Dior Diorskin Nude Air Serum Review & Swatches

Dior really knows how to name their products to attract attention. “Nude“, “Air“, and “Serum“, who wouldn’t want their foundation to look like skin, feel like air, and have skin benefits! So of course, it was the name that lured me into this product in the first place. But the amazing thing about this foundation doesn’t stop there. Of all foundations I’ve tried recently, Dior Diorskin Nude Air Serum is literally one of the easiest to use and provides one of the best-looking results on my skin. I know some of you are expecting my review so I’ll be as detailed as possible! :)

Dior Diorskin Nude Air Serum (or Diorskin Nude Air Healthy Glow Ultra-Fluid Serum Foundation SPF 25) features a frosted, heavy glass bottle with a dropper dispenser. It’s not a unique design but it sure is a better-looking one. With the product being so fluid-y, I don’t think there’s a better way to package it.

There are currently 8 shades to choose from, quite a limited range I might say, but luckily I was able to find a good match for my skin. I use 030 Medium Beige which makes it easy for me to remember because I am NC30 in MAC! :)

The formula contains alcohol and has a strong powdery-perfume-y scent (a little dated smell in my opinion) that does linger for a good half hour post application. Some love it, others don’t. It doesn’t bother me but I could certainly do without.

It is talc-free and infused with Oxygen Activ™ complex which is supposedly a unique blend of vitamins, minerals, and hyper-oxygenated oils, including cranberry oil that evaporates upon contact leaving only a sheer layer of high pigment on the skin. Dior suggests depressing the dropper and shaking the bottle well before every use to ensure a homogeneous consistency.

It also contains SPF 25 to protect the skin from sun damage. I was a little concerned that it would cause flashback in flash photography but as you’ll see in my before and after photo at the end of this post, where I used flash, that there was no visible white cast or flashback at all on my skin.

The liquid-y formula feels very much like a perfect blend of serum, oil, and silicone. It feels so silky and light on the skin. I typically use 3-4 drops to cover my face and occasionally I’ll use an extra drop to cover more problem areas.

It is quick and easy to apply and blend with fingertips so that’s how I like to apply it but I discovered that if you follow with a dry Dior Backstage Blender Fluid Foundation Sponge (review) or Beautyblender (by lightly rolling it over the skin), it will take the already-so-smooth finish to the near-airbrushed effect! You can definitely use a damp sponge or buffing/foundation brush to apply but it will soak up too much product in my opinion and lastly I would not recommend using a paddle-shaped foundation brush at all since it tends to leave a streaky finish.

I’d describe the finish as matte-velvet; it is certainly not dewy and in my experience does not impart any extra glow to the skin. It just looks like my skin but better — smoother, more matte, and more even-toned. One layer yields a medium coverage that is slightly buildable to near-full. I still need spot concealing to cover my deep acne scars and hyperpigmentation. If your skin concerns are only redness and pores, you are in luck, because this foundation alone covers them up wonderfully!

Sounds pretty good so far right? But it’s not without cons, however! :)

If you have just-dried-out blemishes or dry spots (I do have both, blemishes on the cheeks and chin, and dry spots around my nose), Nude Air Serum will highlight them unless your skin is adequately moisturized beforehand.

If you have uneven skin texture such as acne pock marks, you won’t benefit much from this foundation, either (as Liz has pointed out) and you will probably need something else with a thicker consistency and higher coverage.

It does not oxidize during the day but it can be drying on the skin if worn for long hours. I wore it for a full 14 hours once and at the end of the night, my face felt dry and the area around my nose became noticeably flaky. For everyday usage, though, it controls oil like a champ and keeps my face fairly matte throughout the day without needing to blot.

In my photo below, I applied one layer on my bare, moisturized skin on the right (AFTER) and an extra layer on the center of the cheek to cover acne scars. I did not apply any primer, corrector, or concealer prior or after. As you can see, Nude Air Serum effectively blurs enlarged pores on and around my nose to the level comparable to a pore-minimizing primer! The redness is also substantially reduced as well as fine lines under my eyes! My skin appears brighter, softer, smoother, more even-toned, and more importantly still looks like skin without the heavy and cakey feel. Color me impressed! :)

If you are like me, who prefers a low-maintenance, lightweight, medium-coverage foundation that covers the majority of small skin imperfections while providing a soft-focus, smooth-skin appearance, I truly encourage you to give Nude Air Serum a try! And of course, if you can find a good color match! I thank Sunny for introducing me to it, and Mo for confirming that I needed it! :)

What is the most recent foundation that you have tried and come to love?

Purchase