RCMA • Color Process Foundation • Crème

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sunlit on 1/15/2013 3:32:00 PM more reviews by sunlit

Age: 30-35   Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Blue    

I bought this whilst in the US last week and was excited to try it out. In the past I've tried every foundation known to man and had settled on Mac studiofux fluid and makeup forever HD. Both often didn't last long, accentuated dryness and colours were never perfect, but it was the best I could find. Then I found RCMA... Eureka!. I use a damp beauty blender and just swipe it over the foundation and then stipple it on. My skin absolutely glows, it lasts all day, all my other blushes, highlighters etc don't budge and I'm getting compliments from everyone on my skin - my skin, not the foundation. It makes your own skin look perfect as opposed to covered. I got Shinto 1 which is good for Mac NC25-30 and purchasing Shinto 2 for my summer tanned skin. I tried the KO colours too and I could have used either, they're really similar. Shinto was a tad more yellow and suited my undertones better. Do remember this is an oil based foundation so if you use a water based primer it will slide right off your face and not look its best.

2 out of 3 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

xiaoying727 on 5/18/2012 4:24:00 PM more reviews by xiaoying727

Age: 25-29   Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium   Hair: Black   Eyes: Black    

honestly，not a fan of this product. firstly，it isn't a full-coverage foundation for me. it didnt really cover my acne scars well unless i put a lot in my face-for me，foundation like laura mercier silk cream foundation is a full-coverage one. but this one‘s coverage is far from full-coverage. secondly，the finish is quite weird，it‘s not a flawless finish,it’s really like some botox in your face or something-well，maybe a lot of people love this finish. but for me，really not a fan.

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*TOP REVIEWER* JoieDeVlvre on 4/29/2012 12:51:00 AM more reviews by JoieDeVlvre

Age: 25-29   Skin: Other, Medium, Cool   Hair: Black   Eyes: Brown    

I've been on a professional foundation craze since IMATS 2011, I am also reviewing Graftobian, Kett, Mehron. ( haven't tried Cinema Secrets or MUD yet but intend to).
Therefore if you're interested, you can read my reviews on them.
I do believe that professional foundation brands are superior to commercial brands. With that said:

RCMA is a good foundation. I like it but don't love it. Like everything else, it has it's pros and cons.

Pros: very pigmented and long lasting, looks like skin and is HD friendly if applied correctly. Once it's on, it's on! Withstands sweat, humidity, rain, snow, pretty much everything until I take it off..and by take it off I mean take it off twice, it needs a strong make up remover, a toner, followed by clarisonic, and I still have make up in my face. I can literally take a shower and come out with it still perfectly on. I am not kidding.
Cons:  for a cream foundation it is very difficult to apply.  It isn't very creamy nor emollient so blending is an issue. It's texture is similar to margarine or butter which has been in a strong freezer for a while.
Application: I apply it with a damp, but warm beauty blender, which is the only application method I found that works with this without looking cakey or like a mask. It does require a specific application tapping method which is time consuming and not very morning rush friendly.
How it compares to other Pro brand foundations: I don't reach for this foundation often. On A typical day I like  Kett and Graftobian much more. They don't require such a specific, time consuming application method nor a harsh removal routine in the end of the day.
If I was in the middle of high humidity weather and needed a high coverage foundation that wouldn't sweat off or budge for 24 hours I would use RCMA, otherwise I rarely need this.

10 out of 11 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

yrrucs on 1/14/2012 11:56:00 PM more reviews by yrrucs

Age: 36-43   Skin: Acne-prone, Dark   Hair: Black   Eyes: Brown    

This is my first experience with professional makeup. I ordered samples of this product in shinto from camerareadycosmetics.com They sent my samples quickly and packaged them very nicely. They were generous with the amount of each sample which is why I gave the packaging and price good ratings. I got shinto 5 ,6,7 and 8 because my brown skin has yellow undertones. (Please take advantage of ordering samples BEFORE you buy full size) 8 was the color closest to my skin color (and the darkest in the shinto line.) This product doesn't cover hypo- pigmentation or undereye circles. The color gave me a dead-pan look, no warmth at all. The Black Opal cover stick in nutmeg (which I use as a concealer along with a Cose custom blended yellow based foundation powder) gives me more coverage than RCMA and has more warmth without being red and dead-pan looking. AND I noticed small bumps on my forehead after washing it off. What is the hype about professional make-up again? If there is better professional make-up for women of color, please inbox me and let me know :)

3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

Raeoni on 4/11/2011 3:05:00 AM more reviews by Raeoni

Age: 25-29   Skin: Combination, Fair, Warm   Hair: Other, Straight, Fine   Eyes: Blue    

AUSTRALIAN REVIEWER: An amazing pro product used by many professional makeup artists worlwide for it's longevity and the ability to mix it with various mediums to get the perfect amount of coverage. It's a staple in my kit and I have repurchased again and again and will continue to do so!

