Revlon • ColorStay Makeup • Liquid

Where To Buy?

f_bellman on 12/25/2005 3:18:00 PM more reviews by f_bellman

Age: 19-24   Skin: Acne-prone, Fair-Medium   Hair: Blond   Eyes: Blue    

I have very acne-prone, red skin with old acne scars on my cheeks. Before, I would either cover the scars with concealer or I would use True Blend foundation (which did absolutely nothing, by the way). I bought Colorstay on a whim and for the most part I love it! It evens out my skintone (no more redness!), covers my acne scars (with a little help from the Colorstay concealer), and gives me a bright glow. However, it is pretty thick (I think I'm going to hurry up and buy the Stay Natural next!). I also HATE the packaging: my bottle looks like a complete mess! Pretty expensive for a drugstore brand; I think it's $12 regularly priced at CVS. I am definitely running out to the stores to snatch this stuff up before it's off the shelves for good.

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jellybean36 on 12/23/2005 5:41:00 PM more reviews by jellybean36

Age: 18 & Under   Skin: Acne-prone   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Brown    

First off, let me start off by saying that i absolutely adore revlon colosrstay stay natural. This one is quite a bit thicker and not as good. It can provide great coverage but it's rather thick so sometimes the face looks a bit chalky. The finish is slightly too matte for my taste. It does tend to make your complexion look *perfect* ie. no uneven tones etc but it sompromises a bit on naturalness. A plus is that the foundation stays on all day without wearing off. However it gives off a slightly chemical smell (maybe it's just me) and I hate open mouth bottles because they become all drippy.

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urban_chic on 12/18/2005 10:05:00 AM more reviews by urban_chic

Age: 19-24   Skin: Very Oily   Hair: Black   Eyes: Brown    

If Revlon discontinues this, I think I'm going to cry! It's one of the best, and last, ultra-matte stay-put foundations left on the market that I can rely on to cover my acne scars and look pretty much matte for most of the day. It's VERY thick, of course, and tends to look kinda chalky if I apply it wrong, but if I take the time to apply it, it can look pretty stunning! In terms of the shades, try to choose a shade that's only a TAD bit lighter than your skintone since it looks like a mud mask if you're wearing a shade that's too dark for your skintone. I found Buff and Sand Beige to be the only "neutralish" shades that work for me...the rest of the light shades look too pink or peachy! I seriously hope that Revlon doesn't discontinue this, but I would like to see newer, more neutral, shades.

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keavy on 12/16/2005 9:03:00 PM more reviews by keavy

Age: 19-24   Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium   Hair: Other   Eyes: Other    

good stuff for a drugstore brand ! it has great staying power and nice coverage ! but not so good for sensitive skin

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*TOP REVIEWER* heyannette on 12/13/2005 5:37:00 PM more reviews by heyannette

Age: 30-35   Skin: Combination, Medium, Warm   Hair: Brunette, Straight, Coarse   Eyes: Green    

DESCRIPTION OF ME ~ Light yellowy/olive complexion with a tendency to get redness on my cheeks and around my nose. MAC C3/NC30. Large pores, oily and prone to blackheads and occasional acne. Mid-thirties, some sun damage, (melasma) and fine creases on my forehead.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION~ 1 fl oz (30 ml) Liquid foundation formulated for oily/combination skin types. Company line - "oil free shine control, won’t rub off, feels comfortable". I paid $16 CAD on sale at Shopper’s Drugs (regular $18.99 CAD pretty darn steep for a drugstore foundation), at www.drugstore.com it’s $12.99 US


PACKAGING~ Glass bottle, screw top without a pump. I still don’t understand why they wouldn’t develop a pump or squeeze tube for this foundation.

CONSISTENCY/TEXTURE~ Creamy, thick liquid foundation.

APPLICATION~ Wow, this stuff is a lot easier to apply than the previous version. You actually have time to blend before it sets. I’m using a Taklon brush then a Jane Iredale flocked sponge to buff it in and am very pleased with the results.

