Three new innovative drugstore foundations

Drugstore and mass market cosmetic companies have really been bringing it lately, haven’t they? New products are being rolled out all the time, and they are getting closer and closer to their department store counterparts.

Three different foundations from three different companies have been launched recently, and I’ve tried them all. Are there any that compare to high end foundations?

Revlon Photo Ready SPF 20

First up is Photo Ready Makeup SPF 20. I picked this one up at Ulta a few weeks ago. I had been hearing a lot of good things about it, and was eager to give it a try. I’ve had mixed results with other Revlon products so I didn’t have any set expectations. However, it went on very smoothly and had nice buildable coverage. I had been warned about shimmer in the formulation, but I didn’t see any evidence of it at all.

On the contrary, it was quite matte, and did a pretty good job of staying that way. I tried it both with and without a primer, and I preferred it with a primer, like I do every foundation I own. I do think, however, that someone with a drier complexion than mine (just about everyone, I’m sure) would find that this works quite well without a primer.

I love the pump applicator versus the old style open neck foundation bottle. I’m happy to see cosmetic companies are getting more with it in regards to contamination. I would definitely recommend this foundation to everyone. $13.99 at Ulta.com.

L'Oreal True Match Roller

The next new release that I tried was L’Oreal Paris True Match Roller foundation. I really can’t decide if it’s just gimmicky or a really great concept. The product itself is quite good. The formula blends well and I consider it a medium coverage, but it’s not heavy or chalky. At least I didn’t see that on my skin type – drier skins may have more of an issue with that. The roller is an interesting concept. It’s soft to the touch, but I’m not totally sure that it brings a lot to the table in terms of application. It works great blending the foundation from your jaw to your neck, but it is problematic when trying to get into the corner of your eyes or around your nose. I had to use a concealer brush to really get into the nooks and crannies. It’s not a bad product, but I’m not sure it justifies the $14.99 price tag. I might get it if it was on sale – Ulta has L’Oreal products on buy one get one free right now, and I’d consider it at that price. I still have a big question mark on this one – would love to hear what others think of it, though.

Maybellene Age Rewind Eraser Makeup

Last but not least is Maybellene’s Instant Age Rewind Eraser Treatment Makeup, which is supposed to erase fine lines with the special applicator as well as anti-aging ingredients included in the formula. The foundation itself is nice – goes on smoothly and gives fairly good light-to-medium coverage. However, the special applicator really isn’t all that special. Underneath a thin layer of fuzzy material, it’s hard, and rubbing that all over your face isn’t exactly the most comfortable thing in the world. You’re better off using your fingers or a soft foundation brush, but part of that $11.99 price tag is about the applicator. So I’m not sure you’re really getting a great deal with this one.

Have you tried any of these new drugstore foundations? What do you think of them?

© 2010, Retrodiva Media. All rights reserved.

Tweet