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lyonk014 on 2/1/2011 11:45:00 PM more reviews by lyonk014

Age: 25-29   Skin: Acne-prone, Olive   Hair: Black   Eyes: Brown    

This foundation is perfect for nighttime looks or if you will be taking pictures. I wouldn't use it during the day, because it has VERY full coverage.

The price is reasonable for the 50% pigmentation you get--I don't even need to wear concealer with this stuff. I reserve this foundation for my nights out on the town. Tip: set with loose powder--ideally Makeup Forever's HD Powder.

2 out of 3 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

Mizumi on 1/5/2011 5:06:00 PM more reviews by Mizumi

Age: 19-24   Skin: Combination, Fair, Neutral   Hair: Blond, Relaxed, Medium   Eyes: Blue    

I've had this collecting dust over a year since I got this in porcelain and that is like 10 shades lighter than me. Damn you bad swatches on the internet. But I've still played with it and I think it's really good. I will probably get a quad or 2 when I'm in london to try on friends and see if I like working with it since many mua praise it but say you have to work with it a tad more than other.

So I will probably update this review. But as of now I like it and recommends it!

(:

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kims3142 on 11/11/2010 6:34:00 PM more reviews by kims3142

Age: 25-29   Skin: Acne-prone, Olive   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Brown    

I tried this in the compact with 4 colors of KO series and in Shinto 2. I was about NC30 at the time and the Shinto was waaaaay too dark. But the KO compact was comparable to NARS SG Stromboli which is my current fav. The KO is not as yellow or olive as Stromboli. I didn't really like this foundation even though many praise it. The coverage is not as good as Cinema Secrets and it does not wear well throughout the day. It disappears about 4 hours later. I have very oily skin that needs a lot of coverage from acne scars. SG actually covers well enough when I layer it & although that foundation doesn't last all day either, it wears better than RCMA.

I did not have any problems blending this, I stippled it on and buffed using either my GA sable brush or a cheapy from Coastal Scents. It blends really well, but it does feel thick. I don't want to feel anything on my face, so this was a downer. I only applied sparingly, but there is a definite FEEL to this.

Good coverage & there are so many colors, but does not live up to the hype in my opinion.

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*TOP REVIEWER* flamencovixen on 9/26/2010 3:45:00 PM more reviews by flamencovixen

Age: 30-35   Skin: Combination   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Brown    

I got RCMA in Shinto 1 a while back when I was going through a phase of trying out various professional foundations. I also purchased both Graftobian and Cinema Secrets Cream Foundations and will compare these with RCMA in this review.


I have light skin with neutral to warm undertones (MAC NC 25-30, Revlon Colorstay in Sand Beige). When I have more color on my face because of the sun, my skin tends to pick up more yellow. My neck has yellow tones and so I like to pick foundations that can match my face to my neck.


I got Shinto 1 because I read that the Shinto line had more yellow. But when I first received the foundation, Shinto 1 in the pot looks deceptively non-yellow (especially compared to the Graftobian and Cinema Secrets Foundation). In fact, Shinto looks more beige. But on my face, Shinto 1 seems to blend quite well and match my neck so clearly Shinto 1 definitely has the yellow base.


In terms of texture, the RCMA isn't creamy like Cinema Secrets and Graftobian (Cinema Secrets is creamier than Graftobian). So I have to make sure that the sponge I use is adequately moistened. I use one of those wedge sponges and spritz some distilled water on it (I use a tiny spritzer bottle for this based on a suggestion of a make up artist named Eve Pearl). The more moist the sponge is, the thinner the consistency of the foundation will be. I pat the sponge on the pot and then dab on my face, trying not to rub the foundation in (or it will apply unevenly). I then follow up with a loose powder to set the foundation.


Coverage is pretty good and so is the lasting power. I still have to powder my T-zone later in the day but that's the case with all the foundations that I use. The foundation has no scent. It also doesn't have SPF protection, which is a good thing in my opinion. Foundations that have titanium dioxide, for instance, make one's face appear paler when a photo is taken because of the camera flash.


