Kat Von D Lock-It (Tattoo) Foundation; Review & Swatches of Shades

Kat Von D Lock It Foundation

Price: $34 per ounce

CRUELTY FREE!

Kat Von D Lock It Foundation is a cult favorite, full coverage foundation. Those who suffer from acne scarring, pigment disorders, (even those with tattoos) all flock to Kat Von D's Lock It Foundation and/or the (Kat Von D Lock It Concealer) to erase the most serious of woes and give them a blank canvas with a flawless appearance.

Kat Von D's Lock It Foundation was designed to provide the fullest of full coverage with a "smooth, striking finish. Von D's people used 21% pigment in the formula for Lock It Foundation (which is alot of pigment for a liquid/not solid cream foundation) and a combination of "raw materials and the best silicone elastomers & esters for 24 hour, transfer resistant wear." They also claim that there are natural polymers to absorb oil and added emollients for a "velvety texture for perfectly smooth, hydrated skin."

In this case, the oil-absorbers are slightly more powerful than the hydrators in the Lock It Formula, but if you use Kat Von D's Rehab Priming Elixer, than you may get more of a balance. (Any hydrating silicome primer will work, but you want to be sure it's a thin fluid like Priming Elixer, not a thick pore filling, spackle-like primer.)

The formula of Kat Von D's Lock-It Foundation is thicker than many liquids and while it does blend out well, you want to move fast and get it in place before it sets. It's not a formula that will move or shift on you during the day and it does have a good amount of transfer resistance without the tendency to crack and separate as the day wears on, (a problem you see with many traditional transfer-resistant/long-wearing formulas.)

Application may take some practice and you'll want to be sure to play around with different application methods to see what works best for you because applying too much can magnify large pores, especially if you take too long to blend and the formula begins to dry. Kat Von D uses a brush in her tutorial which can be found on the Sephora website, but some may find that to be a bit too challenging and opt for a sponge or Beauty Blender. 

If you use a sponge and still want to achieve full coverage, you'll want to apply Lock It Foundation in thin layers with a dry or wet sponge and be sure to dab/stipple the sponge to apply Lock It instead of wiping it across the skin. Another option is to use your fingers to apply and then use a dry sponge after to absorb excess product and give you that airbrushed appearance. Which ever method you choose just work quickly. Only those with very oily skin will need to set Von D's Lock It Foundation, but some may want to touch up with a mattifying product throughout the day.

Coverage for Lock-It Tattoo Foundation is absolutely enough to cover a tattoo (I will upload pictures if anyone wants) and if that's your goal, it can easily be achieved by follow Kat Von D's specific instructions and alternating powder with the foundation.* While you may not need a concealer with Lock It Foundation, most will work well with Lock-It's formula. 

If you need to cover blemishes or have oily skin, Kat Von D's Lock It Tattoo Concealer works very well, but if you have drier skin and want something for under your eyes, you may want to use a more hydrating concealer like Tarte Marcuja Creaseless Concealer (or even Hard Candy's Glamoflauge Heavy Duty Concealer.) Other than that, Kat Von D's Lock It Foundation works very well with almost any other product and both Von D's Concealer and Foundation formulas double as an eye shadow base and will reduce any creasing on your eyelids.

The shade range of Lock It Foundation includes 21 shades that range from fair to deep and suit multiple undertones.(The lightest shade, "Light 42" has been out of stock but was not discontinued.)

If you're looking for a full coverage foundation to give you a flawless look, Kat Von D Lock It Foundation is certainly worth trying (and perfect for a "special occasion" foundation). Just remember when using Lock-It Tattoo Foundation to be patient and give yourself a chance to perfect your skills, especially if you're used to lighter coverage foundations!

Kat Von D Lock-It Tattoo Foundation
Swatches of ShadesLight 42*,
Light 44, Light 45, Light 46, Light 48,
Light 48, Medium 52, Medium 53, Medium 54,
Medium 57, Medium 58, Medium 62, Medium 64,
Deep 66, Deep 68, Deep 72, Deep 74,
*not shown

Kat Von D Lock-It Tattoo Foundation
Swatches of ShadesLight 42*,
Light 44, Light 45, Light 46, Light 48,
Light 48, Medium 52, Medium 53, Medium 54,
Medium 57, Medium 58, Medium 62, Medium 64,
Deep 66, Deep 68, Deep 72, Deep 74,
*not shown

Kat Von D Lock-It Tattoo Foundation
Swatches of ShadesLight 42*,
Light 44, Light 45, Light 46, Light 48,
Light 48, Medium 52, Medium 53, Medium 54,
Medium 57, Medium 58, Medium 62, Medium 64,
Deep 66, Deep 68, Deep 72, Deep 74,
*not shown