La Mer The Soft Fluid Long Wear Foundation SPF 20 Review

La Mer The Soft Fluid Long Wear Foundation SPF 20
4.8
/ 10
Moisturizing
6.2 Humectancy icon Humectancy
3.3 Occlusivity icon Occlusivity
Rich
in Antioxidants
20
SPF icon
SPF
Review

Does La Mer The Soft Fluid Long Wear Foundation SPF 20 Work?

 
According to CreamScan AI's analysis of the ingredient list, here’s what La Mer The Soft Fluid Long Wear Foundation SPF 20 has to offer:
 
Moderate moisturizing. It has a moisturizing rating of 4.8 out of 10.
✅ Antioxidant protection
✅ Moderate sun protection for most daily activities or short periods spent outdoors.

  

Key Benefits of La Mer The Soft Fluid Long Wear Foundation SPF 20

 
These are the key benefits you can expect from using La Mer The Soft Fluid Long Wear Foundation SPF 20:
 

🔵 Lightweight Moisturizer Well-Suited for Combination and Oily Skin

According to CreamScan analysis, La Mer The Soft Fluid Long Wear Foundation SPF 20 is quite moisturizing, with a moisturizing rating of 4.8 out of 10.

Is it more humectant or occlusive? Rather humectant. It has a high humectancy of 6.2 out of 10 and a moderate occlusivity of 3.3 out of 10, primarily due to the significant content of Dimethicone (est. ≈2.8%) and Phenyl Trimethicone (est. ≈2.4%).

This type of moisturizer is well-suited for people with combination and oily skin who want significant hydration in a relatively lightweight, non-greasy formula. It combines a substantial amount of humectants with a limited amount of occlusive to enhance moisturizing efficacy without feeling too heavy.

This product may also be an option for people with normal skin who prefer fast-absorbing textures, as it balances significant moisturizing potential with a relatively lightweight texture.

💧 A Humectant Enhancement for Any Skincare Routine

But it’s not limited to combination and oily skin - such a humectant enhancement will also positively contribute to the moisturizing efficacy of any skincare routine when used as a step before applying the main moisturizer. This type of formulation is typically used in serums, where a light, fast-absorbing texture is key.

Please refer to the Ratings section below for details of the moisturizing rating calculation.

🍀 Rich in Skin-Protecting Antioxidants

We estimate that La Mer The Soft Fluid Long Wear Foundation SPF 20 is rich (> 3%) in antioxidants, specifically Algae Extract (est. ≈0.3%), Magnesium Gluconate (est. ≈0.3%), Tocopheryl Succinate (est. ≈0.3%), and others.

A key benefit of antioxidants is their ability to reduce oxidative stress caused by free radicals and therefore prevent accelerated skin aging. Studies also show that antioxidants can protect against environmental damage such as UV radiation and pollution, and help reduce inflammation and skin redness.

☀️☀️ Moderate Sun Protection for Short Outdoor Activities

With an SPF of 20, La Mer The Soft Fluid Long Wear Foundation SPF 20 provides moderate sun protection. It is suitable for individuals with medium to darker skin tones who are less prone to sunburn and those engaging in short outdoor activities such as walking or brief errands, as well as cloudy days when UV exposure is less intense.

It helps protect against UVB rays, which are primarily responsible for sunburn and increase the risk of skin cancer by damaging the outer layers of the skin. When labeled as broad-spectrum, it also defends against UVA rays, which penetrate deeper into the skin and cause premature aging, hyperpigmentation, and long-term cellular damage.

❗️For optimal protection, choose products labeled broad-spectrum to ensure defense against both UVA rays, which contribute to skin aging and pigmentation, and UVB rays that cause sunburn.

However, if you spend a substantial amount of time outdoors, it is better to use a broad spectrum sunscreen with an SPF 30 or higher.

📌 Please note that this is not a complete list of benefits. We are in the process of enhancing our AI model to incorporate anti-pigmentation, exfoliation and anti-acne ratings.

Things to Be Aware Of: La Mer The Soft Fluid Long Wear Foundation SPF 20

 
CreamScan AI identified a few things to consider before adding La Mer The Soft Fluid Long Wear Foundation SPF 20 to your skincare routine:
 

⚠️ Questionable anti-wrinkle efficacy

If one of your main reasons for choosing La Mer The Soft Fluid Long Wear Foundation SPF 20 is its potential anti-aging effects, please note that, according to CreamScan analysis, it currently has a zero anti-wrinkle rating.

It contains some ingredients often marketed as effective in reducing wrinkles, specifically Copper Gluconate, Acetyl Glucosamine, Caffeine, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, and Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate. However, the studies supporting the anti-wrinkle claims of these ingredients provide insufficient evidence of efficacy according to CreamScan Research Evaluation Standards. 

While this does not categorically rule out the possibility that these ingredients may reduce wrinkles, their efficacy is not supported by convincing, vehicle-controlled, double-blind clinical studies - at least none that were available to the CreamScan team at the time of publication.

Therefore, these ingredients do not generate the anti-wrinkle rating.

📌 Moisturizers, when used regularly, are proven to prevent wrinkle formation and even reduce existing wrinkles. Therefore, this product, like any other moisturizer, can deliver some anti-wrinkle effects through its moisturizing action.

Please refer to the Ratings section below for details of the anti-wrinkle rating calculation.

