Description
ZAO Compact Foundation meets the requirements of those who want a natural complexion with full coverage. Its creamy and smooth texture makes it easy to apply and smooth into skin, with a mattifying effect to cancel out shiny areas. Thanks to three skin regenerating ingredients rich in organic silica (silica powder, bamboo powder and bamboo rhizome oil), ZAO Compact Foundation is a true skin care product.
This is a tester for sampling only. Customers are entitled to purchase one sample in each shade only. Repeat and multiple purchases will be refunded.
Coverage: Build-able, from light to strong
This product, as with all ZAO products, is free from talc and parabens (synthetic preservatives), using instead micronised silver as an effective and non-toxic preservative. ZAO does not use nanoparticles in their products, with the micronised silver being larger than nanoparticle size, making ZAO products safe and free from toxic chemical preservatives.
Instructions for use: Easy to apply and smooth into skin, ZAO compact foundation is offered with a round sponge. It is also very convenient for an application with fingers or ZAO’s foundation brush.
ZAO Beauty tip: Choose the colour that matches the colour of your skin. Neither too bright nor too dark to avoid contrast with the natural complexion of the neck. For a medium coverage, you can apply directly with fingers. The foundation is applied from the centre to the outside, without forgetting the nose.
For Foundation Shade Matching information and shade charts, click here.
Certification: Natural and Organic Cosmetic certified by ECOCERT Greenlife according to ECOCERT, with 100% of ingredients of natural origin and minimum 23% organic
Testing on animals: No testing on animals, neither on the finished product nor on ingredients.
Ingredients from animal origin: None
Indication of skin type: Suitable for all skin types including sensitive skin and acne-prone skin
Palm oil free: Yes
Net weight: Sample size
Refillable: Yes
INGREDIENTS COMPACT FOUNDATION 728 . 729 . 730 . 736 . 737 . 740 . 741 (F5): OLEYL OLEATE, SILICA, SQUALANE, APRICOT KERNEL OIL POLYGLYCERYL-4 ESTERS, COPERNICIA CERIFERA (CARNAUBA) WAX*, HYDROGENATED OLIVE OIL STEARYL ESTERS**, PHYLLOSTACHIS BAMBUSOIDES RHIZOME EXTRACT*, ORBIGNYA OLEIFERA (BABASSU) SEED OIL*, LAURYL OLIVATE, SIMMONDSIA CHINENSIS (JOJOBA) SEED OIL*, TOCOPHEROL, PARFUM (FRAGRANCE), BAMBUSA ARUNDINACEA STEM POWDER, CI 77820 (SILVER). MAY CONTAIN +/-: CI 77891 (TITANIUM DIOXIDE), CI 77491 (IRON OXIDES), CI 77492 (IRON OXIDES), CI 77499 (IRON OXIDES), CI 77742 (MANGANESE VIOLET).
* ingredients from Organic Farming.
** made using organic ingredients.
INGREDIENTS COMPACT FOUNDATION 731 . 732 . 733 . 734 . 735 . 738 . 739 (F5): OLEYL OLEATE, SQUALANE, APRICOT KERNEL OIL POLYGLYCERYL-4 ESTERS, SILICA, COPERNICIA CERIFERA (CARNAUBA) WAX*, HYDROGENATED OLIVE OIL STEARYL ESTERS**, PHYLLOSTACHIS BAMBUSOIDES RHIZOME EXTRACT*, ORBIGNYA OLEIFERA (BABASSU) SEED OIL*, LAURYL OLIVATE, SIMMONDSIA CHINENSIS (JOJOBA) SEED OIL*, TOCOPHEROL, PARFUM (FRAGRANCE), BAMBUSA ARUNDINACEA STEM POWDER, CI 77820 (SILVER). MAY CONTAIN +/-: CI 77891 (TITANIUM DIOXIDE), CI 77491 (IRON OXIDES), CI 77492 (IRON OXIDES), CI 77499 (IRON OXIDES), CI 77742 (MANGANESE VIOLET).
* ingredients from Organic Farming
** processed from organic ingredients
lynne hadwin (verified owner) –
Great way to see which shade is the most suitable
Damilola Gbinigie (verified owner) –
I ordered the compact foundation in several colours to try out for myself and daughter and we were so impressed. This is the first foundation cream that I have come across for African complexion that is natural, smells natural, makes the skin breathe and is a credit to Zao. Most pleased indeed.
Anna (verified owner) –
I loved the way the compact foundation felt when applied, but unfortunately the ivory was too light for me and made me look rather ghost-like. My dreams would come true if a light peach compact became available.
samantha (verified owner) –
I use a balm base to help with a smooth application of this foundation. This foundation has a light to medium coverage, with little drying of the skin. Excellent on dry skin, and for those minimal make up enthusiasts. The description of the shades are spot on and colour correct like a dream.
Cecilia (verified owner) –
I recently purchased a sample of this compact creamy foundation in two different shades: 729 and 730. The shade 730 is the right colour for my complexion (which is fair with pink undertones and bit oily on the nose and chin but dry elsewhere)- I’ve worn this foundation for a couple of days and I believe it is really good! I mixed it with my moisturizer as I was after a barely there makeup look and I found this gives a medium/full coverage (but this is stated in the product description) – It blends easily (i used my fingers) and i believed it nourished my skin whilst wearing it while usually I found foundations make my skin worst – once applied it leaves the skin feeling soft and silky to the touch! The ingredients are natural and this is the main reason I purchased the sample – I would definitely recommend it
Kerry (verified owner) –
So whilst the coverage of this compact foundation is one of the best I’ve used since Max Factor panstick in the early 90s I can’t seem to find the right shade. It’s a great product however so I may have to mix two shades to get the right one; but on those days where your face just won’t play ball and you need to throw the Dulux colour chart at it just to be able to go out the door, this stuff will be your best friend.