FINISH~ The finish is semi-matte but not cakey like it’s predecessor. It actually doesn’t set before I add a finishing powder. Which is just fine by me because I find a foundation that sets rock hard usually doesn’t look very natural and cakes up.

COVERAGE~ If I use a brush or fingers, I can get medium to full coverage. It builds well and is easy to work with for more coverage in some areas like my cheeks where I need to cover melasma. It does need to be built up for full coverage and it doesn't cover as well as the previous version but with some practice, it can be layered and in the end, looks far more natural. I pat it on and try not to blend too much on areas that need extra coverage, surprisingly this works well. This foundation has an amazing ability to meld into my skin tone and texture.

STAYING POWER~ With a good dusting of finishing powder it lasts all day without fail. It lasts as well, if not better, than the previous version without the nasty separating on my face. It looks better as the day wears, I’m touching up less often than I used to with the previous version.

SCENT~ It still smells like paint but not strongly. The scent totally fades and is not noticeable after it sets.

COLOUR~ I have tried high-end (Armani, Chanel, Trucco, Shiseido) and Revlon is right up there with the high-end in foundation shades. The Sand Beige shade matches my neck perfectly, my face is more the Buff shade so I mix the two so my face matches my neck. Revlon is the only drugstore brand of foundation I can do the swipe test on my jaw line with and it actually disappears.

OVERALL~ I’ve used this everyday for 2 months plus now so with confidence I can say this foundation is a great replacement for the regular ColorStay foundation, just a great foundation in general. I’m not breaking out, it doesn’t irritate my skin, it covers well has a more natural finish and is way easier to apply. My skin is sensitive and yes this foundation does contain alcohol but it doesn’t contain other irritants like silica, chemical sunscreen or bismuth so it’s the best I can find for my finicky skin type. Also, it contains no talc so it's a lot like a liquid mineral foundation than a traditional liquid.


August 2006 Update. So I have bought replacements and the SoftFlex formula without text on the caps is different than the first SoftFlex version. It is thicker and covers far better than the previous, they have tweaked it to be more like the old ColorStay but it is still better. Better shades and doesn’t dry as quickly, although more quickly than the first SoftFlex version. Kudos to Revlon, they really seem to listen to their customers, a lot of use complained that the SoftFlex versions didn’t cover as well.



Thank you Seclusae2 giving me permission to use your great reviewing format.


Active Ingredients: Titanium Dioxide 7.3%


Inactive Ingredients: Aqua Eau (Water), Cyclomethicone, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Butylene Glycol, Boron Nitride, Dimethicone, SD Alcohol 40B, PEG/PPG 18/18 Dimethicone, Nylon 12, Tribehenin, Isododecane, Polyisobutene, Sodium Chloride, Cetyl PEG/PPG - 10/1 Dimethicone, Bisabolol, Serica (Silk Powder), Tocopheryl Acetate, Retinyl Palmitate, Malva Silvestris Extract (Mallow), Lilium Candidum Bulb Extract (Lily), Lactobacillus/Eridictyon Californicum Ferment Extract, Cymbidium Grandiflorum Flower Extract, Alumina, Polydimethylsiloxane/Polymethysilesquioxane Copolymer, Ethylene Brassylate, Methicone, Trisiloxane, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, Tetrasodium EDTA, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, May contain: Mica (CI 77019), Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Iron Oxides (CI 77491, 77492, 77499)

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*TOP REVIEWER* ahappyplace on 12/10/2005 2:06:00 PM more reviews by ahappyplace

Age: 19-24   Skin: Combination, Fair   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Brown    