In the past, I was concerned that using these professional types of make up would be too heavy for my skin. In reality, I actually don't find them heavy at all. As long as the foundation is thinned out with a moist sponge, then the foundation doesn't feel thick/heavy.


The foundation comes in a white pot with a clear, screw cap top. It is 1 oz and when I purchase this from Camera Ready Cosmetics online over a year and a half ago, it cost about $21. At that time the Cinema Secrets foundation pot that I got cost around $20 but it was for a .50 oz pot. The Graftobian foundation in a .50 oz pot cost around $10. So the Graftobian and RCMA are almost the same price per oz. The Cinema Secrets foundation clearly was the more expensive one per oz. (My Graftobian and Cinema Secrets foundations were also purchased from Camera Ready Cosmetics).


As I don't use this foundation everyday this pot will last me a long time. But if I ever do run out, I will repurchase it.

8 out of 9 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

lamluvston on 4/19/2010 8:17:00 PM more reviews by lamluvston

Age: Unknown   Skin: Dry, Dark, Warm   Hair: Black, Wavy, Fine   Eyes: Brown    

Wow!!!!! I really LOVE this product!!! I am a makeup artist and I also use this as my daily foundation. Like a previous reviewer stated - this foundation is such an oxymoron. It's opaque and covers well, yet the the finish is so natural and skin like (at least for me it is). I love the fact that it stays on ALL day.....even in extreme humid weather. I've used a plethora of foundations in my life and this is definitely my fav. I purchased both the Shinto and K/O sample palettes. Both palettes have wonderful, "real skin tone" colors. For MAC users the Shinto palette would be your NC colors and the K/O would be NW. I'm in between NC 45 and 50 and wear Shinto 4.

Application: I can apply this in many ways for different results. One of my favorite ways to apply is with my damp Beauty Blender sponge. The results are flawless. I also use a damp wedge sponge or my Mac 190 to apply and my 109 to buff out. I seal with my HD powder and end with a spritz of Cinema Secrets Moisture Spray or Fix + and Voila! Wonderful results!

10 out of 11 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

*TOP REVIEWER* josette on 12/20/2009 2:25:00 PM more reviews by josette

Age: 44-55   Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium, Warm   Hair: Brown, Curly, Medium   Eyes: Brown    

Pro: Excellent coverage and buildable. My skin is NC20 - NC25 and I found an excellent match in "Shinto 1". I tried samples of other shades like KO-1 and KO-2 but they did not have enough yellow and were completely neutral in tone. I found the perfect way to apply it was swirling it on with a MAC 138 brush for quick, light coverage [per Wayne Goss on YouTube]. I even got a sample of Shinto 4 to swirl around the perimeter of my face to bronze and give definition just like in his video.

Cons: The two tone technique didn't show up well to define my face - powder bronzer works better.
Even though I applied it this way and tried the damp sponge technique too; my face felt heavy and greasy from it even hours later. I went back to my HG foundation which is MAC Studio Sculpt NC20 which I apply with a MAC 109 brush and get a satiny light lovely finish.
I really wanted to like the RCMA because it's so affordable and I can see how it would be ideal for photography and film work.
Yet for my everyday life; sadly it just didn't work out.

6 out of 7 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

Chelseaaah on 11/29/2009 4:03:00 PM more reviews by Chelseaaah

Age: 18 & Under   Skin: Very Oily, Fair, Cool   Hair: Brunette, Straight, Fine   Eyes: Blue    

Pretty good foundation, still fiddling with it a bit. Currently I applying it to my face with a foundation brush and blending it out with a damp sponge. The color range is impressive, finally a foundation that does not make me look orange-y yellow. I would recommend this to anyone looking for a good creme foundation.

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Tigerloo on 11/19/2009 5:47:00 PM more reviews by Tigerloo

Age: 30-35   Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium   Hair: Blond   Eyes: Hazel    

Amazing stuff! I purchased some Ben Nye powder from this great theatrical supply store and returned again to try out RCMA's Colour Process Foundation after doing a little research. I am not a makeup artist nor a stage performer but I do feel like a star with this product on :) I was colour matched to Gena Beige with careful precision. To find a shade that doesn't wash me out, appear jaundiced or pink equals heaven. I took this wonderful pot of magic home and fiddled around with application. This product is highly pigmented so less is best. You can control coverage from sheer to full. I have found that using my fingers/sponge and then buffing with a Kabuki brush works the best for me. I love that it fits easily in my makeup bag and does not aggravate my sometimes wonky skin (combo,acne, eczema). Typically, I tend to steer away from cream formulations but this is an exception.So many foundations have let me down and I hope that this product will be a staple for me for years to come.

