Sunday, October 2, 2011

Review Follow Up: MAC Matchmaster Foundation

About a week and a half ago, I went to MAC to test out their new Matchmaster Foundation, which I did a quick test review here.  I'd like to do a follow up to that quick test review.

I ended up really liking the foundation so I went ahead and purchased it in shade 3. While when I first apply it the shade seems like a great match, it does oxidize a bit over time and gets to be darker than I'd like. I did go back and try shade 2 but it was definitely too light. Depending on the popularity of this new foundation, MAC may make a 2.5 shade, which might work out better for me.


The way that I counter the darkness is to use a powder slightly lighter and/or with a luminous finish. I also make sure to highlight the area around my eyes (high cheekbones, nose bridge, above eyebrows and around the sides, between end of eyebrows and hairline).

The nice thing about this foundation is that it has a pump dispenser, unlike most of the other MAC Foundations where you have to actually purchase a pump dispenser separately. It is also a twist-lock type of cap, which is also very nice.

I mentioned in my quick test review that I thought that the coverage was a bit light although it's stated by MAC that it's a buildable medium coverage. I've since changed my original opinion of it. It definitely does give a good medium coverage. The MUA used the MAC 187 brush to apply the foundation in store. That brush is a very soft bristled brush so it would give a light coverage. I use my flat top Sonia Kashuk multi-purpose brush and since the brush is much denser than MAC 187, I do get a nice coverage, which I like.

MAC also says that the finish of this foundation is demi-matte and I generally do not like matte finishes because it usually means that the formulation isn't moisturizing, although matte finishes do tend to have longer wear time. In order to add more hydration to my skin while using this foundation, I added Sana  Uruoi Taishi Facial Mist to my skin before I apply the foundation and then again after I've put on all of my makeup.

Sorry, Blogger automatically rotated the picture.

I will also usually mist again mid afternoon. This has helped to keep me hydrated and no settling into and bringing out fine lines. This foundation is also very long wearing on me. Here's a picture in which I did absolutely no touching up except to mist with Sana:


The picture was taken at 11:45 p.m., approximately 17 hours after I initially applied the foundation. (You can see what the foundation looked like when it was first applied in the Quick Test Review post.) There is some fading, especially around my nostril area. That's because I kept sneezing during the day and had to blow my nose a few times.

I think that this foundation is excellent for humid weather conditions and will be a great summer foundation for me. It's been really hot and humid here recently so it was perfect to test drive the wearability of it.

*Kat*

12 comments:

Sheila said...

That foundation looks great on you even after such a crazy long day!! Good choice of purchase =)

Miu said...

Thanks for the review! I've been seeing this foundation used in runway fashion shows.

It's appears that it's pretty long wearing on you!

Anonymous said...

wow this foundation sounds very long lasting! I'm still on the fence with MAC foundations.. I want to check it out for the next humid summer lol

ShinyPrettyThings said...

ooo a new mac foundation! i've never tried mac foundations before but this sounds like it could be promising. except for the difficulty in finding a right shade for u >.< but i still think it looks really good on you though :D

Jamilla Camel said...

Really impressive staying power! I'm always on the lookout for long-wearing foundation - thank you for the review!

Jen said...

Thanks for the review. I definitely want to give this foundation a go.. but I'll probably buy it overseas since it's so over-priced here! >.< Great wear time!

galpal.hi said...

@Sheila--Thank you so much! I now have two foundations to work with so I'm happy. I also just started using Sue Devitt but I mix it with my beloved Hada Labo Moist BB cream.

*Kat*

galpal.hi said...

@Miu--Thank you for commenting. I must say that I'm impressed by this foundation so far. Foundations and mascaras are the two beauty items that I have a hard time finding that will work for me.

*Kat*

galpal.hi said...

@Nic Nic--I think that this foundaiton might work out for you since there are no color tones (warm/cool). I'm still in love with the Hada Labo BB Cream but I think that I inadvertently got darker over the summer and it's definitely too light on me now. I found that I can mix it with the other foundation that I just purchased--Sue Devitt and the color works out great.

*Kat*

galpal.hi said...

@ShinyPrettyThings--Thank you for your sweet comment. If you are able to check out this foundation, you should give it a test try.

*Kat*

galpal.hi said...

@Jamilla--Thank you! I know that you like long-wearing, matte foundations for when you're in Muscat. I'm finding that this is working well with the current humid weather.

*Kat*

galpal.hi said...

@Jen--Thanks for your comment! Yeah, in "chatting" with another blogger from Australia, I know how much higher costs are for you on a lot of products. I think that it's fortunate that you can at least go to a store to test, play with and color match so that you know exactly what you need to get when you order online.

*Kat*