I can't believe I found a color match in a drugstore foundation! I've been using Aromaleigh mineral foundation for the last couple of months, but the coverage and lasting power weren't really satisfactory. I think I was just thrilled I had found a powder foundation pale enough for me (NC 15 is too dark). I've picked up a bottle of Colorstay a few times when makeup shopping but the palest shade (Ivory) always looked so pink! Last night I said, what the hell, it's BOGOF, so I grabbed a bottle of this and a gorgeous cream blush (Rosy Glow). I LOVE THIS STUFF. I didn't get the cakey, masky results that others complained about, but I did use my Olay microdermabrasion and peel last night, and I used a somewhat glowy moisturizer before applying (Clean & Clear Morning Burst). I worked in small sections and only used a dab of foundation on a sponge per section. It looks fabulous! Perfect coverage, awesome color match (this NEVER happens), satiny finish (I think my moisturizer definitely makes a difference). The only negs are the bottle and the price, which I think is a bit much for drugstore. All in all, potential HG! We'll see if I break out. EDIT: I did not break out, but started to really notice a pink tinge to this foundation, especially in bathroom lighting...too bad, because I really liked the formulation. =(

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*TOP REVIEWER* talkaboutaddiction on 12/8/2005 3:10:00 PM more reviews by talkaboutaddiction

Age: 25-29   Skin: Acne-prone   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Brown    

Well Ladies this is just a FYI! If you love this stuff along with Almay Amazing LAsting you better stock up since it is being d/c'd and being replaced with "soft flex" which SUCKS (see review) I think the era of long last full coverage matte fndts is finally comming to an end. So if you dont have near perfect skin (ME ME ME!!!) then you better find a really good acne cure! I am really mad about the whole thing! lol EDIT:
Contacted REvlon and this IS being phased out but is replaced with the Colorstay Soft Flex ( damn it SUCKS!!!) so if you ask them and they say it's NOT being d/c'd it's because they "technically" still have it but it has been "tampered with"

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sed484 on 12/5/2005 9:42:00 PM more reviews by sed484

Age: 19-24   Skin: Combination   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Brown    

I LOVE this foundation!! The coverage it provides leaves your skin looking absolutely flawless!! It looks natural and beautiful. People say it can be hard to work with, but I haven't found that to be the case at all. I just dot this foundation all over my face and then blend it with a sponge. I have very oily skin and this foundation leaves your skin matte ALL day long (I don't even have to touch up with powder during the day!). Also, it really doesn't come off until you want it to! Some reviewers have noted that it can leave your skin a little tacky feeling. I think this is wonderful because the tackiness causes it to really *hold* on to blush and eyeshadow making them last ALL day! Also, people say that this foundation is hard to remove at night, but that couldn't be farther from the truth. I have used many cleansers with this foundation: Oil of Olay, Neutrogena, Dove, and Aveeno and ALL of them removed this foundation. Completely! I use a toner after cleansing and I have never seen any streaks of foundation which would mean I hadn't washed it all off. I don't use a washcloth or anything either....I just rub the cleanser onto my face with my fingers.

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*TOP REVIEWER* jiney17 on 12/5/2005 4:51:00 PM more reviews by jiney17

Age: 19-24   Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium, Neutral   Hair: Black, Straight, Medium   Eyes: Brown    

Am in the process of finding a decent (read: lasts all day, is believable/natural-looking, has medium-to-full coverage) concealer and read several reviews below that mentioned using this foundation as a concealer with good results. So, I hied myself to the drugstore and got this in "Sand Beige"--the color looked a little too dark in the bottle, but keeping in mind the warnings about this product, I knew that it would apply lighter. Fortunately, most of the Colorstay shades appeared very neutral (not too yellow or pink or orange) and there is a good range of "beiges" (one of them is usually my Revlon color).



