Victoria Beckham’s foundation boasts anti-ageing properties but costs eye-watering £104 – so is it worth it?

THE cost of flawless-looking skin now comes with an increasingly outrageous price tag. As a beauty editor, I’ve seen prices creep up across the board, from daily moisturisers costing £123 to one viral mascara at £58 — even a lipstick, which some say they can’t live without, at £120. Our Beauty Editor Tara Ledden wearing Victoria Beckham’s £104 foundation Credit: Lorna Roach Tara, pictured before putting on the product, says her biggest skin concerns are acne scars, breakouts and rosy cheeks Credit: Lorna Roach The Foundation Drops With TFC8 are a skincare-makeup hybrid and are available in 19 shades Credit: Victoria Beckham But even I winced when Spice Girl turned beauty guru Victoria Beckham launched her foundation costing £104. The Foundation Drops With TFC8 are a skincare-make-up hybrid, promising “luminous light coverage” in 19 shades. It was created with stem cell scientist Augustinus Bader. His namesake skincare brand is one of the most premium out there — £105 for SPF and £435 serum. The Foundation Drops contain Bader’s patented TFC8 complex, packed with vitamins, peptides and amino acids to help repair skin and reduce signs of ageing, such as fine lines and sagging. I pride myself on being first to try as many products as possible — from much-anticipated celebrity launches like this, to under-the-radar bargain brands, so I had to get my hands on it. I’ve used some pretty luxe products in my near-decade as a beauty journalist, but this has to be the most expensive foundation I’ve encountered. The first time I saw the price tag, I assumed I’d read it wrong and had to do a double take. I hesitated as I handed over my credit card at the Victoria Beckham Beauty Store in Central London to get matched in person — especially given it costs as much as the man and van I’ve hired to move house tomorrow. Like most products in the Victoria Beckham Beauty line, it was created because of a personal need — Beckham wanted a foundation that felt weightless but offered enough coverage to make skin look noticeably better. Victoria spoke to Vogue ahead of the launch: “When I say it’s been a lifetime in the making, I mean it. I’ve worn make-up since I was far too young because I was so self-conscious about my acne, and I’ve been searching ever since for something that actually makes skin look and feel better. This is it.” She added: “I struggled with my skin throughout my entire life. “When I say I used to have bad skin, there was a time when I couldn’t put a pin between the acne on my face. I know how it feels to lack confidence because of your skin.” Having also struggled with acne since I was a teen, this is music to my ears. I know the struggle of trying to find products that provide enough coverage to camouflage blemishes without looking heavy or clogging the pores, making the problem worse. The price might be enough to send me towards bankruptcy, but given the emotional and mental toll acne took on my self-confidence when it was at its worst, I managed to justify spending crazy money on all sorts of different lotions and potions promising to put my blemishes to bed. So I’m sure if this is as life-changing as Victoria claims, I’d try to find a way to make the maths work. She’s now a name worth trusting, having established herself in the beauty world. So much so, her Satin Kajal Eyeliner, £32, was largely credited for her brand’s £112.7 million in sales in 2024. Teaming up with Bader is a clever move by the former singer, adding credibility to the product. With a list of celebrity fans that’s almost as long as the lines for the loo at Glastonbury — including Margot Robbie, Jennifer Aniston, Naomi Campbell, Meghan Markle and, of course, VB — it was only a matter of time before savvy skincare was combined with make-up. The popularity of time-saving, hybrid products that put skin health first meant this combination was inevitable. More than good marketing, the proof is in the pudding: In clinical studies on women aged 35-66, 100 per cent of participants showed significant improvement in skin moisture after 12 hours of wear, 100 per cent of participants showed significant improvement in skin elasticity after six weeks of use, and 97 per cent of participants showed significant improvement in the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles after six weeks of use. A lot of people claim to have skincare science within their foundation, but I wanted to do it in a meaningful way. Victoria Beckham “A lot of people claim to have skincare science within their foundation, but I wanted to do it in a meaningful way,” Victoria explained. “We created The Foundation Drops for [everyday make-up] minimalists like me. “The formula melts into skin for a naturally flawless complexion and nourishes with Augustinus Bader’s TFC8 technology as I wear it. This is a foundation that feels like nothing, but truly does everything.” After taking the online shade-match quiz — which asks you to pick the closest match to your complexion from a range of different faces — I