Review: Revlon PhotoReady Compact Foundation

Availability: Drugstores
Price: $12.99

Revlon’s PhotoReady line includes the foundation reviewed, below. Revlon claims this cream-to-powder foundation provides an “airbrushed” finish. The color shown is 150 Shell.

Packaging: 7.75/10

This foundation comes in a compact that has a small mirror inside. The foundation itself takes up only half the packaging and is curiously placed underneath a plastic screen. Revlon claims this screen transforms the foundation from a cream to a liquid, which is completely bogus. The screen also hides some of the product underneath, so you aren’t accessing all the product available. You have to press down on the screen in order to get the foundation to seep through the screen.

Quality: 6/10

This is a cream foundation that stays a cream foundation (despite the company’s claims otherwise) after being applied. It leaves a powdery and patchy finish.

The foundation gives medium coverage but doesn’t blend well. You could layer for a more full coverage, but this exacerbates the textured finish this foundation gives the skin. I can’t get the foundation to look smooth or anything near “airbrushed.”

The foundation also makes my skin look dry, while also not staving off any oiliness, which is quite a weird and unredeeming combination.

Unfortunately, this foundation’s only real redeeming quality is that it provides sun protection.

Ease of Use: 7/10

No matter whether I use my fingers, a brush, or a sponge, this foundation doesn’t look smooth on the surface of the skin.

Price: 8.75/10

For $12.99, you get 10 grams of foundation. For comparison, Maybelline’s Dream Matte Mousse Foundation costs $8.49 and contains 5.1 grams. You get a little more product for your money with Revlon’s foundation. But, given the quality, the price still isn’t great.