Maybe you’ve heard! Revlon is diving head first into the HD market. This spring, they’ll promote their new line of Photoready foundations and pressed powder. But just as word got out, PhotoReady began popping up in drugstores. Oh my! My most favorite foundation, MAC Select Tint, was discontinued earlier this year, and I have been hoarding what I have left, deathly afraid of what would happen if I ran out. And do you know what would happen? I would suddenly look 16 again, all powdery and zitty, except now with long hair and boobs, and am… um… just a couple of pounds heavier (wink wink, nudge nudge). So I’m always looking for a replacement, and frankly it’s getting a bit dire. So, back to topic: PhotoReady. Sounds good!
The shade range is kinda limited with only 9, all fairly neutral. They are: 002 Vanilla, 003 Shell, 004 Nude, 005 Natural Beige, 006 Medium Beige, 007 Cool Beige, 008 Golden Beige, 009 Rich Ginger and 010 Cappuccino. In MAC terms I’m on the lighter side of NC20 (fair and warm), and 003 Shell was the best match. Since Revlon is currently Buy One Get One at CVS, I also picked up the PhotoReady powder in Translucent (other shades: Light/Medium and Medium/Dark). Let’s dig in!
(Top-Bottom) Hard Candy TM in Light, MAC Select Tint in NC20, MAC Moisturecover Concealer in NC20, Revlon Photoready in 003 Shell
Photoready Foundation ($13.99):
It comes with a pump that dispenses the perfect amount of foundation for a sheer, full-face application (or two pumps for heavier). You can get light-full coverage, depending on how you apply it. The consistency is a little watery, but not as fluid as Select Tint. It’s very easy to blend and dries to a satin-matte finish. PhotoReady sets really nicely over my oily parts, and doesn’t seriously highlight the dry spots. Although, I wouldn’t recommend this for the very dry-skinned unless you mix it with a moisturizer or prime your face with a handful of Crisco (I kid!). The foundation is imbued with a very slight shimmer and is SPF 20. Both of these facts seem to run contrary to the idea of an HD foundation. Sunscreen is known to create a whitish mask when photographed, and shimmer doesn’t always translate well in the day to day. But somehow, through a wicked bit of sorcery, they pulled it off! Heh? Don’t question the science. The shimmer is so slight that I can’t see it. It also feels great on my skin. I usually stick with sheer foundations and tinted moisturizers, because I get subconscious when makeup feels heavy. But when I touch my face while wearing PhotoReady, all that I feel is a velvety version of my own skin. It wears very well all day, and so far hasn’t sponsored any breakouts. It does require thorough cleansing to remove. So I start with an oil cleanser, followed by a foaming cleanser, and then a toner to remove all traces.
Photoready Pressed Powder:
We’ll make this short: It’s okay. The powder isn’t chalky and not super drying, nor does it oxidize. But somehow I’m not crazy about it. After using it, I didn’t look in the mirror and say, “Success!” Which is an imperative part of my routine. It also contains Bismuth, which is known to irritate the skin of many a lady. I still prefer MAC Blot for my every day, and think Maybelline Dream Matte is a better (and inexpensive) drugstore option. But if you find PhotoReady for BOGO-Free, you may as well check it out.
On to the pictures!
Here’s a revealing duo of PhotoReady in action. The first photo is bare faced. Yikes. The second photo is with a quick full face (PhotoReady Foundation, Bobbi Brown Eye Brightener, MAC Moisturecover concealer, MAC Blot, Chanel Candy blush, Maybelline Full and Soft Mascara, Revlon liquid pen eyeliner, Sisley eyeshadow in Dune, Chanel eyeshadow in Lotus, and Chantecaille lipstick in Aphrodite).
Even though my skin texture is balls right now, it managed to cover up most of my issues with just a sheer layer (one pump) using a damp sponge.
I give PhotoReady Foundation a hip, a hip, and a hooray (out of a total of three hips and a hooray)! I give the powder a mere hoo. Will the liquid foundation have a permanent place in my heart? Only time will tell…
[Update: After spending some time with our friend Photoready, I found out that it breaks me out if I wear it for 2 or 3 days consecutively. Also, it does highlight dry patches that cannot be quelled by moisturizer and the finish is a little too matte for me. So, it's hasta la vista, baby. And my rating has downgraded from two Hips and a Hooray to just a Hooray. Because breaking out is Serious Business.]
And for your reference, here are the ingredients of both! Special thanks to my boo who read the ingredients aloud as I typed. According to him, he now needs glasses and is exempt from chores for two days. Okay!
Revlon PhotoReady Liquid foundation: ACTIVE INGREDIENTS: titanium dioxide 1.1%, zinc oxide 2.0% INGREDIENTS: water, cyclopentasiloxane, dimethicone, cyclohexasiloxane, butylene glycol, boron nitride, cetyl peg/ppg-10/1 dimethicone, phenyl trimethicone, sodium chloride, nylon-12, hdi trimethylol hexyllactone crosspolymer, calcium aluminum borosilicate, alumina, trimethylsiloxysilicate, glycerin, bis-peg/ppg-14/14 dimethicone, isodecyl neopentanoate, dimethicone/bis-isobutyl ppg-20 crosspolymer, trisiloxane, methicone, triethoxycaprylylsilane, tribe henn, methyl methacrylate crosspolymer, cycloheptasiloxane, silica, sorbitan sesquioleate, tetrasodium edta, phenoxyethanol, caprylyl glycol, 1,2-hexanediola MAY CONTAIN Mica, Titanium Dioxide (CI77891), Iron Oxides (CI 77491, 77492, 77499), Zinc Oxide (CI 77947) 21897
PhotoReady Pressed Powder: INGREDIENTS: mica, bismuth oxychloride, zinc stearate, silica, dimethicone, nylon-12, polymethyl methacrylate, polyethylene, octyldodecyl glycol grapeseedate, ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate, cyclopentasiloxane, trimethylsiloxysilicate, triethoxycaprylylsilane, calcium aluminum borosilicate, saccharomyces/calcium ferment, saccharomyces/zinc ferment, saccharomyces/potassium ferment, saccharomyces/iron ferment, saccharomyces/copper ferment, saccharomyces/magnesium ferment, pentaerythrityl tetraethylhexanoate, hydrogenated lecithin, lauryl lysine, dimethicone, methyoxipropylgluconamide, magnesium ascorbyl phosphate, tocopherol acetate, hydrolyzed rice protein, lesothin, camellia sinensis leaf extract, aloe barbadensis leaf extract, chamomelia recutita (matricaria) flower extract, punica granatum extract, macrocystis pyrifera extract, nereocystis leutkeana extract, laminaria japonica extract, prunus amygdalus dulcis (sweet almond seed extract), methyl methocrylate cross polymer, alumina, phenoxyethanol, sorbic acid, iron oxides (CL77491, 77492, 77499), titanium dioxide (CL77891) bismuth oxychloride (CL77163) 22026
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Congrats on locating this in your area (I’ve been looking and looking and so far nothing)! I like a fuller coverage in my foundation–did you try it that way? I’m wondering if it cakes at all if you use a heavier hand. I love that this foundation is paraben-free but too bad about the bismuth in the powder. :(
Thanks for the great review–you look gorgeous!
very cute and very nice and i’m sorry to hear about the discontinuation of ur fave product, idk what i’d do if revlon suddenly decided to stop with custom creations. probably buy like 10 bottle and store it in the fridge i guess… hehehe
Humm. Interesting. Hopefully by late spring/summer my dry dry skin will change to combo skin and I can take advantage of this foundation. Thanks for the great review and pictures! YOU look Fab!