I have combo normal-dry skin and I meant to buy this foundation in the Normal/Dry formula, but I accidentally picked up a bottle of the Combo/Oily formula... Long story short, I actually really like this foundation, even though it's the "wrong" formula for my skin. I apply my moisturizer and then quickly apply the Colorstay with a stippling brush before the moisturizer has completely sunk in. The finish is matte, but it wears totally even throughout the day and I don't get dry patches. The coverage is heavy (actually a little too heavy for my taste) and gives a flawless, poreless finish. For everyday use, I do find it looks a bit better if I wet the brush before applying, to sheer it out a bit.


I am NC20, but my best match is Nude. Buff is too grayish and light on me. It makes me look lifeless. Nude is a tiny bit dark and orange on my winter-pale face, but if I apply just a bit of self tanner or bronzer, Nude is perfect. My only complaints about this product are 1) I wish it came in a pump bottle or squeeze tube, as the open bottle can get a bit messy over time and 2) it does reflect a lot of light back with flash photography, giving you a white face in pictures. Otherwise, I think it's a great product. It's comparable to Estee Lauder Double Wear.

This is really good product. The only reason I do not buy it again is that it breaks me out....It's quite heavy and thick but it gives very good coverage, stays on for long hours and if you do not put too much it looks nice and natural. It smells quite strong and color shades are not amazing as they quite pinky but it is one of the best foundations for oily skin. I still need to blot my face after 4-5 hours and I also use my powder on my T-zone but overall great drugstore foundation.

This foundation is really great on my skin! First off, it's high-coverage, it dries to a matte finish and it has the BEST lasting-power I've ever seen in my life for a foundation. I seriously do think this would last you 24 hours if you actually stayed awake that long.

I wear this everyday for school but recently I've been wearing it even during weekends, in really, every day. I have combination skin, so the sides of my face where my cheeks are, my skin is more "normal" and then my nose and chin is extremely oily, especially my nose. I really would only recommend this foundation if you are pretty oily on some spots of your face because seriously this is kind of drying after it sets on your face, whether you powder or not. I've noticed that I really do need to moisturize very well before applying this on. Obviously if you have normal to dry skin, you'll want to pick up the Normal/Dry skin formula of this foundation and not this one. Funny enough, I actually wear this foundation in the shade Nude 200 and for the most part, it matches me pretty well but it is the slightest bit lighter then my skin tone which I don't mind because at the end of the day when this foundation oxidizes, it matches me perfectly. Be very careful not to pack on the powder with this because you will look very cakey, especially if you're wearing a thick layer of the foundation already. I would recommend a setting spray such as the Urban Decay De-Slick or All-Nighter, or the E.L.F setting spray. For powders, a silica-based setting powder such as the MakeUp Forever HD or for a cheaper alternative, the E.L.F HD powder. I say this because, trust me, because this foundation dries matte, you will look very powdery and dry if you put on a foundation-powder over this, or any coloured-pressed powder for that matter. Also, make sure you buy this at a department store or get it on sale at your drugstore because I know that in Canada, this sells for $19.99 at Shoppers Drug Mart which is ridiculously expensive considering this is not a high-end makeup product.

Overall, though, I absolutely love the finish this leaves my skin with; my skin looks flawless and super smooth for the whole entire day and I don't have to touch up on my nose or chin because this already has great oil control! I think I wouldn't use the Combo/Oily formula during the winter time, I think I'd use the Normal/Dry, but for the summer, this one's perfect! I say if you're looking for a foundation that's going to make you look fresh, sophisticated, and look like you actually tried to look good, then this is definitely going to work out great for you; not to mention the long-wearability of this, you'll be able to look flawless the whole day no matter what occasion.

I have been using this foundation for almost a year now. I have a lot of acne scars and a couple of mild break outs. This foundation does a good job at covering, but like everyone is saying; it dries extremely fast. I used a damp sponge for a while to cover it, but due to me being lazy I use my fingers. The packaging doesn't bother me at times, but you can pour too much out, which does get a big irritating. It doesn't make me break out, if I wash it off at night, which is good. But I'm half asian, so I have more of a yellowish tone and my skin is baby soft. This foundation makes me look completely grey and is very dry and cakey. I work at a clothing store and I'm under a very bright white light 99% of the time and this foundation looks HORRIBLE under that lighting. But in rooms with natural lighting, I look flawless. That's the main reason why I wouldn't buy this product again, I want something with good coverage, that looks completely natural.

Color me surprised...

I used Colorstay foundation back in the day,
in its first incarnation. It was a pain to apply
and it often got 'masky' after a few hours.
I was very oily back then, and needed coverage,
and lasting power.
But the masky-ness got to me.
Colorstay became color-went..into the trash.

I saw allll the reviews here at MA,
and thought I'd give it a shot.
Time has past; my skin has aged,
and is dry and sensitive during the winter.
But come summer humidity, the oilies are back!