3 out of 5 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

Lilly14 on 11/10/2009 9:01:00 PM more reviews by Lilly14

Age: 25-29   Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Hazel    

This foundation is my HG! I'm a makeup artist and use it on my bridal clients and decided to try it myself. I have dark brown hair, hazel eyes, and have pale olive skin with a mixture of yellow/pink undertones which makes it impossible to find 1 foundation to match my skintone (I usually mix several).

Shinto 2 is the best colour for me when I have a light tan, but I often mix KO1 and KO2 to contour. Shinto 2 is also fantastic for neutralising purple/blue circles under eyes, with a tiny bit of your normal colour of the top to match. If you're not sure of your colour, Camera Ready cosmetics has sample pots for approx $2 that have enough foundation to last you a month.

I apply it in two ways:
1. Using a kabuki brush. I swirl the brush lightly over the foundation then buff it into my skin in circles. This creates an airbrush effect.
2. Using my fingers or sponge. I find that fingers help to warm the foundation up. I put a tiny (read: TINY!) amount on my finger tips by rubbing my finger in the foundation, then roll my fingers over my skin to push the foundation onto my face. If needed, I pat extra foundation over the areas I want to conceal.

This foundation needs powder to set on combination/oily skin. I prefer mineral powder as it doesn't clog the pores (as the RCMA can do if not removed every night). This foundation can work on everyone - if it doesn't work, try less and another technique of putting it on.

5 out of 6 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

honeyjr on 5/30/2009 8:12:00 PM more reviews by honeyjr

Age: 44-55   Skin: Very Dry, Medium, Warm   Hair: Black, Straight, Fine   Eyes: Brown    

I've been reading up on cream foundations that pro makeup artists use. Brands like Cinema Secrets, Graftobian, Joe Blasco, RCMA, etc. After watching a yt video of someone using the MAC 138 brush with this foundation, I had to get it. I looove this stuff! Coupled with the 138, my foundation goes on flawlessly. I also use the Sephora Platinum #55 brush, my Hakuhodo 210 (MAC 109 dupe but better) with this cream foundation and they all apply it well. You just have to be a little conservative or else it's easy to put on too much since it is a cream foundation after all. If I do get a little heavy handed with it, I just spritz my face with a bit of Cinema Secrets Moisture spray and run the brush lightly over it again and it's perfect :-)

3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

Giselle411 on 5/22/2009 9:57:00 PM more reviews by Giselle411

Age: 25-29   Skin: Acne-prone, Fair-Medium   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Brown    

First a lil background info on my skin. I am light skin toned asian with very sensitive acne-prone combination skin. I have some post acne mark on the side of my face from a previous disastrous breakout due to an allergic reaction to my shampoo =( So a lot of coverage is needed at the moment.
I heard about RCMA from a friend who is a model, and decided to try it out. I got shinto I & II. Shinto I is a pretty close match for me, maybe just a bit too yellow, I got Shinto II for contouring purposes, but it is abit too dark and too yellow for me. I may have to try KO1 & KO2 later.
As for application, i first moisturize my face well, let it dry then use Smashbox Photofinish Primer Light. I found application by hand or sponge can be very difficult and uneven due to the thickness of the foundation. As i was playing around with different application techniques, i've discovered the best way is use a brush( i used bare mineral's kabuki brush) and swirl the brush on the foundation a few times and start buffing it on the face. The foundation ends up very light on the face and has very even coverage due to the high pigmentation. Then use my finger to dab alil more foundtion for any additional concealing if needed. Then set it with a powder. The finishing result is great, you can tell that i'm wearing makeup but in a very natural way.
I've used this for over 2 weeks and haven't have any major breakout/allergic reaction to this foundation, just a pimple here and there. One thing to keep in mind is make sure you remove the makeup thoroughly at the end of the day since it is quite heavily pigmented and contains castro oil i believe, so it can easily clog pores if not removed properly.
Hope this helps.

