ETA:
♥ For your reference -- I'm MAC NC 35/37 to NC40 (if I have been sunbathing ;) ) ; Estee Lauder Double Wear Makeup in 3W1; Revlon Colorstay in Warm Golden or Natural Tan+Golden Beige (DAY) & Natural Tan (NIGHT)<--I do have many others shades that I just mix to get my customized color.
♥ I have Combination Skin--My T-Zone is super oily and my cheeks are normal to dry.
♥ I have Combination Skin--My T-Zone is super oily and my cheeks are normal to dry.
♥ I have dark spots, sun spots, freckles, acne scars and huge on-your-face pores.
******************
I can't believe I haven't done a full review about one of my favorite DS foundations, Revlon Colorstay Makeup!
Colorstay is the foundation I always go back to when others (DS or HE) fail. Granted, I haven't tried many HE ones. MAC Studio Fix was beautiful on me, but broke me out and transferred terribly. Select SPF15 was horrible and I'm still undecided on Studio Sculpt. I went to try EL Double Wear the other day but I'm still hesitant about the color match...*sighs* In the mean time, I am happy with Colorstay, my DS-HG foundation.
Anyway, here it goes:
♥Product Name: Revlon Colorstay Makeup with SoftFlex
Anyway, here it goes:
♥Product Name: Revlon Colorstay Makeup with SoftFlex
♥Description: As per Revlon website--"Makeup looks fresh and feels great for up to 16 hours thanks to the lightweight, comfortable feel from the Patented SoftFlexColorStay™ formula". This foundation comes in two formulas for different types of skin: Combination/Oily and Normal/Dry. The combination/oily skin formula helps you control shine; the normal/dry skin formula is "moisture-balanced". Both formulas are oil-free and give you flawless looking skin.
Colorstay Makeup provides medium to full coverage. The Combo/oily skin formula comes in 20 shades with SPF 6 protection (though the darkest shades do not have SPF); the normal/dry skin formula comes in 12 shades with SPF 15 protection (the 3 darkest shades have SPF 12). Revlon assures the foundation does not "rub off" with normal use.
♥Price: $10-$14 (price varies by location)
♥So...: Wow, so many claims--to control shiny faces, keep dry skin fresh and will give us flawless looking skin for 16hrs!?! That's a lot of promises. My experience with it? It works. Love the formula, the coverage and I have used this in hot+humid weather for more than 8hrs and at most, I had use blotting tissue on my t-zone around mid-day. The makeup remains intact and looks so fresh!
My first experience with this foundation wasn't the best. I really didn't understand why so many ladies liked it! I first used the shade called "Golden Beige" and now I know it is too light for me. I originally used a sponge to apply it on my face and yuck, is not the same. I felt like I had a mask on and my skin was itchy. No no no!
Then I decided to give it a try again about a year ago, if I remember well. I had seen videos and read about different methods of application. I changed the shade to Toast (which is too dark for me now, but good for summer--I mix it with moisturizer). I first used my bare hands (which sometimes still do---I'm not against it) to apply it on my primed skin, something I didn't do b4, and I liked how natural it look. But since I needed more coverage, I got the 187 brush and voilà! I truly got that "airbrush finish".
If you have seen pics here of me without makeup, you know what I mean about coverage. Most of the times I even skip concealer. I feel this foundation gives me such beautiful skin. Oh, I currently use both formulas.
♥PROS:
√ Medium to full coverage
√Most of the time I don't need to use concealer when using this
√ You can mix a dark shade with moisturizer to make your own tinted moisturizer; It works beautifully and is very refreshing
√Matte finish--I do mix it sometimes with MAC's Strobe lotion to get a "glowy/dewy" finish that really lasts
√Really last for hours and I mean that my makeup looks as if just applied
√Doesn't transfer and ruin clothes
√Comes in two formulas for different skin types and has SPF (not much, but always welcome)
√Many shades to choose from; I also mix some of them to get my perfect one
♥CONS
×It doesn't has a pump, it can get a bit messy
×It has an awkward, strong smell -- it does dissapears a few minutes after application
×Dries really fast, it is better do small areas at a time when applying with a brush
×There are no real options for neutral skintones with yellow undertones (like mine). I use Natural Tan when I'm tanned and Warm Golden seems to work the rest of the time. Since I have many shades of this foundation I mix them to make my own shade
×Drugstores don't have testers so you have to buy then try it on; I have quite a collection, just trying to get my perfect shade or at least one I can work with. Thank God for BOGO-free sales, just once I have paid full price
×Oily/Combo skin formula can dry your skin, so remember to always moisturize first! I don't recommend to use it daily
×Wish the Oily/Combo Skin formula had higher SPF. Then again, maybe that would change the quality of the product...IDK
♥IMPORTANT!
