I really like Revlon for drugstore/pharmacy makeup. They aren’t terribly exciting if I’m to be honest, but they work when they have to and that, for me, is most important. I’ve tried some of their foundations over the years and they generally work for me BUT I’d never tried the iconic Revlon Colorstay Makeup foundation. I know its popular, but I’d try it at the counter and the thick texture doesn’t endear itself to me. Its like everything that I NEVER wanted in a liquid foundation 😛
Recently, I received a bottle and I thought “Oh hey, here we go. My chance to try this iconic product” What I didn’t realise was that Revlon has now come up with 2 different Colorstay Makeup Foundations. The existing one is now meant for those with normal-dry skin and this new one is for combination-oily skin. What this new Combination-Oily texture means is that it feels lighter in texture and also on skin.
I initially didn’t like it. I tried it for a few days and found it drying initially despite the really long lasting coverage. So I set it aside. 2 months later, I picked it up again and for some weird reason, it now works for me. Have I normalised my skin that much from dry to combination? I don’t know but now, it doesn’t feel drying on my skin anymore! I think I just didn’t use as much.
Before I show you why I like it, let me show you one thing I absolutely dislike.
There is no pump. Gah! Revlon, please do something about this!
Pretty much like the original Colorstay Makeup foundation, there is no pump to this glass bottle, just a big gaping hole. I think this is a pretty decent product and would be much improved with the inclusion of a pump. I’m surprised Revlon hasn’t worked it out over the years. They do have other liquid foundations with a pump e.g. Age-defying DNA foundation so this regression boggles my mind.
I however, learned a nifty trick from RMK foundations that have a similar mind-boggling packaging. Cover your palm over the bottle mouth, up end the bottle and use just whatever is on your hand. I use the 5 line foundation application technique and its enough. If you try to pour it out, you will end up pouring out too much and wasting product.
Ok, griping aside, I like this foundation now. Perhaps it was my technique before or maybe I was using too much but the 5 line technique really works wonders. Also, I was sent the foundation in 200 Nude which is actually a tiny tiny bit deep for me. Just a tiny bit. I believe I’m usually more suited to Buff which is a shade we never see here 😛
Also, I believe there’s a shade down in 180 Sand Beige but that’s a bit yellow toned as opposed to Nude which has a more pinky tone (more suited to my skin) So dissection aside, I find that the 5 line application technique allows me to wear Nude quite comfortably without it looking too deep on my skin.
I find that the texture is a little thick but on skin once you blend it out, it doesn’t feel heavy which is something I appreciate. It stays on impressively well all day, leaving my skin looking like my skin but better all day long. I’ve stopped experiencing dryness, maybe because I now use a lot less product than before.
Here’s how it looks on my skin, before and after.
It just looks better doesn’t it? Covers up redness and most blemishes and even evens the pigmentation spots on my cheekbones. Doesn’t cover them of course, I still use concealer for that, but I like how much more even my skin looks when wearing this foundation. Its only a very thin layer as anyone using that 5-line method will testify so I’d say coverage is very good 🙂
Here’s how 200 Nude compares with other foundations that suit my skintone.
Left-Right: (1) Revlon Colorstay Whipped Mousse foundation 220 Nude (2) Revlon Colorstay liquid foundation 200 Nude (3) Revlon Age Defying DNA 10 (4) Shiseido Perfect Refining Foundation I00 Very light Ivory (5) Diorsnow Liquid Foundation 010 Ivory
Other than the Diorsnow Ivory which looks a tad lighter, the rest are very close! I intentionally benchmarked it against other Revlon foundations I have and use and you can see that the Colorstay Liquid Foundation in 200 Nude is a bit lighter than the Whipped Mousse foundation in 220 Nude and also a little lighter than Age Defying DNA 10 Buff. I do wish Revlon would standardize their naming conventions 😛 This way I don’t have to keep playing Russian Roulette 😛
Oh there’s SPF6 but its so low, I didn’t even think it worth mentioning 😛 UPDATE: SPF will be upgraded to SPF15 very soon! Watch out for the new packaging!
So I really like the longevity, the non-oily, lightweight texture and how my skin looks when I have it on. I may prefer if the shade was a touch lighter, but Revlon has to work on packaging. Buck up! 😛
In a nutshell
Revlon has come up with a new lightweight formula for their iconic Revlon Colorstay Makeup Liquid Foundation for Combination-Oily skin. The texture feels lighter than the original version which is now for Normal-Dry skin. I initially found it a little drying on my slightly dry skin but when I recently tried it again, I found that my skin felt more comfortable. I think it may have been the amount I used. I only use very little now because the coverage is very good so it will take you very far. I dislike the non-pump packaging however, which I can imagine will put many people off. Put in a pump and this will definitely fly off the shelves.
