Therapium VELOURIS™ Smoothing Foundation — 40 Deep Neutral

A deep neutral shade — the first of the three deep steps, and the safest of them to order without seeing it.

Organic aloe leaf juice heads the list, ahead of the oils. Kaolin and rice starch give the semi-matte finish and let the texture set on its own, so it does not need powdering over. Colour comes from mineral pigments — titanium dioxide and iron oxides — rather than synthetic dyes, and the load is high enough that a thin layer evens out the look of the complexion. Hexapeptide-11, two weights of hyaluronic acid and radish root ferment sit alongside them, with organic beeswax and lecithin holding the texture together.

Is this your shade?

Neutral at deep depth. On deeper skin the undertone matters more than at any other point in the range, because a mismatch shows as an obvious grey or orange cast rather than as a slight difference — which is why 40 is neutral, and why 45 and 50 exist beside it in warm and cool.

• Flash photography. Titanium dioxide reflects camera flash very efficiently, and the effect is most visible on deep skin. It is not a shade error. Use less product where the flash will hit, and avoid setting with a titanium-heavy powder on top.
• The under-eye rule is unforgiving here. A concealer more than one step lighter than the foundation reads as a grey patch in photographs, and it is most obvious at this depth.
• Pair it with Concealer 30 Tan Neutral under the eye, 35 Deep Neutral on blemishes.
• Either side — 45 Deep Warm and 50 Deep Cool are the same depth with a cast.

How to use

1. Warm a small amount on the back of the hand.
2. Press it onto the centre of the face and blend outwards with fingers, a brush or a damp sponge.
3. Build a second thin layer where you want more coverage.
4. The texture sets by itself — powder over it only if you want a flatter finish.

Key ingredients

• Hexapeptide-11 — the peptide the formula is named for.
• Organic aloe leaf juice — the first ingredient on the list.
• Kaolin and rice starch — the semi-matte, self-setting finish.
• Sodium hyaluronate and hydrolysed hyaluronic acid — two weights of hyaluronic acid.
• Mineral pigments — titanium dioxide and iron oxides, no synthetic dyes.

Scent

A light citrus note, from bergamot, lemon and bitter orange peel oils.

Good to know

• Shade: 40 Deep Neutral, the eighth of ten. Every shade shares the same formula and the same INCI list — only the pigment load changes.
• Contains organic beeswax, so it is not vegan. The concealer is.
• The citrus peel oils bring naturally occurring fragrance allergens with them — limonene, linalool and citral are declared on the list.
• How to choose a shade without seeing it covers the undertone tests in more detail.

Full ingredients (INCI)

Therapium Ltd, company number 16471805 · 71–75 Shelton Street, Covent Garden, London WC2H 9JQ, United Kingdom