makeup: base notes

My latest foundation find....

I’ve been addicted to a $60 designer spray-on foundation for a few years now. It gives flawless coverage—not unlike one of those pro-style airbrush machines that makeup artists use on photo shoots. But it’s a big can (not really travel worthy), and I’m hating the price tag.

One day, though, I was at the drugstore, shopping for a small bottle of spill-proof makeup to get me through a weekend trip and mollify the TSA employee at the airport. I settled on Maybelline’s Instant Age Rewind Eraser Treatment Makeup (the name is bigger than the bottle)…and fell in love with this $10 beauty. The affair has little to do with its anti-aging benefits (which seem to be lofty: an SPF of 18, plus a collagen-based formula that’s supposed to reduce imperfections in eight weeks). Instead, I was seriously impressed with what can only be described as a velvety sensation when this makeup hits your skin.

The intended method of application is a sponge-tip gizmo that’s attached to the end of the bottle (note: it’s anti-microbial, so you’re not applying a garden of germs to your face each time), and the coverage is perfect—thorough, but not mask-like. If you want a sheer look (which I kind of prefer, especially in the summer), you can try this trick I picked up from makeup artist Brett Freedman: Lightly dampen a good foundation brush, like M.A.C. #107, then gently run it over the foundation and apply to your face in a swirling motion.

Gotta admit: I haven’t touched the spray can in weeks. Have you fallen in love with a drugstore beauty product that you never thought you’d use? Tell me about it. (But take note: I might just have to run out and buy one.)

5 Comments
  • Nancy

    I use this every day. Makes my skin very smooth

    August 9, 2010 at 12:19 pm
  • debbi

    After reading your blog entry I headed to the drugstore and picked up some foundation and a new foundation brush. Love love love the way it gives light,even coverage and makes my skin feel soft and velvety. Thanks for the great tip!

    August 13, 2010 at 1:23 pm
  • Karen

    Hillary – You are Genius!!! THis was such perfect timing. I had just run out of my fav MAC foundation that I love but didn’t love the price or the fact that I live in Mount Vernon and have to drive to Alderwood Nordy’s to get it. Low n’ behold I see your great find and I went straight to Freddy Meyers and picked it up. The one difficulty with drugstore foundations is that you never know what color to get. So I picked up 2 colors, thinking that even if I opened both I’d still be saving money. As it turned out, the first one I opened “Nude #190” was perfect so I took the other one back. So I’m now using my fabulous MAC 130 brush with my New fabulous & less expensive Maybeline foundation – Love it! Thanks Hillary. And if you can convince the drugstore brands to come up with a way to test the colors without it being too gross with everyone touching a sample, then I’d say you are teh Ultimate Genius!

    August 24, 2010 at 2:37 pm
  • Janie Bunch

    And have you tried Maybelline’s Age Rewind Double Face Perfector? I like it even better than YSL Touche Eclat even if it weren’t about 1/4 the price.

    September 12, 2010 at 10:32 pm
  • H, just picked up this foundation on your rec, and I LOVE it. Thank you, thank you! It’s my new favorite! xo

    September 21, 2010 at 2:47 pm