My skin is very dry in places but gets oily by the end of the day. It is acne prone with a lot is red under tones. I used the light/medium shade which at first seemed a little dark but then I asked my husband what he thought and he said "I didn't know you we're wearing make up" so I figured that was a good sign that it blended well. This product offers a medium coverage which evens me out pretty well. I hate thick foundation and I feel this one works well. I previously bought the Smart Shade Anti aging which is actually a little thicker then this one. For a day time on the go makeup; this is good. I'd buy again.

I have oily-combo skin with freckles, so I have a difficult time finding something that looks good on me. What I am looking for: no shine, no glow, no sparkles, no caking, no obvious makeup. This TM in medium very good.
I really do not understand the bad ratings, except that maybe some people buy products that aren't marketed for what they're looking for. This makeup isn't sold as full-coverage, so why expect that?
ETA: I found something better -- Bobbi Brown long wear compact. Since BB lacks spf, I layer it over EltaMD spf 46. These products together are HG. No more searching.

I don't like this stuff. It comes out whiteish gray (which is sort of cool) and then turns..... orangey. I got the lightest shade but it was way off color from my fair skin. It seems like a tinted moisturizer, but turns out to be worse. It provides little coverage. I'm pretty sure the cheapest foundation at the store works better than this. I have loved most other Almay products I've tried so I was suprised at my dissapointment.

I wanted to like this, it seemed to have everything. Perfect match? Sunscreen? Balance skin? Well it was only ok. It comes out grey and then *sort of* matches. When it does match perfectly it just seems to go away...like is this some kind of tinted moisturizer that once you rub in the tint it goes away? The market it to actually cover better than that, and sadly it doesn't. Not only that, I wouldn't say it's the best moisturizer either. I don't remember if it 'clogged' my pores, but it did feel more stuffy and greasy then when I use my L'Oreal Bare Naturale powder foundation. I hardly touch this stuff. And yes, if you leave it, it gets weird in the spout, you have to shake it I guess. It's 'alright'. Not worth the money.

Okay first things first. If you are looking for a med-full coverage foundation this is NOT for you. I prefer using a foundation that it lighter coverage and go in with concealer in the areas that I need full coverage. My skin reacts better that way, because I am VERY acne/clogging prone. I have experimented with numerous foundations over the last year and this is the one that I reach for the most. I apply it with a duo fibre brush and stipple it in, and then buff. The one thing I don't like about this is the color. I bought mine in Light and there are some days where it will match the color of my skin and other days where it will just SO ORANGE. I have recently figured out its because I clean my makeup brushes every 3 days, and whatever pigments were left on the brush would make my foundation change the color darker. I realized this because whenever my brush was freshly cleaned is when the color matched my skin the best. So word of advice is to apply this with only a clean brush with no other remnants of pigment on it or else the color will be all wrong. But other than that I really do like this foundation. It helps to keep my oily areas matte, and my dry areas hydrated enough so that it doesn't accentuate flakes. It will not aggravate even the most sensitive skin! :)

Well this product was ok I guess.. Defiantly not a full coverage foundation though, since i have acne prone skin I enjoy more of a full. I did enjoy the SPF 15 in it though, great for summer. The shade range wasnt good at all. Came in 3 differnt shades!! Ugh. Probably will not repurchase this.

I love that the Almay Smart Shade Smart Balance foundation has spf for summer. It has good coverage when used with a brush, and really nice consistncy, but my issue is the color. I'm pale, but this goes on darker than my skin tone. I look almost spray tanned! This is medium coverage, and I would wear this to events or dinners where my usual routine of just concealer (although it's pretty full coverage concealer) won't cut it. I won't repurchase this if I run out due to the color being off, but I'll use it up.
UPDATE: Lately, I've gotten into the habit of wearing foundation on school days, just because I broke out really badly on myleft cheek a few months back, and am now stuck having to cover the really bad scarring. The color is still too dark for me, but I do get a really flawless look when I top this off with my concealer. I don't think this clogs my pores, but I really can't be sure. After I apply my mouisturizer, I apply this using the elf fat top powder brush. I sort of stipple it all over my face, concentrating more on the areas where my hyper-pigmentation is worse. After I blend it all in, I dab concealer (coverblend multi-purpose concealer in light) on any visible imperfections. The finished look is a virtually flawless complexion. While I don't think I'll repurchase this, I will continue to use it mainly because it never ever cakes or streaks. Also, it has the feel of a tinted moisturizer while providing nice coverage. I think it's quite a nice product. If it came in a lighter shade, I would buy it again.
UPDATE 4/6/13: This breaks me out on the side of my face minorly. Still like it, will use sparingly since it only breaks me out if I wear it over the span of a week or so. Wouldn't repurchase, but it's a nice foundation, at least in my opinion.

Smart Shade is a great foundation for lightweight coverage.
It does not provide full-coverage. I've found that using the clear complexion concealer over my uneven skin areas smooths the coverage nicely. It also does not irritate my sensitive skin!
I do wish this foundation came in more tones. Only three shades doesn't really cover the spectrum. I can say the light- medium works great on my somewhat tanned skin and does give a nice natural glow.
I switched to using Almay after using Neutrogena and Physicians Formula for years and am very happy so far!
I will definitely be buying this product, along with the concealer, and Nearly Naked loose powder, for awhile.

Okay, so I NEVER write reviews. Normally, I'm the one searching for products on here hoping they'll work out. I have to say, I am pleasantly surprised about this foundation. I have tried all types of foundations- from cheap to high end- and prefer liquid for the best coverage. I have been constantly searching for a good foundation. I have PCOS and break out easily around my chin, but this foundation hasn't caused ANY breakouts or aggravated my skin. Although I HATE the packaging (and wish it had a little more coverage), I apply the foundation with my hands mixed in with my moisturizer. It goes on smoothly and doesn't make me orange. I have the light to medium shade and was worried that I would look orange after reading some of the harsh reviews, but I'm extremely happy with the results. I have olive skin so maybe it was just right for my skin type, but for those of you who are looking for a lightweight foundation that doesn't break you out- you should try this!

The first time I used the product, it surprised me with the color beads. I thought it was an alright foundation... You can't put it on with a foundation brush, which I was frustrated by, since I like to use one. It didn't have wonderful coverage, but I am not sure that it is labeled to be a good covering foundation. One thing I hated about it, is its shelf-life. If you let it sit a little while (week) without use, you may as well toss it because the beads will gather and turn your face orange when you try to use it again.