I Don't Love Foundation, but This Spray-On Formula Might Just Change My Mind

• Dior’s Airflash Spray Foundation is a base product with buildable coverage that comes in an aerosol can.
• The spray mechanism is mean to make for quicker, more even results.
• One editor tested the foundation and was surprised at the results.

Foundations can be pretty hit or miss for me. While I’ve tried a few different formulas – from powders to creams to liquids – less than a handful of them have impressed me enough to repurchase. With my general ambivalence toward this specific category of makeup, when a product actually manages to catch my attention and keep it, I definitely make note.

I’ll also preface this by saying I spend a good (and possibly unhealthy) amount of time on social media and, being a beauty-lover, naturally my TikTok “for you” page is often filled with makeup hacks and product recommendations, but there was one in particular I kept seeing as people took part in the “everyday makeup check” trend: the Dior Airflash Spray Foundation ($92). I knew I had to try it.

Unlike most formulas, this foundation comes in an aerosol can with a spray mechanism on the top. The colour of the container matches the foundation shade inside the can. There are 24 options in total to choose from, a shade range that could definitely use an extension – especially with so many diverse options on the market out there today.

When I was choosing my shades, I noticed many online were out of stock – most likely a byproduct of the nationwide supply chain crisis, if we were to guess – so I had to mix two shades (I used 600 and 321) and make that colour work for my skin tone.

The first thing I noticed when I sprayed the foundation was how fine the mist felt, which surprised me as all my past experiences with aerosol paint cans have been quite messy. (The joys of having a partner who’s an artist.) I wanted to test the application of the product two ways: with a makeup brush, which I would demonstrate on the right side of my face, and straight from the can on my left.

For my first application of the product, I sprayed it directly onto a brush and applied the product to my face. This method gave a light to medium coverage with a dewy finish. Once it set, the product felt weightless on skin – almost like I had nothing on, which I loved. It did, however, take two spritzes and applications to cover half of my face. Because I was mixing two colours, I had to guess just how much of each shade to spritz on my makeup brush before applying, so that was quite a process. I also had to really pay attention to where I was spraying to make sure the product made it onto the brush and not everywhere else.

While I don’t think the spray delivery system is harder to use, per se, I do think you have to more pay attention to what you’re doing than you normally might. If you’re on autopilot in the mornings when doing your makeup, you’ll probably want to stick to a traditional cream or liquid.

For the second half of my face, I decided to spray the foundation directly onto skin – no makeup applicator as a buffer. Other than it being a little cold upon application, I found the coverage to be the exact same as when I applied the foundation onto the brush itself. Of the two methods, I definitely prefer the spray-to-brush approach because it gives you more control over how much product you use.

Now, about the coverage. It evened out my skin tone and covered a few dark spots on my face, but you could see some of the more pigmented ones still peek though. In order words, if you are looking for full-coverage base makeup, it’s not for you. It won’t fully conceal blemishes or discolouration with just one layer.

That said, if you (like me) are fully committed to the dewy skin trend, this is the foundation for you. It offers a radiant, even finish, which is exactly what I was looking for. It looks fresh on my skin but doesn’t slip once it’s set – it lasted a full work day, and didn’t start to fade until after hour five, which I can appreciate.

I ended up liking the aerosol mechanism more than I thought I would, mostly because it was easier to get a natural look than with creams or liquid. Usually I pump foundation on the back of my hand and then pick it up with a makeup brush to get that lighter, even coverage . . . only to realise 30 minutes later on the train that I never wiped the leftovers off of my hand. That’s what had me intrigued about the “spray” mechanism and I must say, I look forward to going about my day without worrying about foundation hands.

I wasn’t expecting to like this product as much as I did, but it surprised me and I’m looking forward to incorporating it into my daily makeup routine. At $92, though, it’s a splurge – so before I repurchase I’ll definitely be checking to see if my shade comes back into stock first.