Almay : Smart Shade Foundation

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Reviews
3.6
21 Reviews
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Active Ingredients:
Titanium Dioxide (4%) and Zinc Oxide (2.1%).

Inactive Ingredients:
Aqua/Water/Eau (water, eau), Cyclomethicone, Dimethicone, Butylene Glycol, Talc, PEG/PPG 18/18 Dimethicone, HDI/Trimethol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer, Cetyl/PEG/PPG 10/1 Dimethicone, Nylon 12, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Alumina, Sodium Chloride, Tocopheryl Acetate (Vitamin E), Retinyl Acetate (Vitamin A), Aloe Vera (Aloe Barbadensis) Leaf Juice, Sodium Hyaluronate (Hyaluronic Acid), Trisiloxane, Glycerin, Hydrolyzed Glycosaminoglycans, Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Seed Extract (grape), Centaurea Cyanus (Cornflower) Extract, Camellia Sinensis (Green Tea) Leaf Extract, Ginseng (Panax Ginseng) Root Extract, Ginkgo Biloba Leaf Extract, Moringa Pterygosperma Seed Extract, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Galactoarabinan, Acrylonitrile/Methacrylonitrile/Methyl Methacrylate Copolymer, Boron Nitrate, Alcohol Denatured, Methicone, Tribehenin, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, Silica, Ammonium Polyacrylatedimethyl Tauramide, Tetrasodium EDTA, PVP, Polysorbate 20, Polysorbate 80, Phenoxyethanol, Methylparaben, Ethylparaben, Propylparaben, May Contain (+/-): (CI77891), Iron Oxides (CI77491, CI77492, CI77499), Zinc Oxide (CI77947).

The list of ingredients above is provided for informational purposes only. Always check the actual product label in your possession for the most accurate ingredient information due to product changes or upgrades that may not yet be reflected on our web site.

5
33.3%
4
23.8%
3
19%
2
14.3%
1
9.5%

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May 31, 2018
Uh
Way to light coverage. I have scars and need more coverage.
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March 29, 2015
Dry Skin
By far the best I've tried. I have a rare case of dry skin + acne, yet this Almay product does its work perfectly as a light foundation that doesn't cause any breakouts. However I must add that at times, when my skin is too dry, the product will look flakey. Therefor, people with dry skin should must use a good moisturizer before using/reviewing this foundation.
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February 17, 2015
Works perfectly for me
I used this product because I remembered hearing about it on this site. I personally love it. I have very fair skin, but the shade and coverage work well. It also stays on my skin and doesn't start to look cakey during the day, like my previous makeup did. It doesn't break me out, and used with the concealer I get the perfect amount of coverage.
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August 5, 2014
Great makeup!
I tried this per Dan's recommendation. It offers decent enough covereage, though I still need concealer for spot treatment coverage. The whole "smart shade" thing is a gimmick (color releases from the beads as you crush the little granules while rubbing the foundation in your palms or on your face...it gets darker giving the impression that it is "matching your skin"...No, the whit granules are releasing color). Gimmicks aside, this is one of the very few foundations that doesn't break me out. That alone earns a 5 star rating from me since almost everything breaks me out. I wish a little more product came in the bottle though. I might try the other Almay foundations in bigger bottles since Dan mentioned all of Almay caters to acne prone skin.
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November 12, 2012

Pros:

does not break out skin
Product is : non-comedogenic and oil free

Cons:

does not match skin color (too dark)

This is a good product for those with problematic skin that breaks out easily. It goes on 'white' and when blended in it will start to become darker to match your skin tone. I used the lightest shade that it came in and it still did not match my skin tone. My skin is pretty fair and it was pretty noticeable ( did not have a natural look at all). Perhaps next time I use it, less is more. I really like Almay products though and i think it is for the most part free of ingredients that harm and break out skin.
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December 28, 2011

Pros:

Natural Look
Matched my shade
Doesn't cause breakouts

Cons:

Not a lot of coverage
Dislike rubbing foundation in to broken out areas of face

I had been stippling creamy foundations previously, which provide lots of coverage, but it felt suffocating sometimes, and i was afraid it may be causing some pimples so i bought this for a change, off of Dan's recommendation. It amazingly did match my skin tone, which rarely happens. But, it didn't completley mask redness and the redness of pimples like my stippling did. Next time if i use more smart shade concealer it might be better. Overall, its an ok product. Does the job, but not amazing. Im sticking with it because it wont break me out.
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October 21, 2011

Pros:

-matches my fair skin color well without looking super pale
-light coverage--doesn't feel heavy, but enough coverage to even out my skin tone and hide my pores

Cons:

-dries my skin out--makes my face super flaky
-when you get to the bottom of the tube the color can get weird and way dark

my favorite makeup I've tried so far, but the flakiness it causes means I will probably keep looking. If you don't have dry skin it will probably work great for you.
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May 2, 2011

Pros:

Creamy texture
goes on smooth
won't create new acne (as far as I can tell)
Goes on white but turns into your shade (just like the product disclaimer)
Easily blendable
breathable

Cons:

coverage is pretty mild (so I recommend using Smart Shade concealer too)
a bit pricey

I started to use this simply because it was recommened by Acne.org by Mr. DK himself. I was a little skeptical at first because after reading reviews users were stating the coverage is pretty light. Not good if you have any acne :( But I pushed my feeling aside and bought it solely on the purpose that this makeup won't make me breakout further. This makeup has not created new acne, as far as I can tell. I have minor breakouts but just started the acne.org regimen also ~ so hopefully those will clear up soon too. I would say give it a shot but again pair it up with the smart shade concealer (if your looking for more coverage).
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January 24, 2011

Pros:

it moisturizes

Cons:

i feel like im using a lotion not a foundation. i have to rub for so long just to get the color to come out. the color doesn't even match me how it said it would. i see way too much whiteness afterwords

pretty much i would only say to use this if you don't have any acne. not even scars. this has zero coverage. it moisturizes really good but as far as doing what foundation is supposed to it? ehh
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January 6, 2011

Pros:

A lightweight formula.
This product will not break you out!
It works great with my pale skin.

Cons:

It will become cakey if you use too much. You have to learn how to apply the proper amount to your skin, especially if you are fair skinned like me.

Con for some: This is NOT for severe acne, only mild or scars.

I'm a guy and I love using this product! I am very pale skinned so I was very worried the concealer would be too dark for my skin, but with the proper amount spread evenly it blends very nicely! I had awful acne as a teenager, which left me with a bit of deep scarring. Let me be the first to sound vain and say that I am an attractive person (as most of us are, even with acne!), but my acne scars have always bothered me. Now, with the daily taking of zinc and omega-3 vitamins (plus, my multivitamin) and using this product my acne scars have decreased dramatically, giving me a much smoother skin tone! Again, I would not recommend this product for those who have severe acne. It doesn't cover up well enough to completely hide huge breakouts. If you have severe acne I'd recommend taking vitamins, especially zinc to help calm down your breakouts. It helps a lot! Also, cake on that benzoyl peroxide when you go to bed everynight! You have NO IDEA how much this helps you NOT breakout until you try it! I wash my face only at night (in the shower with an exfoliating cleanser containing salycic acid), and lightly dab in the morning to clear away the benzoyl peroxide. This routine has kept me quite clear for years. I also use Vaseline Total Moisture Conditioning lotion nightly. A great, light lotion with pro-vitamins A, E, and B5, which have also helped my face look much healthier. Thanks for reading!
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