I’ve been reviewing a lot of foundations and BB creams the past weeks, haven’t I? It’s this thing I have; sometimes I get this insane attraction to blush and I keep talking about it until I’ve run out of words (well, I still love blush, so I don’t think that will ever happen. But you never know! :P). Then came base products, which resulted in the wave of reviews you’ve been seeing lately.

I’ve been trying out a lot of makeup base products the past few months. Some I’ve purchased, some are sent to me for review. I’m liking the fact that base products are getting better by the day and that it’s not difficult to find good ones anymore that do not leave your face looking like a greasy wok at the end of the day.

Another case in point, which is what I’ll be reviewing today, is Clinique’s Stay Matte Oil-Free Makeup.

Description:
This lightweight gel-cream texture provides all day coverage with a mattifying finish and feels as comfortable as wearing nothing at all. Controls oil breakthrough and keeps skin shine-free, even in extreme heat and humidity all day. Contains shine absorbers to refine the look of troubled areas. Skin looks and feels flawless all day long.

Ingredients:
Water/Aqua/Eau, Methyl Trimethicone, Butylene Glycol, Neopentylglycol Diheptanoate, Dimethicone, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Nylon-12, Silica, Laminaria Saccharina Extract, Salix Alba (Willow) Bark Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Cholesterol, Glycerin, Zinc Stearate, PEG-10 Dimethicone, Caffeine, Lauryl PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone, Lecithin, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Dimethicone/PEG-10/15 Crosspolymer, Tocopheryl Acetate, Phenyl Trimethicone, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Laureth-7, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Potassium Sorbate, Sorbic Acid, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Triethyl Citrate, Hydroxyapatite, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Chloride, Alcohol, Dipropylene Glycol, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Nylon-6, Chlorphenesin, Phenoxyethanol [+/- Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Iron Oxides (CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499), Bismuth Oxychloride (CI 77163), Mica] [ILN38520]

As it was winter up to about a couple of weeks ago, I’ve been using a lot of richer foundations and BB creams. It might seem a bit odd given that I have combination skin and yet I prefer richer foundations. My skin doesn’t do matte very well in the colder months. Lines are more significant, my cheeks appear dry and not at all appealing. So when the people at Clinique sent me this new foundation by Clinique to try, I was excited yet apprehensive at the same time. I want a matte T-zone but not chalky and blah-looking cheeks. Is that possible?

Clinique’s Stay-Matte Oil-Free Makeup comes in a plastic tube with a thin nozzle. I’m very happy with this simple packaging because most of the foundations by Clinique come in glass bottles with a big opening and no pump. Controlled dispensing of foundation is finally easy with this new packaging.

Texture-wise, it’s light yet creamy. It goes on the skin matte. It has a powdered finish upon application, which is why it isn’t necessary for me to use loose powder over the foundation at all. The most I do is finish the makeup with a very light dusting of the Guerlain Meteorites just to give the skin a lift.

Does it stay on the skin matte all day? It does on my cheeks and chin, but not enough for my oily T-zone. It wasn’t long before my T-zone started to show a bit of shine, especially my nose. It’s not the fault of the foundation; I’ve experienced this with almost all foundations I use, cheap or expensive. A blot of the nose with facial blotting paper, and I’m good to go again.

The foundation does not oxidise on my skin, which is good. It doesn’t make my skin appear chalky or dull. I’m not a fan of foundations in summer, but I’ll save this for summer evenings when I need an extra bit of coverage. It has medium coverage; enough to conceal redness around my nose, but not heavy that I can only use this in the evenings.

It’s a decent foundation for oily to combination skin. If you have dry skin, I don’t think you’ll like this one as the matte-ness does emphasise fine lines.

Clinique Stay-Matte Oil-Free Makeup retails at AU$50 for 30ml and is available at MYER, David Jones and selected pharmacies nationwide.

What I like about it: Oil-free, matte finish that doesn’t leave my skin looking chalky and bland, good coverage without being heavy, easy-to-use packaging

What I do not like about it: It’s such an oxymoron, but I’d like some glow with matte skin, which this foundation doesn’t give me 😛

PS: Don’t eat this, ‘cos there’s cholesterol in it!
PPS: My jokes are lame.