was told shades 2 Fair Light (fair light with neutral cool undertones) and 3 Fair Light (fair light with neutral warm undertones) would work for me. The line consists of 19 so-called “flexible” shades, which I was dubious about. Often, such “stretchable” shades are a cop-out by brands wanting to save money by creating fewer shades, which is almost understandable for budget brands. But if you’re paying three figures for a foundation, you should be able to find the perfect match. In the store, however, my cynicism was dispelled — after trying on three shades for size, I could have happily walked out with any one of them and it would have looked like a match for my face. Flawless and nourishing Much to my delight, the formula was thicker than I expected — although, given the skincare properties, I should have guessed it would resemble a serum rather than having a watery consistency like most other foundation drops I’ve used in the past. It melted into my face on contact, with minimal blending required. You could even use your fingers to apply it, although I prefer a dense brush for a mess-free, seamless application. Another surprise is the finish — with the word “luminous” in the description, I had visions of looking like an oil-slick, which is my personal nightmare as I have oily skin. But instead it looks like my skin in very good lighting, with a lit-from-within radiance rather than externally applied glow. The foundation was created with stem cell scientist Professor Augustinus Bader Credit: victoriabeckhambeauty.com The Victoria Beckham Beauty range is still growing Credit: Getty When I first put it on, it felt slightly tacky on my skin, but quickly settled and felt completely weightless. It’s three for three, as the coverage also impressed me — it’s billed as light, which would normally send me running. I’ve got a smattering of acne scars on my face, plus ongoing breakouts and very rosy cheeks, so I prefer base products that offer medium to full coverage to cancel that out. I applied about as much of the foundation drops as I would any other base, and it immediately camouflaged all three of my skin issues I’m most self-conscious about, blurring their appearance like a real-life Instagram filter. I went into this thinking I was going to hate the foundation — my all-time favourite foundation costs just under £50, and I tend to wait until it’s discounted to repurchase, so buying one at double the price seemed outlandish — but, if you can’t already tell, I’m a huge fan. It’s the only “your skin but better” product I’ve tried that actually does what it intends. And the added benefit of noticeably better skin within six weeks, even when not wearing the make-up, is a major win. It’s worth keeping an eye out for Black Friday discounts, or adding it to your Christmas list to lessen the financial dent — but once you’ve tried it, you’ll be hooked. Best foundations for every budget Can’t stomach the spend? Here are beauty editor Tara Ledden’s best foundations for every budget UNDER £10: e.l.f. Soft Glam Satin Foundation, £9 e.l.f. Soft Glam Satin Foundation, £9 Credit: e.l.f. With a medium but buildable coverage, and a satin skin finish that adds a healthy glow without being OTT, this foundation is a true all rounder – suitable for all skin types and coverage needs. It applies well with a brush or a sponge, and it comes in an inclusive 36 shades – almost double that of VB’s. UNDER £20: Max Factor Miracle Pure Skin Reset Serum Foundation, £15.99 Max Factor Miracle Pure Skin Reset Serum Foundation, £15.99 Credit: Max Factor Much like The Foundation Drops, I thought I hated tinted serums until this crossed my desk. With soothing niacinamide and bisabolol alongside hydrating glycerin and hyaluronic acid it’ll work on skin health long term, while the almost matte formula controls shine while wearing. UNDER £30: Kylie Cosmetics Skin Tint Blurring Elixir Foundation, £27 Kylie Cosmetics Skin Tint Blurring Elixir Foundation, £27 Credit: Kylie Cosmetics If you’re worried about your foundation clinging to dry patches – this will be your beauty best friend. It’s not heavy or cakey, wears well all day without settling into fine lines, and is non-comedogenic, so won’t block pores and cause breakouts. UNDER £40: Clinique Even Better Clinical™ Vitamin Makeup SPF 50, £39 Clinique Even Better Clinical™ Vitamin Makeup SPF 50, £39 Credit: Not known, clear with picture desk It’s more lightweight than The Foundation Drops, so for a similar level of coverage you need a few layers, but it has the same glowy but not greasy shine that immediately makes skin look healthier – plus the niacinamide, glycerin and antioxidant formula brightens and soothes skin in the long run. UNDER £50: DIOR Forever Skin Perfect Foundation Stick, £48 Dior Forever Skin Perfect Foundation Stick, £48 I’ve been using this foundation for the best part of a year – restocking at duty free and when it’s on offer. The stick format makes application quick and easy as you can draw it straight on your face and buff out, plus the medium-full overage renders concealer redundant, just like VB’s The Foundation Drops.