Colorstay, in its Oily/combo incarnation is a pleasant
surprise. I am meticulous in application,
you don't need much, but the coverage is there.
And yes.. it lasts, absorbs the oilies,
and looks very nice.
I approve. IT doesn't highlight lines or flaws,
just looks good.

So.. add me to those who are fans of the
drugstore brand.
When winter comes I may buy the
dry formula.
But for now, its my summer foundation.

I have two favorite foundations. Revlon Colorstay and Graftobian HD foundation.

Coverage and durability: I love this one because it is smudge resistant, lasts all day, had excellent coverage and is buildable. I think it feels lightweight once applied despite its thick liquid consistency and finishes matte or natural. Even if I go swimming it holds up fairly well.
For humid climates this foundation is great because it takes a lot to make it budge. for those prone to breakouts it might be a little too heavy though and maybe a water based foundation is better. If you have exceptionally dry or flaky skin its probably a good idea to scrub and moisturize before using this mascara as it is a matte finish and flakiness can show up under it quite easily (In Winter if its particularly cold I switch to Graftobian as its a creamier, more dry-friendly formula)

Application: Because this is a liquid foundation it dries fairly quickly. I found that applying with clean fingertips works best for me. I tried sponges but they tend to absorb more of the product than it applies to your face and brushes don't spread as evenly and tends to leave brush strokes on your face. I only use brushes with water based liquids or sponges with cream foundation.

Packaging: The packaging is visually pleasing and if you use a spatula its great because you can get all of the product out of the container, but because there is not pump top or squeeze tube it can get a little messy and if you just use your fingers its a bit unhygienic. Wash hands before and after using or use a clean sponge to apply.

Price: I have looked at the prices of this foundation and it varies greatly depending on country I travel to. I bought it for $9 in the states, but i've seen it range from that all the way up $35 in Australia. So if you can find it online (if not in the US) it's probably a lot cheaper than in shops. }

I've heard good things about this makeup for years, but just recently decided to give it a try. I normally wear tinted moisturizer, but I wanted something with a little more coverage. Although I'm in my mid-forties, I still have oily skin so I got the combo/oily formula. I was a little worried that it might be too difficult to spread or that it may settle into fine lines, but my worries were unfounded. It spreads and blends quite easily and evenly with a sponge and it doesn't tend to settle into lines. It looks natural and beautiful - not like a face caked with makeup. It even makes pores appear smaller! I still tend to get a little oily, but that's just the nature of my skin. It has not caused any breakouts at all. This is as close to HG as I've gotten with a foundation and I've tried way too many to list. Most of them have not been drugstore products and have cost at least twice as much as Colorstay.

I wanted to use this foundation because I've read some reviews and watched several videos on youtube that said it was pretty good and thought I'd give it a try...Really not worth it!It is very thick for me and i can't put it evenly on my face neither with my fingers,nor with my foundation brush..It always seems that I have discolorations and I have a cakey look...Also it is really bad for acne skin and it made my skin to break out...So even it came in a really good price(about 6$ or so) I really don't like it and don't recommend it and I will never purchase it again...

First off let me say that transfer resistant foundations are great for what they are and do. They are a godsend for more oily skin as that skin type literally makes regular base slide off their skin (unless specified for oily/acneic skin.) They're teriffic because they stay put (not getting on clothes, cell phones etc.) However, (and her's my caveat.): I think they tend to take on the texture of skin beneath. I.E. If you have dry, flakey, lined skin it makes this skin type appear moreso. If you have scarred, pot-marked skin it makes this skin type appear moreso underneath. Good news: If you have beautful, poreless normal skin transfer resistant base looks Amazingly Beautiful! Does it make this skin type as pretty as regular fondation (non transfer resistant?) No, it does not. Use a beautiful foundation like Chanel's Vitalumiere Aqua or Dior's DiorSkin Nude and transfer resistant falls very short of these formulas indeed. Why? Transfer resistant base will never give that illusion of light coming from within as in translucency, the very thing young, perfectly flawless skin has. However, that is not to say there is not a time and a place for base like Colorstay: Florida in August while it's 95 degrees with a 99% humidity and you have oily ladden skin. How about just anytime when you don't want to think or be in the mirror worried about touch-ups? Yes, I think there is a place for Colorstay and bases which perform like it. There must be because when you find somone who has been wearing Colorstay for years (and there must be many because I think Revlon makes a killing on this stuff) you will never get them to switch back to a non transfer resistant base EVER!!! My opinions here go double for anything (makeup) which falls into this transfer resistant category: lipstick, blush, powder (pressed), lip liner, eye liner etc. Colorstay started it all and remains the forebearer in this formula/field. I like the more sheer formula of the original Colorstay (Colorstay Active Light Makeup) which comes in a plastic tube.

What's good about this foundation: It stays on my oily face very well; does not transfer to clothes/phone; doesn't really need loose powder to set it after applying; color matched my skin tone perfectly.

What's bad about this foundation: The bottle is unhygienic and hard to use (a pump would have been nice); but the true deal breaker is that it made me break out after using it twice. I will be returning this to the store.