I love Clinique products and have been using them for about seven years. The product that I am reviewing here was one of my first (and best) Clinique purchases.


My Search For A Flawless Complexion:

When I went to the Clinique counter about 6 years ago, I told the clerk that I was tired of searching for a good foundation. I wanted a foundation that was heavy - not sheer, not sweatproof, not anti-aging. Just HEAVY. I wanted to hide the occasional blemish, all freckles (I have a few in the summer), and the occasional little patch of psoriasis. She pulled out Continuous Coverage and told me that this was the equivalent of Dermablend, the product that is notorious for covering scars.

I felt almost guilty, and very vain when I purchased the last tube of this product in the Fair Cover shade. "This is very popular and sells out quickly. You're lucky to get a tube," the clerk confided. I pictured in my mind a person with scars visiting the counter and not being able to get a tube because I got the last one. Then I decided that they will need to buy TWO tubes the next time in order to stock up...because I was going home with this product!

The clerk told me that this product is very thick and will need to be warmed in my hands before applying; otherwise it will be too thick to spread onto my face. What was I getting myself into?

The next morning, I squeezed a little of the foundation onto my fingertips and applied it to my face. It was too thick to spread and needed to be warmed. (I had thought the clerk was just being dramatic!) I washed the foundation off my hands and warmed the tube between my hands and tried again. This time, the foundation was much creamier in consistency and easy to apply.

I applied it all over my face. Like magic, I had a flawless complexion. No blemishes, no ruddiness, no freckles. I had just creamy-looking, perfect skin. I applied my favorite loose powder on top of this foundation and was incredibly happy.


Details On This Product:

This product originally was available in shades such as "fair cover", "medium cover", "dark cover", etc. It is no longer as limited and is now available in the following four shades, all of which may be viewed at www.clinique.com:
*Creamy Glow
*Ivory Glow
*Porcelain Glow
*Natural Honey Glow

I believe that Clinique originally wanted to market this product as a Dermablend-type of product. It is still not officially named as a "foundation" on their packaging (i.e. "Continuous Coverage Foundation," however, on their website, they state that it is a "full coverage foundation."

You will get 1.2 oz. (30 ml) of product in each tube of "Continuous Coverage." This will last a very long time. I no longer use it every day, so one tube will last me at least one year. If you use it every day as a foundation, you will get about two or three months of use from one tube. A little goes a long way with this product. You can spread it very thinly and still get great coverage. It also makes a great concealer.

This foundation offers sun protection. The SPF is 11.

"Continuous Coverage" comes in the typical Clinique green, flexible, tapered, plastic tube measuring 4.75" long and 1.5 wide at its widest point. The cap is a metallic silver, plastic, screw-on type and measures 1" long and .75" wide. Once you remove the cap, there is a small hole in the tube where the foundation comes out in a small amount.


The back of the tube says this about this foundation:

Allergy tested.
100% fragrance-free.
This clinging, creamy, makeup base lasts until you take it off. Use under your regular makeup base to conceal shadows, flaws, fine lines. Or make it your full-face makeup; it's a superb shield against the elements and excellent UVA/UVB sun protection.


Ingredients (as listed on box):

Active ingredient: titanium dioxide. Ingredients: water purified, titanium dioxide, mineral oil, talc, propylene glycol, tea-isostearate, isostearic acid, glyceryl sterate, peg-100 stearate, isopropyl lanolate, micro-crystalline cellulose, cellulose gum, algin, magnesium aluminum silicate, tea-stearate, methylparaben, propylparaben, butylparaben. May contain: mica, bismuth oxychloride, iron oxides, ultramarines.


Six Years Later:

I have now been using this product for about six years. The claims that Clinique makes about this product are truthful -it really does stay on until you take it off. It is NOT sweatproof, however. Don't plan on working out and expecting this product not to budge. I would say it is CLOSE to being waterproof, but is not actually waterproof. This is as close to waterproof as you can get without being officially waterproof.

I have normal skin that gets oil breakthrough mainly in the nose area only. This product does not add excess oil to the skin. I do not notice more oil breakthrough when using this product. I would say that it adds a little moisture to dry skin, but is really just for hiding flaws. If you have dry skin, a more moisturizing foundation is probably better for you. I also recommend a face powder in order to "set" the foundation.

I strongly believe that there is nothing this foundation can't cover. I recommend it for anything from freckles to varicose veins. The Clinique clerks tell me that this product is used by actors as stage makeup. Almost every time I purchase this product, I hear from a clerk that it is used for yet another purpose - burn scars, rosacea, psoriasis, etc.

This product washes off fairly easily with any facial cleanser. I have used a variety of facial cleansers in the past several years and have not had a problem getting the foundation off my face.

When using this product, be sure to "knead" the tube in your hands to warm it before applying; otherwise it will be too thick to apply evenly. This also helps to "mix" the foundation in the tube. If you do not use it for several days or weeks, it will separate somewhat in the tube and you will get a watery substance oozing from the tube before the foundation comes out.


Compared To Other Foundations:

There is no comparison if you are looking for thick, heavy coverage...this is the product for you. Continuous Coverage is much heavier and thicker than a "pancake" or "pan-stick" type of foundation, as well as any liquid or creme-to-powder foundation. The price is heavier as well, but if this is the coverage you want or need, it is worth it. You will get quite a bit for your money!

Recommended: Yes

Coverage: Very heavy coverage