I’ve recently been trying out some new foundations because I would like to switch things up. Don’t get me wrong, my Revlon Photoready is still my favorite drugstore choice, but sometimes it just doesn’t fit the bill. Rimmel recently sent along a few packet samples of their Stay Matte Liquid Mousse Foundation. I opened the packet up, put it on, wore it, took it off, and am now writing this post, so my first impression is firmly set.

In the full size, it comes in a squeeze tube, which I like. It’s harder for bacteria to get in and it’s easier to get just the right amount you need. It's available in eight shades. One of the downsides is that it comes in a lot of shades for the very pale, but the darkest shade, Sand, is more of a medium tone. Nothing for darker-skinned girls. I'm in shade 100 Ivory, which matched me really well. There are two shades lighter than that though, for the even more ghostly white. This is also a very affordable foundation, running at $5 USD, and I've seen it for around $7 in Canada. 

The first thing I noticed is that it is kind of a strange consistency. It’s a very thick liquid. I wouldn’t say that it’s as thick as a mousse, but it’s somewhere in between, just as the name would imply. It’s also very neutral colored, without much undertone. If I had to say, it would probably be pinker than orange or yellow, but not by much. It’s a very straightforward beige. It doesn’t have a smell, it’s just this strange thick brown liquid.

I applied it with a kabuki brush all over my face without a primer and did not set it with powder. On the face, it applies with medium to heavy coverage. It covered up everything except for my undereye circles. I chose not to use a concealer today because I wanted to see the effect of the foundation at covering up blemishes on its own. You can also use less of this than other foundations. The amount on my hand is about twice what I needed.

Foundation only.

Although it is a heavy coverage, it’s truly weightless. When it says that it’s going to make your skin matte, they aren’t kidding. There is no shine of any kind. It really takes all the color out of your face, and then you can add it in with other products. It gives you that blank slate. I did end up adding a highlighter because it was a little too matte for my taste, but I know that some people really want that look. You do need to work it in pretty well, so I would recommend some kind of buffing brush as opposed to a flat foundation brush.

Full face of makeup.

I put on the rest of my makeup, listed below, and got ready to go out to dinner. Before I left, less than an hour later, I went to touch up my lipstick and noticed that the foundation as already creasing under my eyes. I didn’t use any concealer under my eyes, so this was really only the foundation’s fault. I left it and went out to dinner and a movie.

Close up, natural light. See creasing under eyes.

By the time I got home, I had been wearing the foundation for almost six hours. It had changed a lot. It was still very matte, but it was like it had separated from my skin. It had gotten patchy and mask-like in sections. This was after about six hours of wear. It also creased really badly. It settled into the lines of my forehead, as well as around my mouth and under my eyes. It’s not a good look. On a better note, I am a face-toucher and it didn’t rub off at all, so it isn’t all bad.

After 6 hours, without flash.

I liked this so much when it applied in the beginning, but by the end of the night I was really not a fan. I am going to continue to play with this, perhaps with a setting powder to see if I can fix that end of the night issue. I have heard so many good things about this, so I’m hoping that I’m just missing something.

After 6 hours, with flash.

In summary,

Pros:

- Cheap.
- Easy to apply.
- Good packaging.
- Stays matte.
- Stays put, even if you touch your face a lot.

Cons:
- Settles in lines badly.

- Gets patchy.
- Limited wear time.
- Limited color range.

Edit: After playing around with this a little bit more, it has grown on me. You need to work it into your skin a lot, and set it with a powder on top, and then it works wonderfully. 

Products used:

Rimmel Stay Matte Liquid Mousse Foundation

Skyn Iceland Facial Moisturizer

Benefit Hoola

Benefit Bella Bamba

MAC Brow Pencil in Brunette

Almay i-Color Trio for Hazels

Maybelline Colossal Mascara

MAC lipstick in Kinda Sexy