I love how well it can photograph — matte foundations tend to make my skin look smoother and more poreless in photos, though I think some sheen is more flattering in person. Matte foundations can dry quickly and be more unforgiving on drier areas of the face, especially around my nose area!
— Christine
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Love how they can make my pores vanish. Most matte formulas seem to be much longer lasting in the infernal AZ summer weather, especially during Monsoon. That they also look better when taking pictures, as you mentioned.
But I’m crazy about the fact that they can emphasize fine lines and make my face look dried up and parched by the end of the day!
Matte is my favorite finish when it comes to foundations, I personally find that the matte finish suits my complexion best; I’m just not a fan of dewiness and highlighting. Besides that, matte foundation last better, I like that I don’t have to re-touch all day and still look decent.
They might look flat, but there are some that have a natural-matte finish, and once all other make-up is applied, it looks better.
Good primer and skincare help with foundation not emphasizing dry areas, but there are some matte foundations that emphasis dry patches I never new I had.
There are some bad matte foundations out there, which feel heavy, almost uncomfortable on the skin.
I do not like them at all. I have dry aging skin and I cannot even use them as a mixer any longer. They may start out okay, but by day’s end they are a nightmare; drying, caking, flaking, mask like mess. Ew.
I only have love for matte foundations, specifically EL Double Wear. It makes my skin look as flawless as possible. I look greasy whenever I try a dewy look or use too much highlighter, so matte foundation is the only kind I’ll wear. There’s nothing I don’t like about it!
LIKE: I have had super-oily skin my whole life, so I really love a matte or semi-matte finish. It helps counteract the shine that will always break through. Mattes usually have better coverage and hide my cystic acne breakouts better than a dewier finish. I think matte always looks classy and put-together. They last longer than a lighter foundation or a BB cream.
DISLIKE: Many feel heavy and mask-like, which I can’t stand. They can settle into the lines on my forehead or look cakey if I’m not careful.
I like everything about them for my normal to oily skin. For the few occasions when I want something slightly dewier, I can easily mix in a drop of oil and apply it where I want the glow (not on my nose, TYVM).
I like that you can get a flat canvas and add highlight/shine/dew wherever you want and that a good matte formula will stay in place. Unfortunately I can’t wear matte formulas because my skin has gotten drier and most formulas that are matte make my skin almost itchy… just very uncomfortable how they dry down. When I was younger I was all about the matte life though (and since I was very oily that makes sense).
Back in the day, me and my friends used to SWEAR by L’Oreal Mattique foundation. I don’t remember if they made a corresponding powder to go with it (I have to think we would’ve used it if they did, but I clearly remember us using Cover Girl), but I do remember that it was not only one of the first mass-market oil-free foundations. It was very thick, so a little went an extremely long way, and it made your skin so very, very matte. Add enough powder, and you were getting into Kabuki territory…at least, that how it appears when looking at old photos, lol.
It was great if you had oily skin like we had, but now, my skin is very, very different. I’m approaching my late 40’s, so my skin is in a major transitional period (which is also being exacerbated by a chronic illness I developed that also affects my skin). I’ve got a few fine lines around my eyes, and overall, my skin is EXTREMELY dry. As you said, Christine, matte can be very unforgiving on dry skin, and at this point, I need something with moisture and a bit of a glow to improve the look of my skin. I use a touch of Charlotte Tilbury Youth Booster foundation, or Tarte BB tinted moisturizer, with just a bit of powder on my T-Zone, and a little extra to set the coverup I use on a few problem areas (I don’t use powder anywhere else, not even under my eyes). I also recently tried the Cover Girl SkinMilk, and while I like it, I feel the Tilbury enhances my skin more.
I know matte formulations have changed since the days of my thick and heavy Mattique, I wouldn’t go back to matte foundation again, since it no longer serves the needs of my skin. These days, a lighter, dewier look works much better for me!
I am really a fan of matte foundation because it provides a smooth, blank canvas for whatever else I want to add to my face – blush, highlighter etc to add some colour. I find if the foundation is too dewy, then I am dewy all over (like on my forehead), which can easily translate, to me, looking kind of ‘wet’ – like on a high humidity day.
Matte foundations can last longer and you do have to find the one that doesn’t end up settling into any fine lines. Medium coverage for me, gives the best result.
I love the coverage and lasting power of EL Double Wear. I use it on nose and chin (for redness), and a bit on sun spots together with It CC Cream, and find the combo really works for me – I still get the dewiness I like, with longevity. The other matte foundation I wore long enough to take notice was Bare Minerals loose powder in my 40’s, which was fine at the time but powders only work for me now in small areas to set areas where I need extra coverage.
I loved EL double wear both in terms of shade selection and longevity. I cannot wear it exclusively any longer, but I do think your suggestion for nose and chin is brilliant. IT CC continues to be the base product I reach for most, but it does not hold up well on my nose and chin. Thanks!
So glad this idea helped :). Brilliant….well I believe I’m up for a Nobel this year in Foundation. (underreported category) ??
I laughed out loud at this, thank you!
I was stewing over the ‘illumination’ powder foundation by iT today.. I used to wear Jane Iredale and loved it for years (when I was so much more low maintenance). Powder foundations are tricky on mature skin, but can be great in spots as you mentioned for extra coverage used as a finishing powder. I haven’t tried one in years and was on iT website and stewed… and stewed some more…
Well, I’m very oily and I live in a hot and humid climate, so it’s all love from me. I like the dewy look more at the moment, but I can get that look after a few hours of wear from most matte foundations.