Not Just Another Matte: Why InClinic’s Foundation Surprised This Glow-Lover

Product review for Parenthood360
Disclaimer: Product was provided for review. All thoughts and experiences shared are our own.

I’ve never been a matte girl. I like my foundation like I like my weekend lighting: warm, glowy, and forgiving. So when a bottle of InClinic Cosmetics’ Mineral Matte Liquid Foundation SPF15 landed on my desk, I almost set it aside. Matte usually means flat, dry, and let’s be honest—lifeless. But this one promised a different story.

It said “soft matte.”
It said “skin-first.”
It said “mineral-based and breathable.”

So I decided to give it a go… and let me tell you, this was one of the nicest surprises I’ve had since discovering microwaveable banana oat pancakes.

What Is It?

The InClinic Cosmetics Mineral Matte Liquid Foundation is an Australian-made, skincare-meets-makeup hybrid designed for sensitive, post-treatment, or breakout-prone skin. It’s vegan, cruelty-free, non-comedogenic, and free from talc, parabens, oil, and all the usual suspects known to clog pores and irritate.

At $55 for 30ml, it’s positioned as a clinical-grade base that protects, hydrates, and enhances—without overwhelming your skin. It also includes SPF15, hyaluronic acid, and vitamins C and E to boost brightness, hydration, and barrier support. Basically: if your face could choose its own foundation, it might choose this.

My Skin Type

For context: I have dry-combination skin that tends to get shiny around the T-zone by 3pm. I’m in my 40s, which means I want hydration and coverage but without the cakey-ness of my early 20s. I also lean towards clean, minimal formulas (bonus points if they don’t trigger breakouts or feel like a mask).

First Impressions

The packaging is sleek, clinical, and unfussy—which is exactly what you’d expect from a brand founded by a licensed skin and laser technician. I opted for the shade ‘Bare’, and was pleasantly surprised by how seamlessly it matched. Thanks to the mineral pigment technology, it flexed with my undertone and didn’t oxidise (thank you, makeup gods).

Texture-wise, this is where things get interesting. Unlike most matte foundations, this wasn’t thick or chalky. It felt more like a serum-foundation hybrid—lightweight but with serious smoothing power. It applied beautifully with fingers, a brush, and even a sponge, which is rare.

How It Wears

On my skin, it dried down to a satin-soft matte. It blurred pores, evened out redness, and somehow made my skin look more balanced without flattening it. It didn’t catch on dry patches or accentuate fine lines. And—drumroll—it stayed put all day without separating or turning greasy.

Even after running errands in the Aussie winter wind (read: dry, cold air), my skin still felt comfortable and hydrated. I didn’t feel the need to pile on powder or setting spray. In fact, I forgot I was wearing foundation by midday. That’s how breathable it felt.

The Real Bonus: Skincare Performance

This isn’t just a base. It’s also a treatment—subtle, but effective. With daily use, I noticed less redness and fewer breakouts around my jawline (an area that normally reacts when I test new products). I credit this to its calming, low-irritant formula.

The hyaluronic acid definitely helps hydrate, but it’s the combination of barrier-supportive ingredients—like glycerin, tocopherol (Vitamin E), and aluminum hydroxide—that makes this so wearable for sensitive skin. The titanium dioxide acts as a physical UV filter, and there’s no fragrance to mess with your microbiome.

It’s not every day you find a foundation approved by a European hospital (shoutout to KU Leuven Hospital’s Skin Allergy and Immunology Clinic), but here we are.

Shades and Suitability

There are ten shades, ranging from Cream 21 to Golden Tan. While the range is modest, the mineral pigments are designed to flex slightly, adapting to undertones for a more forgiving match. I’d still love to see some deeper shades in the future to ensure broader inclusivity.

This is especially good for:

• Sensitive or allergy-prone skin
• Acne-prone or post-treatment skin
• Anyone wanting breathable, skin-safe makeup
• Busy parents who need one product that does coverage, sun defence, and skincare in one go

Final Thoughts

I went in expecting a matte formula I’d tolerate at best. What I found was a skin-loving, lightweight foundation that gave me just enough coverage to feel polished, without sacrificing comfort.

Would I wear this on a glowy girl brunch date? Maybe not every time—I still love a luminous base. But for everyday wear, work Zooms, daycare drop-offs, or low-key weekends? Absolutely.

And the best part? My skin doesn’t rebel after I take it off.

InClinic’s Mineral Matte Liquid Foundation may just be my new “no-fuss, no-flare-up” hero.

Key Ingredients Recap:

• Hyaluronic Acid – Locks in hydration without shine
• Vitamins C & E – Brighten and protect
• Titanium Dioxide – Physical SPF filter for daily sun defence
• Glycerin & Lecithin – Keep skin calm and supple
• No oils, parabens, talc, or phthalates

Verdict

If you’ve been hunting for a foundation that feels like skincare, wears like a second skin, and treats your face with respect—this one’s a winner. Especially for us tired, time-poor, skin-conscious parents who just want to look fresh without the drama.

Available at: www.inclinic.com.au
RRP: $55 / 30ml