Both formulas have shades with the same name, but the colors ARE NOT the same. Normal/Dry formula tends to be darker than the Combo/Oily skin one. I read somewhere that this was a quality issue, but I have been using this for a long time and still the colors are different (I e-mailed Revlon about this but got no reply). I have noticed that, at least on me, when the Combo/Oily formula dries (and oxidizes), the color seems darker. So you better be careful when choosing them based only on recommendations.
Watch these two bottles, same shade, different formula:
Colorstay Makeup provides medium to full coverage. The Combo/oily skin formula comes in 20 shades with SPF 6 protection (though the darkest shades do not have SPF); the normal/dry skin formula comes in 12 shades with SPF 15 protection (the 3 darkest shades have SPF 12). Revlon assures the foundation does not "rub off" with normal use.
♥Price: $10-$14 (price varies by location)
♥So...: Wow, so many claims--to control shiny faces, keep dry skin fresh and will give us flawless looking skin for 16hrs!?! That's a lot of promises. My experience with it? It works. Love the formula, the coverage and I have used this in hot+humid weather for more than 8hrs and at most, I had use blotting tissue on my t-zone around mid-day. The makeup remains intact and looks so fresh!
My first experience with this foundation wasn't the best. I really didn't understand why so many ladies liked it! I first used the shade called "Golden Beige" and now I know it is too light for me. I originally used a sponge to apply it on my face and yuck, is not the same. I felt like I had a mask on and my skin was itchy. No no no!
Then I decided to give it a try again about a year ago, if I remember well. I had seen videos and read about different methods of application. I changed the shade to Toast (which is too dark for me now, but good for summer--I mix it with moisturizer). I first used my bare hands (which sometimes still do---I'm not against it) to apply it on my primed skin, something I didn't do b4, and I liked how natural it look. But since I needed more coverage, I got the 187 brush and voilà! I truly got that "airbrush finish".
If you have seen pics here of me without makeup, you know what I mean about coverage. Most of the times I even skip concealer. I feel this foundation gives me such beautiful skin. Oh, I currently use both formulas.
♥PROS:
√ Medium to full coverage
√Most of the time I don't need to use concealer when using this
√ You can mix a dark shade with moisturizer to make your own tinted moisturizer; It works beautifully and is very refreshing
√Matte finish--I do mix it sometimes with MAC's Strobe lotion to get a "glowy/dewy" finish that really lasts
√Really last for hours and I mean that my makeup looks as if just applied
√Doesn't transfer and ruin clothes
√Comes in two formulas for different skin types and has SPF (not much, but always welcome)
√Many shades to choose from; I also mix some of them to get my perfect one
♥CONS
×It doesn't has a pump, it can get a bit messy
×It has an awkward, strong smell -- it does dissapears a few minutes after application
×Dries really fast, it is better do small areas at a time when applying with a brush
×There are no real options for neutral skintones with yellow undertones (like mine). I use Natural Tan when I'm tanned and Warm Golden seems to work the rest of the time. Since I have many shades of this foundation I mix them to make my own shade
×Drugstores don't have testers so you have to buy then try it on; I have quite a collection, just trying to get my perfect shade or at least one I can work with. Thank God for BOGO-free sales, just once I have paid full price
×Oily/Combo skin formula can dry your skin, so remember to always moisturize first! I don't recommend to use it daily
×Wish the Oily/Combo Skin formula had higher SPF. Then again, maybe that would change the quality of the product...IDK
♥IMPORTANT!
