I picked this up because I kept seeing it recommended as a budget dupe for way more expensive foundations. The packaging is nothing special — a simple pump bottle — but the formula surprised me straight away. It's thicker than I expected but blends out really easily with a damp beauty sponge. The coverage is immediate and proper, not that sheer "your skin but better" stuff.
For under €8 I honestly thought it would be fine-but-not-great. It's better than fine.
I've been wearing this for a few weeks now and it genuinely holds up all day. My T-zone doesn't get shiny through it, which is usually my problem with drugstore foundations. It doesn't sink into my pores either, which cheaper formulas tend to do by lunchtime. One pump covers most of my face, two pumps gives full coverage on any redness or blemishes.
I did find it a tiny bit drying on my cheeks after a few hours, so I started applying a light moisturiser underneath and that fixed it completely. It also sets fairly quickly so you need to blend fast — but once it's set it does not move.
If you want full coverage without spending €30+, this is it. I've tried foundations that cost four times as much and don't perform this well. The slight dryness issue is easy to fix with a good primer or moisturiser underneath, and the matte finish actually photographs really nicely. For the price it's almost unfair to other foundations. 4.2/5.
Ready to try it?
~€8 at Amazon.de — usually ships in 1–2 days.
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Maybelline New York
The fan brush feels weird for like two days and then you never go back.