Maybelline Dream Velvet Foundation Review

There are so many new drugstore makeup releases throughout the year, and it's hard to choose which ones are worth trying out. I recently received this generous sample of a brand new Maybelline foundation from the ChickAdvisor Product Review Club. Dream Velvet claims to be a hydrating yet matte foundation, formulated with 2x more water. It feels really fresh on the skin, and I am impressed by the natural coverage and finish.

I  am surprised by how orange this foundation looks swatched beside my other go-to face products. But much like the Rimmel concealer, when I sheer out the Dream Velvet foundation it isn't too dark, and it looks very natural.

I matched up with the lightest shade, 05 Warm Porcelain, which suits my neutral-pink skin. I always prefer my foundations to be a bit more yellow-toned to balance out any redness, and luckily this one is just right. I also like to apply this foundation with a damp BeautyBlender sponge. I don't recommend the little blender stick that it came with, since it's way too dense, and overpriced at $8. Clearly it isn't too hard to make an affordable sponge, just look at Real Techniques!

So what are the downsides? 

I have oily-combination skin, and I find that my dry patches do become more visible right when I apply this foundation. Luckily I only need a light layer of coverage, and the finish is generally quite smooth and natural. The formula is a bit silicone-y, so I find that this foundation almost floats on the skin versus a regular liquid that really sticks once it is set with powder. I'd probably set this with a blotting powder about one or two hours after application for the longest wear. I have tried applying a primer beforehand, and I can't decide if it makes a big difference or not. I would not omit a moisturizer before applying this foundation, despite it's "hydrating" claims.

The one big plus is that this foundation doesn't oxidize or break up on my skin throughout the day. I definitely notice shine breaking through the matte-ness, but no more than usual. I can't believe how smooth and airbrushed my skin looks after applying this foundation. It's definitely a nice find from the drugstore, with a price of around $10. 

The coverage is light and airy. It doesn't feel heavy throughout the day, and my concealers and powders layer well over top.

See the product in action here:

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