4 out of 6 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

iabdella on 5/4/2009 4:25:00 PM more reviews by iabdella

Age: 36-43   Skin: Other   Hair: Other   Eyes: Other    

This is a wonderful foundation with beautiful colors and you can not beat the price. I have ko-1 which i am usually between n3-n4 or nc22ish. The best way to apply i found was with cover fx 160 brush. The only issue i have is i don't think this is good/healthy for your skin compared to other foundations out there. Will definitely keep for special occasions.

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*TOP REVIEWER* abrad1967 on 5/1/2009 6:01:00 AM more reviews by abrad1967

Age: 36-43   Skin: Acne-prone, Tan, Warm   Hair: Black, Curly, Medium   Eyes: Black    

This is one of the best foundations I have ever used and I discovered it on this site. Anyway, this foundation (RCMA) is awesome! It's not the easiest foundation to find but well worth the effort to locate it. What I like most about this foundation is that it's pretty true to my skin tone. I have a yellow undertone and it's so difficult to find a foundation that matches my skin color but this one comes pretty darn close. I'm Shinto 2. The packaging is very simple and it will last you forever. It photographs quite well. You can control the coverage from light to heavy coverage. A little goes a long way.

3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

*TOP REVIEWER* jaden08 on 4/21/2009 5:15:00 PM more reviews by jaden08

Age: 25-29   Skin: Oily, Dark   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Hazel    

This foundation is for champions and dammit i'm most definetely one of them. Im nc45 and i bought shinto 3, shinto 4 was way to dark. I got it at a small beauty store on 322 west 49th st btw 8 and 9th ave at a store called alcone company that provide all professional makeup for every walk of life, Kristine helped me and she was very nice.Back to the review, i first use my new primer which is called super matte anti shine thanks to mljohnson for recommending this, i bought dark and i just pat it on with a wedge and this stuff keeps you shine free like no other, OMG anyways, then i apply this with a wedge sponge and then set with my ben nye loose powder in cocoa tan i am picture perfect all dag on day, i feel so glamorous with this stuff i cant explain. The color is also more natural for my skintone as oppose to mac in terms of studiofix fluid which i love but it takes on an a slight orange, golden undertone and this doesn't bc it looks like my real skin just in a picture perfect kind of way. You can't over do this as i c it can look extremely fake if you do so use sparingly but bc u use so little during each application it will last a very long time. Edt : i have to buy shinto 4 with this even though shinto 4 is a lil dark, i need both shinto 3 and 4 to yield perfect results but this foundation makes you picture perfect.

9 out of 11 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

SayidtheAnkleAssassin on 2/10/2009 7:00:00 PM more reviews by SayidtheAnkleAssassin

Age: 30-35   Skin: Normal, Fair   Hair: Brunette, Wavy, Fine   Eyes: Green    

I've had a few pots of this foundation for years. I wore it pretty faithfully for a while before it gradually found its way to the back of my drawer in favor of new brands and new formulas. I was a mineral foundation devotee for many years, namely Jane Iredale. Then I got tired of paying for Iredale and started the process of finding a reasonable stand-in. I tried many brands and never found one I liked as well as Iredale.

Anyway! During my most recent disappointing experiment with MMU (this time, Aromaleigh), I came across my old pots of RCMA and thought to myself, "Self, why not try this again?" So I did. And I love it. I've been diagnosed as an NC 15-20, but the NCs are really way too yellow for me. In Aromaleigh I wear 1 and 2 YL blended, and in Iredale I'm Warm Beige. In RCMA I blend together Porcelain and Shinto 1.

I believe another reviewer below said she's NC 20 and can wear Shinto 1 by itself. I cannot - it's verrrry golden (hence why I think I've been misdiagnosed). But the Porcelain added in makes a perfect match. I do about equal parts of each but I'm not overly precise. The end result seems to have a good bit of forgiveness to it. I take the handle end of my foundation brush and pick up a bit of each color, then blend them together on the back of my hand. This softens the texture of the product, which is quite firm in the pot. I've been adding in a dab of Kinerase to that to thin it out a little, but that's optional. You don't need much foundation at all - a small pea is probably enough. It seems to work best when I haven't moisturized with an oil-based product, or if it is oil-based, I let it absorb for a decent about of time.

I powder with Corn Silk Translucent and for a reaaally flawless finish, dust some Aromaleigh on top of that and then a bit more Corn Silk. Light hand, though, or it looks too powdery. The finished result photographs beautifully and doesn't look masky or heavy.

Update: I can wear KO-1 by itself (no mixing with other shades). It's a wee tiny bit yellower than my skin, but when it's all well-blended I think I can get away with it.

4 out of 4 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No