You wouldn't normally catch me writing about a matte foundation, being much more of a glow seeker - gee, thanks Saharan skin - but this base was one of No7's spring launches that was knocking about my samples bag and which I tried on a whim. Just to see, y'know?
I'm a firm fan of wardrobes, me. Clothes. Shoes. Bags. Perfume. Mascara. Foundation. Oh, we all need wardrobes in our lives. S'all about choice, innit?
Sheer dewy finishes are what I go to for day and currently Max Factor Xperience and Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua are getting heavy rotation. For night, I tend to look at a slightly thicker formulation, so I wheel out Diorskin Nude or Nars Sheer Glow. But then there are the times when you may want to do a really retro look, and even as a dry-skinned person, this is when the matte offering in one's carefully-edited foundation wardrobe comes into play.
And for occasional use on my prone to cracking off in scaly dessicated chunks-style face, No7 Beautifully Matte Foundation, €18.95, is pretty good. I wouldn't wear this daily because it would cause me problems, but for those times when nothing but a powdered-looking complexion plus lots of thick winged liner and Mac Ruby Woo will do, it works well.
Advertised
It's pretty hefty coverage wise, there's no glow or sparkle, it blends and covers well and though this shade isn't right for me there are six available. I actually can't tell you what shade it is either, annoyingly - my sample doesn't have a colour guide on it. Sorry! I don't *think* it's the palest but as always, go in store and try before you buy.
Now, it's very important to hammer home extremely forcefully here that THIS IS DEFINITELY NOT A FOUNDATION DESIGNED FOR DRY SKIN. You 100% will not like No7 Beautifully Matte Foundation as your regular go-to if you buy this for daily usage and you've got a similar complexion to mine. The clue is in the name - anything with the words matte or longwear in the title is a huge indicator and while I can certainly get occasional usage out of it, this is a product designed for combination-to-oily skinned ladies.
That's further supported by the fact it's oil-free, there's salicylic acid to control blemishes and it's got mattifying oil-absorbing powders to control shine. Anything else? Yep, there's an SPF15 and the pump is good: hygienic, it's one of those ones that rises from the base, so you'll be able to get every last drop out of the bottle.
This has been on counter for some time now - has anyone tried it? If so, what did you think?