Both formulas have shades with the same name, but the colors ARE NOT the same. Normal/Dry formula tends to be darker than the Combo/Oily skin one. I read somewhere that this was a quality issue, but I have been using this for a long time and still the colors are different (I e-mailed Revlon about this but got no reply). I have noticed that, at least on me, when the Combo/Oily formula dries (and oxidizes), the color seems darker. So you better be careful when choosing them based only on recommendations.
Watch these two bottles, same shade, different formula:
As I mentioned, I have bought many shades looking for one that suited my skin. Right now I am between Golden Beige and Natural Tan, so I mix the two of them and get a beautiful shade. Warm Golden also works for me.
You may ask: Why bother mixing diff. shades? Because I consider the formula is so good, I really don't mind doing so.
I did bought really light shades like Buff and Fresh Beige on purpose, I use them with Toast and get another customized beautiful shade. I think I'll eventually just use Natural Tan+Golden Beige (if I don't get any paler, geez!) and also Toast to make my personal tinted moisturizer.
I did bought really light shades like Buff and Fresh Beige on purpose, I use them with Toast and get another customized beautiful shade. I think I'll eventually just use Natural Tan+Golden Beige (if I don't get any paler, geez!) and also Toast to make my personal tinted moisturizer.
From left to right:
Buff(c/o), Fresh Beige (n/d), Natural Tan (n/d), Natural Tan (c/o),
Rich Tan (c/o), Toast (n/d), Toast (c/o), Active Light in Toast
(Click to enlarge)
Buff(c/o), Fresh Beige (n/d), Natural Tan (n/d), Natural Tan (c/o),
Rich Tan (c/o), Toast (n/d), Toast (c/o), Active Light in Toast
(Click to enlarge)
Also wanted to mention that in my experience, if this foundation looks/feels like a mask on your face, you probably applied to much. Less is more with Colorstay! Start by applying just a drop. Then build it up.
You do have to apply this on well moisturized skin or it will emphasize dry areas on your face. I have found that MAC Prep+Prime face primer or BORGHESE Prima Viso face primer works really well for me. I used Smashbox Photofinish on winter months--which in Puerto Rico means cooler temperatures-- and it was okay, not perfect, but okay. I will not be using Photofinish with Colorstay on this summer season.
PLEASE NOTE: I can't stress enough how much difference it makes to apply Colorstay with a MAC 187 brush or similar brush (I also have the Ulta version of the 187---good buy!). The finish is unbelievable! With my fingers I get a more natural finish. Just experiment with different methods of application to get what you're really looking for.
♥Rating: 4/5 (I would love if Revlon made it fragance-free and if at least it had a pump...LOL). All in all, awesome foundation.
You do have to apply this on well moisturized skin or it will emphasize dry areas on your face. I have found that MAC Prep+Prime face primer or BORGHESE Prima Viso face primer works really well for me. I used Smashbox Photofinish on winter months--which in Puerto Rico means cooler temperatures-- and it was okay, not perfect, but okay. I will not be using Photofinish with Colorstay on this summer season.
PLEASE NOTE: I can't stress enough how much difference it makes to apply Colorstay with a MAC 187 brush or similar brush (I also have the Ulta version of the 187---good buy!). The finish is unbelievable! With my fingers I get a more natural finish. Just experiment with different methods of application to get what you're really looking for.
♥Rating: 4/5 (I would love if Revlon made it fragance-free and if at least it had a pump...LOL). All in all, awesome foundation.
From left to right:
Buff(c/o), Fresh Beige (n/d), Natural Tan (n/d), Natural Tan (c/o),
Rich Tan (c/o), Toast (n/d), Toast (c/o), Active Light in Toast
**n/d=normal/dry formula
**c/o=combo/oily formula
No flash--Indoor Lighting
Buff(c/o), Fresh Beige (n/d), Natural Tan (n/d), Natural Tan (c/o),
Rich Tan (c/o), Toast (n/d), Toast (c/o), Active Light in Toast
**n/d=normal/dry formula
**c/o=combo/oily formula
No flash--Indoor Lighting
No Flash--Natural Lighting
I also have Golden Beige (Indoor):
(It seems Golden Beige is a decent match,but this is the back of my arm. It looks too light on my face)
¡Vivan, amen y rían!
