Maybelline Superstay 24 HR Makeup Review!

Maybelline Superstay 24 HR Makeup

PRODUCT DESCRIPTION: Foundation gives superior coverage and provides 24-hour wear. Superstay 24HR Makeup by Maybelline incorporates a Micro-Flex technology formulated to withstand heat, sweat and humidity - yet stays comfortable and looks flawless. Oil-free makeup will not transfer. Dermatologist tested. Fragrance Free. Suitable for all skin types.

There are twelve (12) shades in total, so finding your perfect match may be a little difficult with the limited shade selection. The shades are as follows: Porcelain Ivory, Sand Beige, Classic Ivory, Natural Beige, Nude, Classic Beige, Pure Beige, Natural Tan, True Beige, Honey Beige, Caramel and Cocoa. I purchased this foundation because I was in need of a foundation to wear when I'm not tan, so I chose the shade "Sand Beige", which seems to be around the MAC NC20 coloring.

Alright, so we all know that "24-hours" is a bit of a stretch in terms of wear for most foundations. You're not going to look like Cinderella for 23 hours, 59 minutes and 59 seconds, and then poof! your makeup will blotch. Makeup companies tend to "stretch" (insanely exaggerate) the claims, so a product will sound appealing to the consumer. Even though this doesn't last 24 hours, it does have really good lasting power.

Let me start off with the color, like I already mentioned, I chose "Sand" which is the 2nd lightest color. It's a good match for the MAC NC20 coloring. It's more on the beige/neutral side, but it does warm up to my skin a bit. Because of the beige tone, it doesn't match my neck 100%, so with my foundation brush, I'll swirl the residue on my neck. The lightest color seemed a bit pink, and would probably be best for MAC NW15-20. If you're very fair (lighter than NC/NW15, there is no perfect match). For NC25-30, Nude seems like a good choice as there are are a good balance of yellow tones. Classic Beige can also work for NC30-35, as there are a fair amount of yellow tones (but, more beige than Nude).

In the photo on the left, the foundation is swatched on my hand to show the color, and blended on the right. You can clearly see the coverage is good, as it blurs out all imperfections on my hand. It looks a little pink, but don't worry, it doesn't look like that on my face.

The consistency is a little on the thick side, and for those that are use to thinner foundations may feel that this is a little difficult to work with. Because it's a little thicker and dries quickly, I always apply a light coating of a moisturizer to my face to help the foundation blend easier. I find it works well when applied with the fingers, but I like applying it with a flat top foundation brush the best, using light patting motions and then circular motions to blend. The coverage is on the heavier-medium, and is buildable to an almost full coverage. It covers 90% of my blemishes, while completely evening out my skin. The finish is pretty matte, so I never feel the need to set with a powder.

I am really impressed with the wear of this foundation, as it doesn't seem to get oily/shiny throughout the day, and it stays put very well. I do find that by the evening (after 7-8 hours) it will have faded from my nose and a little bit around the mouth. So, I will touch it up with my foundation brush at around that time. When it's time to remove the foundation, a cleanser is necessary.

I've seen several reviews, and many say that it photographs well, but in my experience, it gives me a slight gray cast in photos. Estee Lauder Double Wear does the same for me.

Overall though, I really like this foundation and think it's one of the better drugstore foundations. I'll be wearing it on those days where I need the extra coverage.

Here are a couple photos of me wearing the foundation with no powder or bronzer.

PROS: Excellent coverage, lasts well throughout the day, blends well.
CONS: Limited color selection - limited tones for yellow/warm skin, very light and deep skin tones, can sometimes make my skin look dull.
PACKAGING: The packaging is pretty standard. As with any foundation, I wish it had a pump for sanitary reasons and for convenience. It's also a little heavy, as it's thick glass - so it weighs down my bag a bit.
OVERALL: It's an overall great foundation for those with some hyper-pigmentation, acne scars, or for those who want good coverage for a lower price. Normal, Combination to Oily skin types will benefit the best from this foundation as it has a matte finish and doesn't seem to get oily throughout the day. Dry skin types may find it difficult to apply, and can possibly make the skin appear duller/drier. If you have dry skin, I'd recommend moisturizing prior or adding a drop of moisturizer into the foundation being applied.