Pros: Lightweight texture, Good coverage, Very long lasting without fading or sliding off, Non oily texture
Cons: No pump, Messy packaging, Can be a little drying for normal/combination skin if too much is used
Who will like this: Anyone who is looking for a long lasting lightweight liquid foundation with good coverage
Here is the ingredient list for anyone interested.
Are you a fan of the Revlon Colorstay liquid foundation? Have you used the original version?
I know many people have listed it as one of their favourite full coverage liquid foundations but, as I said, I never tried it because the heavy texture was off putting. I’m glad they came up with a lighter texture. Its much more comfortable for me now, and I like it! I think I get the raves now 🙂
Paris B
Revlon Colorstay Makeup Combination-Oily skin comes in 5 shades locally – Sand Beige, Nude, Warm Golden, Early Tan and Toast. Price: RM59 (or check out sales) Availability: All Revlon counters
Maybe its the warmer n more humid weather thus ur skin is loving it now. Drugstore brands have nice n affordable foundation but they usually offered 6 shades n its hard to find a match. Have u try the Kate powderless liquid? It gives a flawless finishing.
Hmm that might be a contributing factor too, Esther 🙂 I think its a combination of weather, skin and just using less than I really need. I haven’t tried Kate’s but I’ve come across it and I plan to pick it up! Such an interesting concept! 😀
The problem with drugstore foundations or BB creams is that the brands never bring the entire range of colours to Malaysia and there is also no SA to assist you with the testing. I always end up having to test a bit of the colour on my jaw line but I fine this method not as accurate as the SA actually applying the foundation on your entire face. I guess for the fair to light medium skin ladies, buying foundations and BB creams from drugstores is not a problem since the range of colours available are more or less accurate for their skin tones. Pity really because I do like the Revlon brand for its value-for-money products but as I cannot be certain on the foundation colour for my skin tone, I will probably just stick to their lipsticks for now 🙂
Yes, I spoke to the brand people about this and they said it primarily due to demand. Sadly, the demand for makeup is still relatively low, believe it or not! So they just bring in the shades that will suit most which usually means that the very dark skinned and the very light skinned don’t get catered for. Here’s something you can try. Bring a little sample of a shade that you own that suits you and match it at the counter, this way, you get to see how close they are and take a chance on their foundation! 😉
The foundation looks great on you. It does not look at all like the old ColorStay foundation I had previously, which was cakey and thick (although it did cover everything and last and last and last 🙂 ).
From the pictures, I thought the foundation made you look brighter even though you mentioned that the color is slightly deep for you. Perhaps the pink undertones of the foundation helps.
One thing that I’ve noticed with Asian skintones is that even though we generally have yellow undertones, I found that foundations with pink undertones is more suitable for us because it helps brighten the skin and improves the sallowness that most Asian skintones have. At least this is what I’ve noticed for myself. I’ve love to hear what you think of this 🙂
Also, how does this foundation compares with the Whipped one? 🙂
Thank you, Aiyu! I was terribly put off by the original Colorstay so I’m glad this new formula feels much better. I have to say I agree fully with you about the pink tone thing, but with a little caveat. Most Asians have yellow tones in their skin, but it depends on the intensity of colour. Someone with a slightly more neutral tone will wear something with pink tones a little better and the skin will look brighter. Too much yellow and it’ll look sallow. That’s my personal experience. However, if someone has a warmer more yellow or golden skintone then yellow toned foundation will still work better as pink tones will make the skin look grey. Tricky eh? 😛 as for the whipped foundation, I do like that but the Nude there is so different from this Nude. So, I wear Nude in liquid foundation better than Nude in Whipped. I also find the coverage heavier in the whipped version. I just realised I didn’t review it lol! I better do that 😉
That makes so much sense. Thanks for sharing! You are spot on! I guess I belong to the neutral tone group.
Can’t wait for your review on the whipped version 🙂
Most welcome! I used to think, “Oh, I’m Chinese, I should be yellow based” until I worked out that I wasn’t. Yellow based that is, not that I’m not Chinese Haha!
You have to buy buff online =(
That’s where I got mine
Sigh, I suppose I should. Where did you get yours?
I got mine from a Facebook shop called Retail Paradise
=D
Thanks!
I was just thinking about trying this! Great minds do think alike. 😉 Guess someone will be picking this up at the drugstore this weekend. Hehe.
Boo to the no-pump design. Just like the NARS Sheer Glow. Tsk tsk tsk.
