us and many others out there, I’ll try to make these two that I have last a while, and will be using a teeny tiny dollop at a time. Sometimes, I extend it a little bit using cheaper foundation. 😅
Next time I find myself running out of this makeup, I’ll wait for a sale. Likewise, it will have to be a very good sale—like half price or so, which I honestly doubt will happen. Obviously, this makeup is really expensive.
I’ll also try to sign up for promotional emails, if Estée Lauder offers that.
Again, I haven’t found a replacement, drugstore or high-end, that’s worked as exceptionally as the Double Wear foundation, when it comes to giving one ‘flawless’ skin, as well as being longwearing and staying matte for as long as possible.
Of course, if the economy stays this way for a while, I’ll have no choice but to move on and find something more affordable and less magical.
Any reliable quality foundation you would recommend? One that doesn’t break the bank?
Leave a Reply