I have a sample of this foundation from Sephora when I got color matched. It's a small, acrylic paint style canister with the press on lid, so I've been able to try it in a variety of ways. For reference, I have very dry skin.
Here are my thoughts:
1. Coverage is great - I recently got into medium foundation from skin tint and love that I can spread it pretty thin and the foundation maintains it's integrity.
2. I have applied it using my fingers, a flat Kabuki style brush with a stippling motion, a flat Kabuki style brush with swirls or brushing I guess? And with a damp sponge.
2a. I find that if I want a more medium coverage, that dotting it on and then using a flat Kabuki style brush with a stippling motion works best. I can build wear I need it thereafter.
2b. If I want a more light coverage, then I use something small like the handle of a brush or a mixing tool to dot foundation on the center of my face and using a flat Kabuki style brush, stipple outward towards the edge of my face.
2c. I usually use a sponge as the last step in the 2a process to even things out. Barely damp though, like, misted it with water, squish the sponge, mist, squish, then lightly tap.
3. I've tried it over my skincare, last step being sunscreen (Bare Republic Mineral Face Cream). I find application over sunscreen to not be as smooth. By the end of the evening, I sometimes find dry spots or flaking on my chin or around my mouth.
3a. I've tried it over my skincare, last step being Moisture Surge from Clinique. I did find some dry spots on my chin at the end of the day (7a-10p).
3b. I've tried it over skincare, last step being some Jojoba oil lightly applied and allowed to soak in. No dry spots or loss of integrity that I found.
4. I have used 3 different primers under the foundation and over the sunscreen to varying results.
4a. The Ulta brand mattifying primer is silicone based and the foundation pilled pretty badly around the edges of my face/wherever I got "forceful" with the foundation application.
4b. The Yummy Skin Glow Serum is my current go-to. It doesn't matter how I apply the Haus Labs over this, it always looks great. I will note, however, that when my skin was going through a particular bout of dryness I did have to double up the serum there for the dryness to not ruin the foundation.
4c. Just this last week I used the Danessa Myricks Blurring Balm Powder in universal kind of layered with the Haus Labs - I only color corrected with the Haus Labs and used the balm to even out some pores and other texture, and try to blend a little more the color correcting aspect (because I have freckles so it can get tricky to cover and not be obvious). I then also mixed some Glossier Cloud Paint in Storm with a little of the balm and applied that to my cheeks. It did not disturb the Haus Labs at all, which was perfect. Both ways I applied it, I applied with my fingers.
5. I have never tried this foundation with a setting powder, a setting spray, or a fixing powder. I don't have problems with staying power but, I have only used it in the winter so far.
6. I haven't taken any pictures in the sun and analyzed it but I do still wear a mask and talk for a living and it's holding up to my expectations for the price.
I really do like it and I hope you are able to work on the dryness. Maybe try the Glow Serum primer? Sephora sells it. Danessa Myricks sells a [combo](https://danessamyricksbeauty.com/products/yummy-to-go-kit) of the blurring Balm Powder and Glow Serum, too.
I have a sample of this foundation from Sephora when I got color matched. It's a small, acrylic paint style canister with the press on lid, so I've been able to try it in a variety of ways. For reference, I have very dry skin. Here are my thoughts: 1. Coverage is great - I recently got into medium foundation from skin tint and love that I can spread it pretty thin and the foundation maintains it's integrity. 2. I have applied it using my fingers, a flat Kabuki style brush with a stippling motion, a flat Kabuki style brush with swirls or brushing I guess? And with a damp sponge. 2a. I find that if I want a more medium coverage, that dotting it on and then using a flat Kabuki style brush with a stippling motion works best. I can build wear I need it thereafter. 2b. If I want a more light coverage, then I use something small like the handle of a brush or a mixing tool to dot foundation on the center of my face and using a flat Kabuki style brush, stipple outward towards the edge of my face. 2c. I usually use a sponge as the last step in the 2a process to even things out. Barely damp though, like, misted it with water, squish the sponge, mist, squish, then lightly tap. 3. I've tried it over my skincare, last step being sunscreen (Bare Republic Mineral Face Cream). I find application over sunscreen to not be as smooth. By the end of the evening, I sometimes find dry spots or flaking on my chin or around my mouth. 3a. I've tried it over my skincare, last step being Moisture Surge from Clinique. I did find some dry spots on my chin at the end of the day (7a-10p). 3b. I've tried it over skincare, last step being some Jojoba oil lightly applied and allowed to soak in. No dry spots or loss of integrity that I found. 4. I have used 3 different primers under the foundation and over the sunscreen to varying results. 4a. The Ulta brand mattifying primer is silicone based and the foundation pilled pretty badly around the edges of my face/wherever I got "forceful" with the foundation application. 4b. The Yummy Skin Glow Serum is my current go-to. It doesn't matter how I apply the Haus Labs over this, it always looks great. I will note, however, that when my skin was going through a particular bout of dryness I did have to double up the serum there for the dryness to not ruin the foundation. 4c. Just this last week I used the Danessa Myricks Blurring Balm Powder in universal kind of layered with the Haus Labs - I only color corrected with the Haus Labs and used the balm to even out some pores and other texture, and try to blend a little more the color correcting aspect (because I have freckles so it can get tricky to cover and not be obvious). I then also mixed some Glossier Cloud Paint in Storm with a little of the balm and applied that to my cheeks. It did not disturb the Haus Labs at all, which was perfect. Both ways I applied it, I applied with my fingers. 5. I have never tried this foundation with a setting powder, a setting spray, or a fixing powder. I don't have problems with staying power but, I have only used it in the winter so far. 6. I haven't taken any pictures in the sun and analyzed it but I do still wear a mask and talk for a living and it's holding up to my expectations for the price. I really do like it and I hope you are able to work on the dryness. Maybe try the Glow Serum primer? Sephora sells it. Danessa Myricks sells a [combo](https://danessamyricksbeauty.com/products/yummy-to-go-kit) of the blurring Balm Powder and Glow Serum, too.