Woohoo! Great minds! I hear that there’s a version out with a pump so see if you get that. I think Revlon has a new one out in the states too – Nude Natural or something? Am most intrigued! 😉
Oh no. You’ve just made it harder for me to choose. I think the Rite Aid ladies can recognize me as the lady-who-stalks-the-beauty-aisle already. 😛
By the way, that Real Techniques Expert Face brush is DA BOMB! I’m permanently retiring my paddle style foundation brush now. 😀
Hahaha I wish I had that opportunity! I’d probably buy up everything in sight coz everything looks so new and exciting 😀 Happy you are liking the RT Expert Face Brush. Really, with that and the Shiseido one, who needs paddle brushes anymore? Why even make them? 😛
Glad that you are reviewing this foundation. Actually this is my first foundation and I really love this a lot. The shade that I’m wearing is 370 Toast, which is the perfect match for my tanned skintone. I only put this foundation on the problematic area on my face such as cheeks, nose and a lil bit on my chin. It does a good job of evening out my skin colour and cover blemishes and redness really well. I also hope that this foundation comes with a pump so that I can control the amount of foundation that I want to use. I usually blend it with my fingers rather than a sponge or a brush because it gives a natural finish. I tried using a sponge and brush before but it apply to thick on my face and start to look cakey. FYI, I’m a guy and wearing something like this is a bit weird to people. Its not that I’m a gay, its just that I want to look good in front of other people. I dont want to stand in front of them with a face full of blemishes. Thats why I use this to cover it since concealer doesnt work for me. The way I’m wearing a foundation is a bit weird, I always put it on my palm and rub it. When both of my palms already covered with foundation, I will apply it on my face just like I’m putting a moisturiser. It will gives me a natural finish without looking I’m wearing a foundation. After that I will set it with a translucent powder, and thats it!! Since this foundation doesnt have a pump, I use a cotton buds (q-tip) and dip it into the bottle. Thats the only way for me to get a perfect amount of foundation to wear. What I like about this foundation is the longevity and how it covers the imperfection flawlessly. It also have a nice scent to it..
Hi Chandra, thanks for sharing your experience with this foundation! I used to use the palm method a lot. Its so fast isn’t it? And the coverage can be really light and even. I still use that when I am in a hurry. Much faster than using a brush 🙂 I’m fascinated that guys are reading my blog too, and using a touch of makeup to just have your skin look better. So happy to hear from you 🙂
Looks good! Can see the difference in the photo. Revlon has been whipping up some of the best foundations in the last two years, at good price!
I fully agree with you! Well, except for that mousse thing. That was pretty much a disaster 😛
I used to original version for a while, but I can’t remember why I stopped using it. Must have been a reason for it. I hate how Revlon does foundation without a pump. Same thing with the new Nearly Naked foundation. It’s a fantastic product, but why oh why the inconvenient glass bottle?
I actually like the glass bottle but it definitely needs a pump. I’m told that there’s a version out with a pump in Australia though! If it is, that would be so great! Have you tried the Nearly Naked foundation and is it good?
I wanted to get this initially. Is my 1st x putting real foundation on my face and heard ppl raved bout it. But when I try d swatches cannot find d perfect match so I ended with clinique better foundation. And I hv more confident havin SA trying in my whole face. I don’t dare apply Revlon sample directly on my face find it itcky…
Clinique Even Better foundation is a good choice! 🙂 also, they do have some very good shades available in there. I wouldn’t use a drugstore/pharmacy sample anywhere near my face, only on my hand. But I’ve sort of worked out what my shade should be so I’m quite confident in that regard. It was very uncertain initially too.
Hi Paris!
I own both the Revlon Colourstay and Colourstay Whipped in Warm Golden (we are of the great mind variety :P). Below are my thoughts (thesis ahead).
Colourstay Warm Golden is almost ORANGE! When I wear it I look quite tanned. So I bought the Sand Beige, which is very similar with your Nude one, except it is more yellow like u said (I “researched” EXTENSIVELY before deciding on Sand Beige over Nude :P). And for a perfect match I mix both. But I do find that this foundation isn’t the easiest to work with, as it 1. Offer up to full coverage; 2. Can be quite thick 3. Sets and dries very quickly. For times when I have a full hour to do my face with the awesomely awesome expert face brush, that is fine. But for daily use, I mix both with MAC Strobe Cream (into a small pot for weekly quota) and just whack it on every morning 😛 I love the effect of this foundation with MAC Strobe Cream – the latter liquefies the otherwise rather thick consistency and make it more spreadable. It also adds luminosity as this foundation is just a classic, good, COVERING foundation – whereas I prefer to be dewy & glowy. Haha! But for special occasion and without mixing it with anything, I do find that it can practically obliterate every single flaw/zit/scar and make one look PERFECT. Muahahaha!
