Happy Sunday my lovelies!

As promised, I am back with the second review in a row. It is the Maybelline’s newest launch, their Fit Me! Shine free + Balance stick foundation. I picked this up right in very next week of the launch and have been trying since then. So, let’s jump into the review to find out whether it is a hit or miss.

Price: Rs550 for 9g of product and has a shelf life of 28 months.

Shade: As usual, shade range is extremely limited. There are only 5 shades: 110 Porcelain, 130 Buff Beige, 220 Natural Beige, 235 Pure Beige & 330 Stick Toffee. There is no 310 or 322 in between & I am 310 in Maybelline Fit me Matte + Poreless foundation. I mean, WHY!! Majority of Indian skintone will find their match in 235.

I know this shade is slightly light for myNC42 skintone, but then I apply very little quantity, just to even out my skin. Hence, shade is not a problem for me. And I think, it oxidizes a little bit because in the evening I am back to my skintone as opposed to a little glowy in the morning.

Texture: The foundation stick has an Anti-Shine Powder core. This is done to enhance the staying power of the foundation on your skin. (I think this is primer plus foundation, two-in-one). Though there is nothing powdery about the core, in fact, it feels very silicone-y, just like a primer would feel. It is easily blendable on the skin, blends best with fingers. (Best for lazy people, like me!). It gives a powdery finish which is not completely matte but definitely manages the shine.

Application & Coverage: I don’t like heavy foundations. Also, I don’t like layering them up for full coverage. I’d rather go for sheer coverage with even toned face for an everyday look. And this stick is perfect for it. It provides sheer to medium coverage without feeling cakey. Also, it’s lightweight (if not layered up), and is apt for daily wear. Also, as it a stick, it is super easy to apply. Just open the cap, twist the base and apply! This is my first stick foundation and I am loving it to bits.

Staying power: It stays the whole day. But BUT, it doesn’t control shine for long when used on its own. Just after an hour of application, my T-zone starts shining. It doesn’t matter because after setting it with powder, I am good to go. If your skin is more on the oilier side, you’ll need to use a compact powder once to mattify the face, after 3-4 hours, but it doesn’t affect the efficacy of the foundation. It stays put, doesn’t budge or slips off from your face.  I am saying this because, at night when I remove my makeup, I can see all of my foundation on the cotton pads. (A fool proof method of testing the longevity of your foundation.) All-n-all, I am impressed by this.

The verdict: I have stopped using BB cream and included this in my daily (minimal) makeup routine for office. As it doesn’t take much time to blend into the skin, it has reduced my ‘getting ready’ time to few minutes. (If your face is not moisturized well, it is going to cling onto the dry patches of skin.) Also, as it not a complete mattifying product, it doesn’t give me a flat look. What more do you want from a foundation?

Apart from the shine control part (which is manageable by setting with a powder) and an absence of SPF, I don’t find any con in this foundation stick. I am quite happy with my purchase and would keep it in stock always.

Who can try this? 

Though it is meant for combination skin, dry skinned people too can use this (of course after having moisturized the face well). It is not going to suck moisture out of your skin. According to me, it will work great for all skin types. As it is quite affordable, it is definitely worth a try.

Have you tried this foundation? How did it fare for you? Let me know in the comments.

Thank you for reading! If you like my post, please do subscribe to/follow my blog and share some love.

You can also find Makeup & Smiles at~

Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Let’s connect!

Share some love: