I don’t talk much about drugstore makeup on my blog because truthfully, I don’t really use it. I’m sure there are tons of gems to be found.. ie L’Oreal Voluminous Mascara (review here)..  but I hate that you can’t test it and just have to blindly buy stuff, hoping for the best.

On a recent trip out of town, I ran out of my Makeup Forever HD foundation. I wasn’t anywhere near a store that accepted makeup artist discounts so I decided this would be a good time to test out a drugstore foundation. I picked Maybelline’s Fit Me foundations based on the makeup of their in store ads.  I actually bought both versions to try, the Matte + Poreless and the Dewy + Smooth, because they were so inexpensive ($5-8 depending on where you buy).

Matte + Poreless Review

My initial reaction to this foundation is that I wish it had a pump.. a pump would make the application process to much easier.

CONSISTENCY | COVERAGE

My skin type is combination; my cheeks and chin can be pretty dry and my t-zone gets oily as the day goes on. I find when I use the Matte + Poreless foundation I really need to prep my skin well for it to work. If there’s any dryness that hasn’t been tended to, the foundation settles into it, and looks a little cakey. However, when my skin is cooperating or if there’s a day when I’m not as dry, the foundation goes on beautifully. I can see it being really great for those with oily skin. It’s a medium coverage foundation and while it does mattify the skin, I wouldn’t say it’s a completely matte finish. It’s more of a natural/satiny finish, which I really like.

LONGEVITY | WEAR

I found myself needing to use oil absorbing sheets on my t-zone after a few hours because the shine was coming through. I also did not see a difference in the size of my pores. Unfortunately, it doesn’t last as long as most foundations I’m used to and I noticed that throughout the day it starts to collects in my dry patches and begins to look blotchy.

SHADE RANGE

There are 24 shades of the Matte + Poreless foundation which gives you good odds of finding your color. Maybelline recently expanded the shade range for women of color and it’s definitely better than most drugstore foundation lines. Unfortunately, I don’t see the lightest or darkest shades working for the lightest and deepest of skin tones.

THE LIGHTEST SHADES

THE DEEPEST SHADES (The shade second from the left looks possibly misplaced)

Dewy + Smooth Review

After using the Matte + Poreless for a few days, it was Dewy + Smooth’s turn for a test spin and could tell the difference in consistency immediately. Not only does it pour out of the bottle much quicker, but it applies extremely easily and a lot smoother. I find myself reaching for this foundation when I’m in a hurry because it’s seriously so fast to apply.

Consistency | Coverage

The Dewy + Smooth version is much more thin than the Matte + Poreless, and depending on how you apply it, it can be a sheer to medium coverage. By using a small amount on a damp Beauty Blender (a little goes a long way with this foundation) you can turn it into the consistency if a tinted moisturizer and it looks extremely natural on the skin. It’s also pretty buildable but I have found that I can only build it up so much though before it starts to look like foundation on the skin. I usually need a separate concealer for my cheeks (which get red) and under my eyes in order to get the coverage I want.

This foundation would be best for normal/combination to dry skin. Initially, I was surprised at how dewy it actually is, but I realized it takes a few minutes for it to set into your skin. Once it dries down a bit, it leaves you with a nice luminous glow. I hardly ever use powder but find myself needing it with this foundation else I look a bit greasy. If you have dry skin, this would be a beautiful foundation for you. It doesn’t settle into dry patches and it makes your skin look hydrated.

LONGEVITY

Unfortunately, the longevity needs work. After a few hours I can see the foundation start to break down and get a little patchy, and I find myself needing to re-apply. The Dewy + Smooth was the only foundation I brought with me earlier this month to Peru because it’s cheap and quick to apply. It was not able to hold up under the conditions at all. It broke down even quicker in the heat and humidity of Lima. On my hike to Machu Picchu (lots of sweat and some rain), my foundation was non existent when I reached the top of the peak. In California’s perfect weather this foundation lasts a little longer, but I usually only reach for it when I have an easy day of running errands, or a quick morning job. When I know I have a long day ahead, or if I’m going to be outside in any type of elements, I choose something with a longer lasting formula.

SHADE RANGE

The shade range of the Dewy + Smooth is not as good as the Matte + Poreless. The middle shades are pretty good but if you’re on either end of the skin tone spectrum, it might be hard to match yourself. The two lightest colors still look too dark for the palest of girls. The shades for women of color need more range as well. The 4 deepest colors look like they have a pretty red undertones, so if you have yellow/olive undertones, it might be hard to find a match. Mocha is the deepest shade in the Dewy + Smooth range and I know that if I carried these foundations in my kit, I would need alternate options because they simply would not be able to cover everyone that sits in my chair.

 THE LIGHTEST SHADES

THE DEEPEST SHADES

Will these be Going in my Kit?

No. Overall I like these two foundations a lot, they’re some of the better drugstore foundations I’ve tried and the price is amazing for what you get. I will probably repurchase them at some point for personal use, but I would not include them in my kit. I believe that if you are going to splurge on any makeup item, it should be foundation. I have not found a drugstore version that can match the quality of a higher end foundation.

Cruelty Free?

No.

Natural and/or Environmentally Friendly?

No.

 Ingredients:

MATTE + PORELESS

Water, Cyclohexasiloxane, Nylon-12, Isododecane, Alcohol Denat., Cyclopentasiloxane, PEG-10 Dimethicone, Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone, PEG-20, Polyglyceryl-4 Isostearate, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Phenoxyethanol, Magnesium Sulfate, Disodium Stearoyl Glutamate, HDI/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer, Titanium Dioxide, Methylparaben, Acrylates Copolymer, Tocopherol, Butylparaben, Aluminum Hydroxide, Alumina, Silica, Glycerin. May Contain: CI 77891/Titanium Dioxide, CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499/Iron Oxides].

DEWY + SMOOTH

Disclaimer: I purchased both Maybelline Fit Me! foundations on my own and have not been contacted by the company to make a review.