SHELLEY (verified owner) –
GREAT RANGE OF COLOURS WHICH CAN BE BLENDED OR USED DURING DIFFERENT SEASONS WHEN MY SKIN GETS LIGHTER OR DARKER. APPLIES EVENLY AND IS VERY SILKY, AND COVERAGE IS LONG LASTING. GREAT TO FIND SUCH AN EXCELLENT PRODUCT THAT IS CRUELTY FREE AND VEGAN.
Claire (verified owner) –
The product itself is great, I only have problems finding the best colour match despite ordering 4 different samples. It definitely won’t be stopping from becoming a loyal customer!
Candice (verified owner) –
Lovely creamy feel & great coverage. Easier to apply with my fingers
Vivien Tavener (verified owner) –
Whilst I liked the coverage of the compact foundation and the fact that refills are available, I didnt find my ideal colour. Luckily the silk foundation proved more successful. I wonder if it is possible to do the same colours in the compact as in the silk foundation. All in all a good product but I just needed a different colour, i.e. fair beige.
Seren Watson (verified owner) –
Really gorgeous product. As an older lady the dewy effect is perfect. Matt is aging & cakey, shiny is cheap but dewy is great! The sample was ideal to get skin match.
Mimi (verified owner) –
This is my miracle foundation. Everyone has been complimenting me, saying that I’m glowing. I love that that it’s natural as well. The sample is a really good size and I’ve already ordered the full size.
Rachel (verified owner) –
I ordered three shades as I wasn’t sure which to pick. The palest one I ordered was the right one for me. I could use the darker shades when I am tanned but when I order full size will go for the pale shade. The foundation worked well on my skin and I’m glad to be able to reduce my plastic use too.
Anonymous (verified owner) –
I was very impressed with the amount you get for a sample. You get more than a few days to try a colour out. I have loads left and I’ve only used it about three times!
The Ivory turned out to be the better of the two I ordered. For some reason the Very Light Pink Ivory was a bit grainy and hard to spread, like a sunblock, but it did eventually blend in and was smooth in the end (just the colour was wrong for me: way too pale/pasty).
The Ivory was great for my pale skin; this one was smoother to apply and you don’t need a lot to get a thorough coverage.
As for that, I was extremely impressed with how well this blends in and gives good overall coverage. My skin looks even and glowing, and even covered my mild acne quite well…so I ordered the full product.
During and at the end of the day there’s a little bit of shine, but all quite normal and expected. The staying power as actually so good that even blowing your nose doesn’t leave any residue behind as some foundations produce!
So great that this is zero waste foundation. Unfortunately the sample had no lid but was in a see-through plastic case, so not very zero waste but I cannot fault the product.
Can totally recommend.
ANGYANA LESSNIE (verified owner) –
I FEEL THAT THIS ONE WAS THE BEST FOR MY SKIN COLOR GOOD COVERAGE ,I LIKE IT.
Annemarie Robinson (verified owner) –
As a first time customer to Zao I was looking to change my foundation and was given advise by Zao to try the foundations due to skin type and ‘mature skin’, I purchased a number of samples to compare with my skin type, I was happy with the consistency of the product, it was easy to apply on the skin, did not leave it dry or heavy. As I suffer from redness, this product did help to hide. The downside is the package of the samples, as I purchased a number, each one came in individual plastic packaging.
Kenna (verified owner) –
The sample is a generous size and the quality is superb. I find it is long-lasting and one of the best natural foundation I’ve ever used. I will most likely purchase this again. My only reservation is the smell. It is off-putting. I personally prefer natural essential oils for fragrance and the scent of this foundation appears to be synthetic, though I could be wrong about this. Altogether a fantastic product in my opinion.
ZAO note: Thank you for your thoughtful feedback. The fragrance is natural vanilla extract. We do not use essential oils as they can irritate. The organic certifying body Ecocert prohibits the use of synthetic toxins but we also insist that our makeup should be only 100% natural without any synthetic ingredients at all. Sadly we are legally required to sue the word ‘parfum’ to indicate the inclusion of any ingredient used for the purpose of scenting a product and it does cause confusion also.
Kerry (verified owner) –
This stuff is absolutely brilliant. Highly recommended
Leni (verified owner) –
Good coverage without looking cakey. Smooth formula but a little too hydrating for my oily T-zone
Hayley Clay (verified owner) –
Unfortunately I must’ve read the description wrong as I was expecting powder compacts and instead got like a hard foundation compact which wasn’t way to use, too thick on my skin.
Customer (verified owner) –
Good coverage, lovely scent and chemical-free. Great product.
Hannah (verified owner) –
Great idea to offer samples as the shade range isn’t the most diverse. Shame about the plastic blister it comes in but the product itself works very nicely, and leaves my skin feeling soft too!
ZAO note: Sadly it’s not that simple to swap out the plastic packaging in this particular case but we are working on it.