Pros & Cons of La Mer The Soft Fluid Long Wear Foundation SPF 20

 
Here’s an overview of the pros and cons of La Mer The Soft Fluid Long Wear Foundation SPF 20 to help you decide if it’s the right choice for your skincare routine:
 

🟩 Pros:

✅ When used alone: Provides humectant-rich moisturizing well-suited for combination and oily skin
Also an option for people with normal skin who prefer fast-absorbing textures
✅ As part of a routine: A humectant moisturizing enhancement, beneficial for any skin type
✅ Lightweight texture
✅ Rich in antioxidants that combat oxidative stress associated with accelerated skin aging and defend against environmental damage
Provides moderate sun protection, suitable for short outdoor activities on cloudy or low-UV days
 

⭕ Cons: 

⚠️ Questionable anti-wrinkle efficacy
   

Summary: La Mer The Soft Fluid Long Wear Foundation SPF 20

 
Based on the ingredient list analysis, CreamScan AI suggests that La Mer The Soft Fluid Long Wear Foundation SPF 20
, when used alone, delivers lightweight, humectant-rich moisturizing, well-suited for combination and oily skin. It's also an option for those with normal skin who prefer fast-absorbing textures. As part of a moisturizing routine, it provides a humectant enhancement, beneficial for all skin types.
 
With its high antioxidant content, La Mer The Soft Fluid Long Wear Foundation SPF 20 helps protect against free radical damage and offers multiple benefits for all skin types, including preventing premature aging, defending against environmental damage, and calming inflammation.
 
With an SPF of 20, La Mer The Soft Fluid Long Wear Foundation SPF 20 offers moderate sun protection, making it suitable for short outdoor activities on cloudy or low-UV days.
 
That said, there are some things about La Mer The Soft Fluid Long Wear Foundation SPF 20 worth noting.
 
If one of your main reasons for considering La Mer The Soft Fluid Long Wear Foundation SPF 20 is its potential anti-aging effects, please note that, according to CreamScan analysis, its anti-wrinkle efficacy is questionable. None of the ingredients in this product provide substantial evidence of their anti-wrinkle efficacy according to CreamScan Research Evaluation Standards.
 
❗️ Fact check. At CreamScan, we are committed to accuracy and fairness. If you spot any errors or something that doesn’t seem right, please click here to let us know. We regularly update the ingredient lists and monitor the latest research on ingredient efficacy to ensure that our information remains as complete and precise as possible.

 

Ingredients

Est. % Ingredient Origin Functions
50
7.5
5.7
3.8
2.8
2.4
1.9
1.4
1.2
1
0.3
0.3
0.3
0.3
0.3
0.3
0.3
0.3
0.3
0.3
0.3
0.3
0.3
0.3
0.3
0.3
0.3
0.3
0.3
0.3
0.3
0.3
0.3
0.3
0.3
0.3
0.3
0.3
0.3
0.3
0.3
0.3
0.3
0.3
0.3
0.3
0.3
0.3
0.3
0.3
0.3
0.3
0.3
0.3
0.3
0.3
0.3
0.3
0.3
0.3
0.3
0.3
0.3
0.3
0.3
0.3
0.3
0.3
0.3
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0.3
0.3
0.3
0.3
0.3
0.3
0.3
0.3
0.3
0.3
0.3
0.3
0.3
0.3
Est. %
Water
Function:
Origin:
Octinoxate
Function:
Origin:
Cyclopentasiloxane
Function:
Origin:
Isododecane
Function:
Origin:
Dimethicone
Function:
Origin:
Phenyl Trimethicone
Function:
Origin:
Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891)
Function:
Origin:
Butylene Glycol
Function:
Origin:
Polysilicone-11
Function:
Origin:
Polymethyl Methacrylate
Function:
Origin:
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Function:
Origin:
PEG/PPG-18/18 Dimethicone
Function:
Origin:
Silica
Function:
Origin:
Algae Extract
Function:
Origin:
Sesamum Indicum (Sesame) Seed Oil
Function:
Origin:
Medicago Sativa (Alfalfa) Seed Powder
Function:
Origin:
Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seedcake
Function:
Origin:
Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Seed Meal
Function:
Origin:
Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil
Function:
Origin:
Sodium Gluconate
Function:
Origin:
Copper Gluconate
Function:
Origin:
Calcium Gluconate
Function:
Origin:
Magnesium Gluconate
Function:
Origin:
Zinc Gluconate
Function:
Origin:
Tocopheryl Succinate
Function:
Origin:
Niacin
Function:
Origin:
Sesamum Indicum (Sesame) Seed Powder
Function:
Origin:
Polyglyceryl-4 Isostearate
Function:
Origin:
Citrus Aurantifolia (Lime) Peel Extract
Function:
Origin:
Chondrus Crispus Extract
Function:
Origin:
Cucumis Sativus (Cucumber) Fruit Extract
Function:
Origin:
Hordeum Vulgare Extract
Function:
Origin:
Saccharum Officinarum (Sugarcane) Extract
Function:
Origin:
Chlorella Vulgaris Extract
Function:
Origin:
Gelidium Cartilagineum Extract
Function:
Origin:
Corallina Officinalis Extract
Function:
Origin:
Saccharomyces Lysate Extract
Function:
Origin:
Silybum Marianum Extract
Function:
Origin:
Whey Protein
Function:
Origin:
Laminaria Saccharina Extract
Function:
Origin:
Codium Tomentosum Extract
Function:
Origin:
Sucrose
Function:
Origin:
Glycerin
Function:
Origin:
Cholesterol
Function:
Origin:
Eryngium Maritimum Extract
Function:
Origin:
Laminaria Digitata Extract
Function:
Origin:
Glycine Soja (Soybean) Protein
Function:
Origin:
Acetyl Glucosamine
Function:
Origin:
Caffeine
Function:
Origin:
Sorbitol
Function:
Origin: