I feel like Maybelline is probably my favourite drugstore makeup brand… I know they’re arguably boring and they’ve been round for way too long, but they make some great products and along with Rimmel, L’Oreal and Max Factor I feel like Boots and Superdrug wouldn’t be the same without them. And so when they launch something new I feel the need always to try it!
And recently they came out with a new line of their Superstay Foundation (an old and longstanding favourite foundation of mine); the Maybelline Superstay Active Wear Foundation.
And this is the claim on their website:
Combat the clock for up to 30-hour performance with this active long lasting foundation that feels lightweight and breathable. It’s transfer-resistant, water-resistant and sweat-resistant. When it comes to high-pigment foundation with a weightless, natural finish, this comfortable matte foundation goes above and beyond to transform the look of your skin. It features an oil-free formula that doesn’t clog pores and is dermatologist tested. For all skin types.
Read More: Review | Maybelline Super Stay Foundation
Price & Packaging (& Shade Range)
At £10.99 a bottle it’s £1 more than the original foundation in the line (at £9.99), but about on par with everything else at the drugstore. You get 30m of product, which is pretty standard, and is comes in the same bottle as their original line, but with black lettering (as opposed to white). It also comes with a pretty decent pump, which makes it a winner in my book!
There are 20 shades in the range from Alabaster to Mocha. And I have shade 3 True Ivory. And while the foundation does go dark and light, I feel like at this point… there really should be more than 20 shades available! Totally appreciate they may not be able to stock every shade in every Superdrug (as some of them are tiny), but they should at least be available on line. Especially when there are brands out there with 40+ shade ranges!
Read More: New | Maybelline SuperStay Multi Use Foundation Stick
Formula
This is a fairly thick, nearing on moussey style texture – you know when you get a pump out and it sits there looking pretty on your hand? However, I find it blends out easily and doesn’t dry too fast so you do have time to move it around. It’s definitely a medium to high coverage foundation that covers most things, and so it feels like you only need to pair it with a more brightening/light weight concealer for under your eyes. On first application it looks pretty good and I find it doesn’t appear to oxidise much on my skin.
There are a few claims on the foundation…. let’s see what matches up – while it claims to be transfer resistant, it transfers as much as any other foundations in my collection. However, while I haven’t exactly showered in it, I have been caught out in the rain in it, and it seems to hold up pretty well.
However…. what I don’t like about this foundation, and why it therefore won’t become my everyday or new favourite… is that it seems to sit on top of the skin. And while I know all foundations do… I mean like you can really see it on your skin. It’s like it’s not blending in properly or sitting weirdly with primers and it doesn’t look natural or skin like at all…. and it only gets worse as the day goes on.
Overall Thoughts
The original foundation, while super high coverage and a little bit heavy, made your skin look flawless and was that perfect foundation for events (ha who remembers those) and days you wanted your makeup to cover anything and everything! However, this one… while equally high coverage, and easy to apply…. just doesn’t look the same! And so I would say if you’re wanting a new high coverage Maybelline foundation, then go for the original one! It’s also a quid cheaper!
Have you tried this? If so, what did you think?
Katie x