I tried the controversial foundation that TikTokers are fighting over, and I don’t think it deserves any hate

I put Jones Road Beauty’s foundation to the test after it went viral on TikTok. Amanda Krause/Insider Jones Road Beauty’s What the Foundation balm recently went viral on TikTok. I tried the product and though it wasn’t perfect, I liked how it worked overall with my dry skin.

I don’t think it will work for everyone, but I also don’t think it deserves major criticism. Beauty products are constantly going viral on TikTok, from cult-favorite concealers to colorful cream blushes. But lately, one product has stood out high above the rest.

On May 9, beauty influencer Meredith Duxbury posted a controversial TikTok video (which has almost 15 million views on Thursday) in which she attempts to use a foundation balm from Jones Road Beauty as a full-coverage base. Her review led to a wave of both support and backlash, with some makeup creators saying they also disliked the makeup, and others arguing that she knowingly used the product incorrectly. Even Bobbi Brown herself — the legendary makeup artist behind the product — joined the conversation by poking fun at the makeup creator and showing how to actually use the balm.

So after following the saga online, I ordered the foundation and tried it myself. And in my opinion, it doesn’t deserve even half the hate it’s gotten online. @meredithduxbury I’m gonna have to pass….

😭😅🥴 ♬ Love You So – The King Khan & BBQ Show Jones Road Beauty’s What the Foundation retails for $44I purchased mine from the brand’s website and chose the shade Porcelain, the lightest option available. When it arrived, most of the product was stuck to the protective cap — a layer of plastic that sits between the jar and lid — but the balm hadn’t separated like I’ve seen some TikTokers experience. (Bobbi Brown has shared a simple fix for the issue — which sometimes happens to oil-based makeup when shipped — via TikTok.

)The What the Foundation balm in the jar. Amanda Krause/InsiderTo try the product, I clipped my hair back and dipped my finger into the container, scooping out only a tiny amount of product. From that single dip, I was able to add small dots of the product to each section of my face.

Like many on TikTok, I quickly noticed the balm’s scent. But in my opinion, it’s not a bad smell or one that’s so strong the makeup becomes unusable. Instead, it actually reminded me of the natural scents many skin-care products have.

I used only a small bit of the foundation balm across my face. Amanda Krause/InsiderThe balm was thicker than I assumed it would be — I’d compare it to a heavy moisturizer. It also looked a bit greasy on my skin, so I had some concerns.

But after blending the product with my hands, my skin tone quickly evened out. My acne was still visible as I expected — this is a light-to-medium coverage balm — but my redness didn’t look as pronounced, and my dry patches suddenly looked moisturized. I then let the balm sink into my skin, and after a few minutes, I had trouble believing what I was seeing — my skin genuinely looked like a healthier, glowing version of its usual self.

My skin without makeup (left) and my skin with the foundation (right). Amanda Krause/InsiderThat said, it didn’t work perfectly on its own. About two hours after applying the balm, I asked my mom how she thought my foundation looked.

Her reply was simple: “shiny. “Sure enough, my face had gone back to looking greasy, and some of my hair was sticking to the product. Luckily, the problem was solved with a light dusting of powder, and I didn’t need any other touch-ups throughout the day.

I even applied other makeup like blush, bronzer, and concealer (only on my most prominent blemish) atop the foundation and loved the result. I like the balm overall, and think the backlash has been blown out of proportionWhen you use the What the Foundation balm properly, in my experience, it almost acts as a magic cream. It’s moisturizing, illuminating, easy to blend, and perfect for balancing your skin tone.

But I can also see why the foundation wouldn’t work for everyone. I have dry skin and it looked greasy on me without the help of powder. Its scent might also be a little strong depending on who you ask.

And for $44, it’s more expensive than similar tinted moisturizers out there. So while it’s definitely not for everybody, I don’t think it deserves the hate it’s been getting either. At the end of the day, it’s just makeup.

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