If your face is your canvas, then it stands to reason that the same rules that apply in art should be in effect here as well: proper preparation is key. With the vast choice of primers, foundations, and powders that are available to the consumer today, knowing what product to use can be a little daunting, not to mention time-consuming. That’s where the Maybelline New York Fit Me! Shine-Free™ Foundation  can help – an all-in-one foundation & mattifier in one travel friendly format.

Maybelline New York Fit Me! Shine-Free™ Foundation

Maybelline New York – Fit Me! Shine-Free™ Foundation

Maybelline New York – Fit Me! Shine-Free™ Foundation

Maybelline New York Fit Me! Shine-Free™ Foundation (CAD $10.99 9 g/0.32 oz) – available in 12 basically odourless shades, from a pale ivory to a warm chocolatey hue, these foundation sticks come in a unique gel formula that apply creamy and wind down to a powdery finish, featuring an anti-shine core at the center that is supposed to help dissolve excess oils, perfect for those with oily and combination skin types. With their convenient palm-sized black plastic case and transparent cap (with the shade number clearly marked both on the cap surface & the bottom of each tube), they come in a retractible twist-up format, great for both hygiene and portability. The unique gel-formula means that you can apply these as a sheer wash of colour (a damp blending sponge can thin the shade out even more), or you can definitely layer them for a more medium-full coverage but not at the opaque level.

My findings: I have combination skin, and my criteria when shopping for foundation are that A) the colour matches (duh!) and that B) it must also have oil-absorbing properties, without making my skin look chalky and/or cake-y. My usual routine is to apply a face primer first, especially along the T-zone and forehead, but for the sake of experimentation I opted to try these foundations without.

After swatching them all to find my match, and taking into account that I’m still sporting a tan from my vacation, I realized that I would need 2 colours – possibly blended together – for a seamless look, and to that end, the shades that worked for me were a combination of #220 Natural Beige and #340 Cappuccino. The first thing I noticed was how utterly creamy they felt going on – gliding in a feather-light manner, making them super easy to blend out, whether using fingers or a brush. I began by applying #220 along my forehead, cheeks, bridge of the nose and chin, then used a paddle foundation brush to spread the shade evenly (fingers work great as well, although I did find the brush more effective). I then went in with #340 in key areas of my face: hollows of cheeks, forehead and lightly down the bridge of my nose and chin, and blended that in with the brush as well. The result was a seamless match – my still lightly-tanned skin, but more flawless and even appearing.

While I have yet to find a foundation that stays 100% matte on me throughout its wearing, I was pleasantly surprised by how effectively these foundations kept any oiliness at bay – going easily 7 hours before I noticed hints of a shine, and still holding on at the 9-hour mark. With a finish that is a cross between matte and satin (definitely not glowy or dewy, nor powdery dry), my skin looked healthy and even-toned and I was able to blend them with ease. Another plus is how portable they are – something that can come in handy if you’re travelling (as I recently did) and don’t wish to lug along heavy (and sometimes messy) bottles of foundation. I definitely will be trying these with a primer under as well, in order to see if that can extend their oil-reduction properties even longer, but in general, I must say that I was quite impressed by how well these worked. You’d think that with just the 12 shades available, that the range is limiting, but all the key hues are well represented: pink tones for fair skin, beige and yellow tones for medium skin, and russet/brown tones for darker skin, plus at their wallet-friendly price points, you can always pick up 2 foundations to mix together for a customized shade.

Maybelline New York – Fit Me! Shine-Free™ Foundation (swatched on unprimed skin)

Maybelline New York – Fit Me! Shine-Free™ Foundation 100’s series: #110 Porcelain, #115 Ivory, #120 Classic Ivory

Maybelline New York – Fit Me! Shine-Free™ Foundation 100’s series: #110, #115 & #120 swatched heavily (top), spread out (left), and blended (right)

Maybelline New York – Fit Me! Shine-Free™ Foundation 200’s series: #220 Natural Beige & #240 Golden Beige

Maybelline New York – Fit Me! Shine-Free™ Foundation 200’s series: #220 & #240 swatched heavily (top), spread out (left), and blended (right)

Maybelline New York – Fit Me! Shine-Free™ Foundation 300’s series: #310 Sun Beige, #340 Cappuccino, #355 Coconut

Maybelline New York – Fit Me! Shine-Free™ Foundation 300’s series: #310, #340 & #355 swatched heavily (top), spread out (left), and blended (right)

I really like these foundations and while I did receive a healthy number of shades to try out, I’m curious to see if my selection will still work on me when my tan fades, or if I’ll need to look at a couple of other options – either way, I can always try blending the ones I do have, or pick up a couple of new shades if need be (thank God for budget-friendly prices). I didn’t notice the “oil-dissolving” powers of the anti-shine core, although I did feel they did a great job of keeping my face relatively oil-free for most of their wearing. I’m hesitant to say if these will work as effectively on those with drier skins, although the way they glide so effortlessly might be worth looking into, without fear that this formula could emphasize any dry patches.

Available at pharmacies and mass market retailers across Canada, you can get more information via twitter/facebook or the Maybelline New York website.

*Disclosure: Product samples provided by the company/PR for my unbiased consideration

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