Colourstay Whipped – this Warm Golden is a lot more wearable (again I agree that they gotta standardize their name-shade convention man). But I do find that despite it being called WHIPPED – it is quite heavy. No mousse-oh-I-have-nothing-on-mah-face feeling. I also read from other ladies that this foundation wears very well, which I agree. Ie, I don’t necessarily like it when I first put it on, as it can be a bit on the heavy side, but it lasts and actually looks better the longer u have it on. Is that weird or is that weird? Haha! But I haven’t used it as much and as such, haven’t figured out the best way to wear it (buffing brush, expert face brush, stippling brush or fingers/sponge – this calls for serious experimentation over the weekend).
Sorry for being so rambly, but I do love a make-up chat. Have a lovely weekend ahead Paris!
Hey Irene, I love long comments – always makes me think a little 😀 I totally forgot to review the whipped cream foundation you know! It was only when I was trying to label my swatches that I realised I didn’t 😛 Will have to do it soon. But so far, I agree with your thoughts on both products. I do find that Colorstay liquid dries quite quickly so we have to work more quickly with it or thin it out with an illuminator, as you have suggested. Brilliant, btw. I will have to try it. Coverage is really impressive which is what I think many people appreciate. The shade Nude is a bit warm for me even with the pink tones but because I use a very sheer layer, it isn’t as obvious so its not one I’d use to layer or my face will look a shade deeper than the rest of me LOL!
As for whipped cream I agree that it doesn’t have that airlight feel I’d expect from a whipped formula, but the texture is certainly thicker and the coverage is even more. I use the 5line method and I just tap my brush on the surface of the product so I only use very little. But by comparison, this is definitely thicker than the liquid. I find with the whipped cream, my Shiseido Perfect Foundation brush works the best because the flat surface makes it easy to tap the surface and apply and buff into skin 🙂
Thanks for replying! Love it as it really make me feel that I am just chatting with a friend 🙂 Can’t wait to read your thoughts on the Whipped foundation. I should use it more really. But it is so heavy – in everything. And when mixed with the MAC Strobe Cream, it just makes it HEAVIER, instead of thinning it out. So the maths is : Cream + Liquid (original) = thin liquid with the perfect runny vs viscous ratio; Cream + Cream (Whipped) = thick THICK cream!
Oh, all blogs/YouTube I’ve watched advise to use the Colourstay liquid part by part – like working on chin first, then nose etc. But seems like you’ve found your perfect medium with the 5 line method!
I do so love your writing! Very eloquent and studied (dunno if I am using that term correctly :D).
Hurrah and I love chatting with all of you too (when I have the time of course) everyone has such interesting input! Here’s something you can try – add a drop of serum or moisturiser into the whipped cream and see if it helps? I talked about it once before here. I’m not sure how practical it is, but it’ll be interesting to see if it helps you lighten the texture 🙂 I think putting on foundation as thick as Colorstay part by part is really very very thick. I can’t imagine doing that haha! I’d be so scared my mask will crack and fall off 😀 Thanks again for reading and supporting my blog – it means a lot to me that you enjoy your visits! 😀
I agree on every single point, Paris!
The fact that it doesn’t have a pump really puts me off, I barely use it lately.
Hi S, the lack of a pump is really a pity isn’t it? I think it would have been perfect if they had included a pump.
I have Colorstay in both Oily/Combo and Normal/Dry, and I have to say I like the latter better. Both are also in the same shade (Natural Tan – had to purchase online-BOO!) but somehow the shade is a hair lighter in Normal/Dry formula. I’ve always like this foundation, but like everyone else, the fact that it doesn’t have a pump doesn’t make me reach for it as much as I’d like to. I use a damp sponge so the coverage can be sheered out a little so it doesn’t apply too thick. I like the way it looks on my skin, coverage wise. Having said that, I like the Whipped version more. But than again, I’ve always been drawn to fuller coverage foundation. Looking forward to the new packaging hitting out shores soon!
I like the colour on you and I think the coverage is perfect, not to much. I really like this on you, but what is with the bis whole on top, why oh why would you use this packaging for foundation? This would put me off a lot this is not for me, it would be all over the place and I would waste quite a bit and I don’t like that.
Hi Wojis, the more I use it, the more I like it! The lack of a pump does get to me though but I do forgive it a little because it does work very well. I’m told there’s a version out with a pump so maybe you could keep an eye out for that 😉
Hello!
I recently bought revlon colorstay from the same shop i always buy, the one for combo/oily skin in color 180 sand beige.
I’ve been using it for days now and every day i was wondering what’s wrong with my skin and why do i look so awful?! My foundation didn’t cover my freckles as usual, it creased between my fine lines and the staying power looked diminished. I’m 28 and the regular colorstay with spf 6 made me look like a doll.
After staring at the bottle for 5 min i noticed a difference!!! It said on it SPF 15! Like the normal/dry one!
Oh, boy…i think i’m going to save money and buy as many colorstays with spf 6 i can find cuz this one is disappointing!
Good luck with it!