As a beauty editor who loves “no makeup” makeup, I have a bone to pick with some skin tints and tinted SPFs. While I favour the lightweight and sheer coverage compared to foundation, I’ve noticed that it’s often incredibly hard to find a good colour match. Some brands appear to shirk responsibility by claiming that their shades are “stretchable” due to their sheerness. And while I agree with them to a point, I can name the number of products that actually accurately match my skin tone seamlessly on one hand.
I’ve previously tried a couple of Dcypher’s makeup products, where the brand creates a custom-mixed foundation or concealer to perfectly match your skin tone. I already own the My Custom Foundation (£39) and the My Custom Concealer (£27). So when the Custom Glow Drops (£29) launched recently, I was instantly intrigued to see how well they’d match my skin tone and how well the formula would perform. After trying them out for the past month, I’ve included my honest thoughts below.
Dcypher Custom Glow Booster Review
Dcypher
Custom Glow Booster
Pros
- Shade-matched to your skin tone
- Sheer, lightweight coverage
- Radiant finish
- Can be worn alone or mixed into foundation
- Contains hyaluronic acid and glycerin to hydrate the skin
- Algae and fruit extracts to shield the skin
- Shade-matching process is quick and easy
- Match-gurantee means Dcypher will replace your product for free if it isn’t right
Cons
- Pump can be messy
- Not for those who want a matte or full-coverage finish
The Shade Match
If you’re not already acquainted with Dcypher, then you’ll be pleased to know the shade-matching process is so easy. On Dcypher’s website, you’ll be invited to take a makeup-free selfie in natural light. It takes quite literally seconds, during which it will scan your complexion and tell you your exact custom shade. This Skin Tone ID can then be used across Dcypher’s products, should you want to try anything else, or re-order a top-up.
Because I had already tried the foundation and the concealer, I already had a Skin Tone ID, which was used to order the Custom Glow Booster. I was really impressed with the shade-match again, and it really blended into my skin to an almost undetectable effect. It looks like my skin, but with a better, dewy glow.
Before
After
The Formula
The formula itself is lightweight, offering sheer coverage with a radiant, dewy finish. Because it’s very sheer, it delivers a hint of coverage to even out the skin tone on its own. However, for blemishes or areas of redness, it might not be enough on its own to fully conceal them (you might want to try the Dcypher concealer for more targeted coverage). This month, my rosacea flared, and I had a smattering of hormonal breakouts, but it did a good job of evening my skin tone, while still letting my freckles on my nose peak through. It’s perfect for those days when you don’t want to wear a lot of makeup, but it can also be mixed in with your foundation for a more glowy finish, making it really versatile.
The Verdict
Having now used this over the past month, I’m really impressed with it. Because it matches my skin tone so well, it looks almost invisible on the skin, and the lightweight texture makes you feel like you’re not wearing anything either. Of course, this might not be for you if you want more coverage like a traditional foundation, or favour a matte finish (this has a pearly glow), but for days when you want a perfecting veil, then I couldn’t recommend it enough.
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Dcypher
Custom Glow Booster