Skin changes so much. The weather, diet, environmental conditions, lifestyle changes – all of these and more affect how your skin looks, feels, and behaves. Some changes are quite drastic and require some adjustment time (or maybe even medical intervention). I’ve personally experienced “quit zits” when I stopped smoking which took a visit to the dermatologist to get a handle on. Sometimes changes in diet or a move to a totally different climate can trigger things like this, as well. But most are small and we acclimate to them, making small changes here and there to our cleansing routine or to our make up. We generally do this without thinking much about it. However, it is a perfect time of year to re-evaluate your foundation. I’ve tried a few out in the months since getting the acne under control. Here are my thoughts.
Revlon ColorStay Aqua Mineral Makeup
I’ve talked before about my bad luck with mineral makeup. And again, I’m not sure what made me try this. It is new. And it’s one of the few that promise to hydrate skin with a coconut water formula. Honestly, everyone raves about mineral makeup, dammit, and I want to be able to use it too! Maybe this will convince me to give up?
Honestly, there was a lot to like about this product. The container is one of the best made ones I’ve come across. It is fairly easy to tip the product into the top so that you can blend it into the brush. It was made to be portable so you could carry it around for touchups without making a horrible mess. Also, the brush was wonderful! Much better than the brush that comes with the previous incarnation of Revlon ColorStay minerals. This one features soft, natural bristles that felt quite delightful against my skin.
The drawbacks though…first, my skin is just too oily for this stuff, which I should know by now. I played with it some the evening I bought it, but the real test is the work day. When I left the house it looked pretty good; not heavy, and more natural than I’m used to, of course. But smooth and pore free. This didn’t last. By my first coffee refill I was an oily mess. My boss noticed I was starting to break out as well.
Bottom Line: Mineral makeup isn’t for me. But this product has enough pros going for it that mineral fans should give it a whirl. Especially if your skin is dry.
L’Oreal True Match Super Blendable Liquid and True Match Pressed Powder
I was really young when this first came out. I remember being excited because I was so pale and hard to match. But that was short lived, as the powder didn’t exist. The only powder L’Oreal offered at the time was in a grey compact…I don’t remember what they called it, but I do remember the lightest shade being way too dark for me. I decided to give it another chance when I saw it on sale because a) matching powder is available now and b) I remembered Dita Von Teese saying it was her go-to drugstore brand.
Overall I do love the products. They work well together to create a beautiful canvas to paint on. The liquid is thick enough to even out skin and cover minor blemishes without feeling heavy. The powder goes on really smooth with the sponge applicator, leaving a soft finish that, at least for me, isn’t chalky or cakey. I love that it comes with a sponge, because it is really easy to clean. Those of us with oily skin appreciate this a lot! Also, the sponge is stored in the bottom of the compact, so it’s not constantly in contact with the product, which helps.
My oily skin does put this makeup through it’s paces, though. I do have to touch up several times a day, but even so, it seems to hold up fairly well without getting separated. I have noticed that on especially oily days I will get dark spots from powdering, but it’s minor.
Bottom Line: A great line to try for most skin types and tones. Besides liquid, there are also two solid versions of the foundation and a new concealer I have yet to try…
Maybelle Dream Matte Mousse Foundation and Dream Matte Pressed Powder
I first bought these products back in the summer and wasn’t thrilled. I am used to applying makeup with a sponge, but the consistency of this makeup doesn’t allow for that. It truly is an air-whipped mousse – so dipping a the sponge into the jar was doing nothing but making a mess. I also attempted to use the foundation brush, but that didn’t work either. It was just a crumbly mess. I wound up with more on my clothes and floor than I did on my face. So this sat in my closet until a week or two ago when I had a brainstorm and decided to try again. I would use my fingers!
Dipping my fingers into the jar carefully, rather than the sponge, didn’t create near as much crumbly mess. The heat from my skin softened it and made it fairly easy to blend. Once I have it mostly on, I run the sponge over it gently just to make sure it’s even, and voila! A perfect velvety finish that lasts!
The powder I loved from day one. The compact is stupid. It also has a separate compact for the puff, but instead of popping open, the lids slide away. It’s a pain in the butt to get used to. But again, the puff stays a lot cleaner this way. The mirror, however… Still, the finish is flawless and the powder doesn’t seem to look chalky or feel cakey, even on my oily skin. The products work really well together, and I find I do not have to touch up near as much with this as I do with the L’Oreal True Match. The finish stays mostly velvety and pore-free with little maintenance.
Bottom Line: Perfect for oily skin! Not as many shades as the True Match, and both the consistency and the compact design take some getting used to, but well worth it.
Both Maybelline and L’Oreal have new foundations coming out this season. And while I’m perfectly happy with these two products, I simply can’t wait to see what’s next…
To Build a Dream On « Artistry in Kohl Said:
on April 6, 2011 at 10:00 pm
[...] how much I loved the True Match liquid? I thought I would like this just as much, if not more. See, for several years, I wouldn’t [...]