A clean foundation is difficult. It can sound perfect on the net, then feel bad on the skin by noon. Overly shiny. Too dry. Too thin. Or worse, it looks good in the bathroom and weird the second you step outside. withSimplicity Liquid Foundation is a clean, oil-free and vegan base made for easy everyday coverage without a heavy makeup feel.
If you want a cleaner base that still feels like makeup, the withSimplicity Liquid Foundation is worth a look. It’s touted as clean, oil-free, vegan, cruelty-free and better for everyday wear than heavy glam. That already gives you the lane: natural-looking skin, not a mask.
withSimplicity Liquid Foundation feels more like an everyday base than a heavy full-glam product. It gives light-to-medium coverage, so it can even out the skin without hiding every bit of texture. The oil-free formula also makes it a better fit for people who don’t like greasy or overly dewy foundations.
About withSimplicity
Based in Harrisonburg, Virginia, withSimplicity is a clean beauty brand. Beauty Heroes says the brand was founded by Irina Dovganetskiy and has plant-based ingredients, simple routines and mindful beauty. The brand’s own site also situates it around clean skincare and makeup, with plant-powered makeup as part of the line.
So this is not a loud stage makeup brand. It is soft. It is simple. It is skin first. If you like a full coverage foundation that covers everything in one swipe, this might be a miss for you. “If you’re looking for a cleaner ingredient story, a daily base makes more sense.
Quick Product Details
Here’s the fast version.
- Product: withSimplicity Liquid Foundation.
- Price noted in the reference review: $42 for 1 fl. oz.
- Coverage: adjustable light to medium.
- Finish: natural, semi-matte.
- Formula notes: oil-free, vegan, cruelty-free, gluten-free.
- Added fragrance/dye notes: no artificial dyes or synthetic fragrances added.
- Packaging noted in the review: glass bottle.
- Best for: normal, combination, oily, or breakout-prone skin.
- Less ideal for: very dry skin or anyone wanting heavy coverage.
The reference review also mentions $2 sample packets, which is useful because guessing foundation shades online is a small form of punishment.
What Makes It Different?
The interesting bit is the oil-free clean formula.
A lot of clean foundations lean balmy, oily, or very dewy. That can look lovely on dry skin, but on oily or combination skin it can turn shiny fast. withSimplicity Liquid Foundation is positioned differently. The review describes it as oil-free, with no coconut oil, and says it feels lightweight and breathable on the skin.
That’s the selling point. Not magic. Not “perfect skin in a bottle.” Just a cleaner foundation that may work better if greasy base products usually annoy you.
Ingredients and Formula Feel
The reference review says the formula is made with non-GMO ingredients, many of them certified organic. It also mentions ingredients like aloe, lavender, and oregano. The brand’s own site says it sells clean skincare and makeup made with all-natural, organic, high-quality ingredients.
That sounds good, but don’t turn off your brain. Botanical ingredients can suit some skin and bother other skin. Clean does not mean every face will love it. If your skin reacts easily, patch test first. Boring, yes. Still smarter than finding out during a workday.
Coverage and Finish
Expect light to medium coverage with a natural, semi-matte finish.
It means it should even out redness, soften uneven tone and make the skin look more pulled together. It won’t take out every stain. Chances are if you have acne scars, dark spots or stronger redness, you’ll still need concealer.
The review says the coverage is buildable but notes that going beyond medium coverage can cause it to settle into lines and look less fresh. This is helpful. A few foundations are better if you stop layering too soon. Sounds like one of those.
How It May Wear
For combination or oily skin, this foundation has a stronger case. The reference reviewer says they have combination skin that leans oily and didn’t need setting powder. They also said it wasn’t greasy or dewy and still looked good near the end of the day.
For dry skin, be more careful. The same review says it may cling to dry patches and might feel too dry for some people. That doesn’t mean dry skin can’t wear it. It means prep matters.
Use moisturiser first. Let it settle. Apply thin layers. Don’t attack your face with three pumps and then wonder why it looks heavy.
How to Apply It
Start small.
Use one light layer from the centre of the face outward. A damp sponge gives a softer look. A brush gives a little more coverage. Fingers can work if you like a quick, casual finish.
Build only where needed: around the nose, on redness, over light marks. Don’t keep adding foundation everywhere just because one area needs more help. That’s how base makeup gets cakey.
Pros
- Clean beauty positioning.
- Oil-free formula.
- No coconut oil noted in the reference review.
- Vegan and cruelty-free.
- Gluten-free.
- No artificial dyes or synthetic fragrances added.
- Lightweight feel.
- Buildable light-to-medium coverage.
- Natural, semi-matte finish.
- Better suited to oily or combination skin than many dewy clean bases.
- Sample packets may help with shade matching.
Cons
- Not full coverage.
- May settle into lines if overbuilt.
- May cling to dry patches.
- Very dry skin may need extra prep.
- The vanilla scent may feel strong for scent-sensitive users.
- The pump may dispense more product than needed.
- Shade matching online can still be annoying.
None of these are dealbreakers for everyone. They’re just the things to know before buying.
Who Should Try It?
This pure, oil-free foundation is recommended. It delivers a natural, non-heavy makeup finish that feels comfortable for daily wear. It is suitable for combination oily, oily, and acne-prone skin types, and meets the demand for a clear, lightweight base makeup.
This foundation is a sound choice that meets the needs of three categories of beauty consumers. It complies with vegan and cruelty-free requirements, and contains no synthetic fragrances or artificial dyes.
Who Might Skip It?
If you want a full coverage, transfer-proof, very matte foundation, skip this. This isn’t that kind of product.
Also skip it, or sample first, if your skin is very dry or easily irritated by botanical ingredients. And even the clean formulas can irritate sensitive skin. It’s rude like that, Skin.
Other withSimplicity Products Mentioned
15-Free Nail Polish: I like that it’s made without formaldehyde, toluene, TPHP, and xylene. But it does smell stronger than other “safer” nail polishes I’ve tried (none are truly non-toxic because they’re essentially paint). And the color started to oxidize and dull in the bottle after a while. But it does work fairly well and has a glossy finish.
Botanical Mascara: I wouldn’t recommend this because it’s difficult to build up any real volume or length and also gets smudgy for me.
Lip + Cheek Tri-Sticks: These are awesome! They’re creams that you can use on cheeks, lips, or eyes. I mostly use them on cheeks and think that’s what they’re best for. I like shades Brighton and Valencia.
Lip Gloss: These smell like vanilla and are really nourishing (and not sticky)! Shade Nectar is so pretty and has a good amount of pigment. Thumbs up!
Pore Minimizing Primer: So great! I like that it doesn’t have any silicones (most primers do), but still feels silky. It makes a smooth base on skin and my makeup applies much easier after applying it.
Pressed Eyeshadow: I have shade Starlight which is more sheer as it applies. But the payoff is decent and has a nice subtle shimmer!
Review By Anna Kleman For withSimplicity Liquid Foundation
As a makeup artist, I look at withSimplicity Liquid Foundation as a soft everyday base, not a full-glam foundation. That’s not a bad thing. The oil-free formula, light-to-medium coverage, and natural semi-matte finish make it better suited for people who want their skin to look even, fresh, and clean without that heavy coated feeling.
I’d use this more for simple polished makeup, soft glam, or bridal skin where the goal is still-skin-looking skin. If your skin is very dry, prep matters. If you want full coverage in one layer, this probably isn’t your foundation. But for clean beauty lovers who want something breathable and wearable, it makes sense.