MAYBELLINE NEW YORK: Dream Matte Mousse
Maybelline Dream Matte Mousse
Since Maybelline had just released a drugstore version of Lancome’s mousse-like Magique Matte foundation, I decided to test the cheaper one out first. The ingredients of the two foundations are fairly similar, but by no means exact. This product, for instance, contains Squalane, while Lancome’s version does not. Unfortunately, I – much later – discovered that my skin doesn’t seem to like Squalane. I’m not sure if that was the ingredient that made me break out, but something in this foundation did.
Maybelline actually created a nice range of shades for this product. Light Beige, Sandy Beige, Natural Beige, Pure Beige, Medium Beige, Honey Beige, Tan, Toffee, Caramel, and Cocoa should work for women of color from the light- to dark-skinned spectrum. However, the foundation may not work for all brown-skinned girls. The Toffee is for light-skinned, yellow undertoned women, the caramel works for medium brown skin with a yellow/orange undertone and the Cocoa is a reddish orange for chocolate brown women. If your skin doesn’t fall into those parameters, you’re out of luck.
Ingredients: Cyclopentasiloxane, Dimethicone, Squalane, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Hydrogenated Jojoba Oil, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Polymethyl Methacrylate, Silica Dimethyl Silylate, Phenoxyethanol, Phenyl Trimethicone, Disodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Methylparaben, Vinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer, Aluminum Hydroxide, Silica, BHT, Ethylparaben, Butylparaben, Isobutylparaben, Propylparaben. May contain: Titanium Dioxide CI 77891, Iron Oxides CI 77492, CI 77499, CI 77491, Bismuth Oxychloride CI 77163, Mica.
Cost: $9.49
MAYBELLINE NEW YORK: Dream Matte Pressed Powder
Maybelline Dream Matte Pressed Powder
I love the simplicity of this pressed powder’s formula and judging from reviews it seems to work well for many women. But I won’t even consider trying this product because it contains Talc, which my skin doesn’t seem to like.
This foundation was launched about a year ago and at that time quite a few women complained about the limited shade selection. Currently, the product has a total of 8 shades. Three for light skin (Fair, Ivory and Cream), three for medium skin (Sand, Beige and Honey) and two for dark skin (Latte and Hazelnut). The options may leave some light-, medium- and dark-skinned women disappointed, but at least Maybelline seems to be trying. In the past, most cosmetics companies would just offer one orange-toned shade for dark-skinned women, rather than the yellow undertoned Latte and the Hazelnut, which only has a hint of orange in it. Of course, it would be great if dark-skinned women had three options as well.
Ingredients: Talc, Nylon-12, Isodecyl Neopentanoate, Magnesium Stearate, Dimethicone, Phenoxyethanol, Cetyl Dimethicone, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Methylparaben, Triisocetyl Citrate, Ethylparaben, Propylparaben, Isobutylparaben, Butylparaben. May contain: Mica, Iron Oxides, Titanium Dioxide.
Cost: $7.99
MAYBELLINE: Mineral Power Natural Perfecting Foundation
Maybelline Mineral Power Liquid Foundation
I’ve gotten a kick out of the drugstore versions of mineral makeup. Although there are exceptions, a good number of them don’t contain the basic ingredients of a mineral makeup: Titanium Dioxide and Zinc Oxide. This Mineral Powder foundation exemplifies the trend. It’s basically a silicone-based foundation, that MAY contain Titanium Dioxide and Iron Oxides, another common ingredient in mineral makeup.
In addition to being silicone heavy, this foundation also contains Sodium Chloride, which is a known skin irritant. However, I have read a number of positive reviews for Mineral Power. Ultimately, this may be a great option for those looking for a low-cost foundation that you can find easily at the drugstore.
Ingredients: Water, Cyclopentasiloxane, Dimethicone, Glycerin, Isotridecyl Isononanoate, PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Dimethicone, Polyglycerin-3 Crosspolymer, Sodium Chloride, Phenoxyethanol, Methylparaben, Disodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Chlorphenesin, Disodium EDTA, Acrylates Copolymer, Propylparaben, Tocopherol, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Aluminum Hydroxide, PEG-9, Ethylparaben, Isobutylparaben, Butylparaben, May contain: Titanium Dioxide, Iron Oxides.
Italics=potentially comedogenic or irritating ingredients.
Cost: $9.99
MAYBELLINE: Mineral Power Natural Perfecting Powder Foundation
Maybelline Mineral Power Powder Foundation
As I’ve mentioned, every cosmetic company seems to be on the mineral foundation bandwagon these days. Maybelline recently released this Mineral Power line, which is clearly a lower-priced version of Bare Escentuals. Maybelline even “borrows” the BE application tip of “swirl, tap, buff.” In Mineral Power’s case its “dip it, tap it, apply it.” Should BE sue? Would the company even have a case?
Anyway, I find it astounding that this powder can have so many ingredients compared to other mineral foundations, which usually only contain Titanium Dioxide, Zinc Oxide, pigments and an ingredient or two more. For women who are truly trying to use natural products, this powder is not even a contender since it includes silicones and synthetic wax. As for shade selection, there’s only one shade for dark skin, and in the container it doesn’t look that dark. I fear it may make the skin look ashy. (Update: I’m actually impressed with the shade range of this product. Yes, there’s only one shade for dark-skinned women but it does look dark enough to work – if your skin can deal with an orange undertone.) There are also three shades available for women in the middle of the shade range; some are heavily orange but at least one has a yellow base. It’s worth a try if you want to have the mineral foundation experience by using a line that’s affordable and easily accessible at the drugstore, but there are much better options out there.
Ingredients: Zinc Oxide, Polyethylene, Boron Nitride, Dimethicone, PTFE, Synthetic Wax, Acrylates Copolymer, Lauroyl Lysine, Cetyl Dimethicone, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Triisocetyl Citrate, Isopropyl Titanium Triisostearate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Panthenol, Matricaria Flower Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Extract, Mica. May Contain: Titanium Dioxide – CI 77891, Bismuth Oxychloride – CI 77163, Iron Oxides – CI 77499 – CI 77492 – CI 77491, Ultramarines – CI 77007.
Italics=potentially comedogenic or irritating ingredients.
Cost: $9.99
MultiFACEted Cosmetics 