Matte foundation is back with a more natural finish – we put three products to the test
MATTE foundation is back – but it’s not cakey or chalky like in the past, and is nowhere near as drying.
The new finish is far more natural, almost like real skin, with superior staying power. This week, I put three to the test . . .
BUDGET
BUDGET Maybelline New York Super Stay Lumi Matte Foundation, £12.99 for 41g, boots.com:
When it comes to high-street foundations, I can count on one hand those that I rate.
Budget beauty is booming, but the base category has some catching up to do, so I didn’t expect much from this liquid formula.
It offers the least coverage of the three, so needs building up or layering with a concealer, but it gives a perfect real-skin, satin matte finish that enables it to stay put without drying out skin or making it look flat.
I struggled to find any negatives – other than that it only comes in 22 shades, so you might struggle to find a perfect match.
MID-RANGE
Anastasia Beverly Hills Impeccable Blurring Second-Skin Matte Foundation, £39 from, anastasiabeverlyhills.co.uk:
I wasn’t sure what to expect from this foundation, having a love-hate relationship with the brand’s previous base launches.
I’m happy to say, after my first try, this firmly went into the love category.
It’s undoubtedly full-coverage so if you like a sheer finish, steer clear. But that makes it perfect for long days and oily skin like mine.
I have to confess, I fell asleep in it twice over Christmas – while I absolutely do not recommend that, it still looked flawless come morning, and it didn’t cause any breakouts.
If you’re looking for a full coverage, long-wear base, I’ve not tried better.
LUXURY
Dior Forever Skin Perfect Foundation Stick, £48 for 10g, dior.com: This clever stick is wholly responsible for my return to matte formulas.
I’m a huge fan of make-up sticks, they’re the most convenient format – saving time, space and money – and this is no different.
It’s got enough pigment to render concealer useless, yet doesn’t look or feel heavy on skin.
It blends out seamlessly, and layers well so you can customise the coverage on different areas of the face. I’ve already repurchased twice, which is about as strong a vote of confidence as you’ll get.
It’s by far my favourite.
PICK OF THE WEEK
I USE gel manicures religiously. I’m a reformed nail biter, so normal polish never lasts more than a day on my hands.
That was until I tried the new Essie To The Rescue Nail Treatment, £10.99.
I’m now having a break from gel polish, and have never really understood the allure of nail strengtheners, but this is different.
The light-pink hue and high-shine finish give it a gel-like appearance, and it’s lasted a week so far with no chips – so I’m not missing my usual manicure.