I have not tried to use this as a foundation since I prefer lighter, sheerer coverage for larger areas (usually a tinted moisturizer). I only need spot coverage for a few darkish acne marks/discolorations and around my eyes and nose. This stuff works great for that purpose. Much better than the Max Factor Pan-Stik I was using before. The texture is a creamy liquid, a bit thick (reminds me of Maybelline Everfresh, which I used in my teenage years to cover up zits). It does dry out rather quickly but I actually prefer that as the thicker texture makes it easier to use this as a concealer (unlike the too-slippery feeling of the Pan-Stik). I dot a tiny bit of this on and blend carefully with my fingers. I layer if I need more coverage. It looks pretty good, not cakey (though it can become so if I'm not careful about blending) and covers everything without looking obvious. I always make sure to use this on moisturized skin, though--makes it easier to blend and prevents this from emphasizing tiny flakes, etc.



The packaging is not user- or traveler-friendly as it's a heavy glass bottle. I'd definitely prefer a plastic squeeze tube with a smaller opening. As it is, I just flip the bottle over and then use what's in the cap. There's a slight "foundation" fragrance that I don't mind (I actually sorta enjoy it, oddly enough). I've been using this for the past couple of weeks as a concealer and it has not broken me out or clogged my pores yet--I do make sure to wash my face very thoroughly at night. It's a little pricey for a DG foundation (around 12 USD) but it will last forever the way I'm using it. Would repurchase.

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*TOP REVIEWER* BluePlanet36 on 12/5/2005 12:57:00 PM more reviews by BluePlanet36

Age: 25-29   Skin: Oily, Fair-Medium, Cool   Hair: Blond, Wavy, Medium   Eyes: Green    

Applied with a sponge, this foundation has decent coverage that feels lightweight on. Applied by hand, it is hard to blend and too heavy. I do like this foundation though (I have it in Buff, the oil-free version) and will probably repurchase. I wish the packaing were more user-friendly (a pump like the other colorstay) but that is the only fault I have with it. (UPDATE)...Now that I have found ColorStay Natural (which is being discontinued), I use this as a spot concealer and it REALLY sticks. Looks seamless and natural and blends beautifully.

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Beauti24 on 11/30/2005 8:30:00 PM more reviews by Beauti24

Age: 25-29   Skin: Dry   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Brown    

I used to like this foundation when I was younger but as I get older my skin is getting dry and I found that it is really hard to apply. It dried out very fast and you have to be quick to apply. It looks a little masky on me and it is quite thick. I prefer a more moisterizer foundation. Also, the smell is aweful. Definitely will not buy again.

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Andriya on 11/27/2005 6:49:00 AM more reviews by Andriya

Age: 19-24   Skin: Acne-prone   Hair: Blond   Eyes: Blue    

I have this foundation in Buff. It's provides medium-full coverage and is pretty waterproof. I can't say that I don't like it but it's smell is so overpowering - it smells of paint so I don't see how I can look at this foundation as being good for your skin. My skin looks a little masky. I'm into full coverage foundations but there are better looking ones than this.

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SouthDakotaPrincess on 11/22/2005 1:39:00 PM more reviews by SouthDakotaPrincess

Age: 19-24   Skin: Acne-prone   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Blue    

I'm amazed the bottle didn't break when this stuff fell down from Heaven. It's the only foundation I have ever tried that is worth a dime. It stays put, all day, period. Be warned, however, that it does take practice to apply it correctly. This stuff is thick (spackle is not much of an exaggeration), and it dries fast. It is imperative to use moisturizer before you put this on. I use Neutrogena's Dry Touch sunblock, and it is a perfect base for this to keep it from going on too thick and mask-like. Second, you must apply it to only 1 area of your face at a time and blend before moving on to the next area. It even doubles as a concealer: just use the slightly dried foundation around the rim. The bottle sucks, though: it's hard to get foundation out and it invariably turns into a huge mess after a while. There is a LOT of foundation in there too. Even if you use it everyday, you cannot finish the bottle before it gets too cakey and needs to be replaced (every 6 months or so). Great stuff, though!

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*TOP REVIEWER* il23 on 11/17/2005 3:55:00 PM more reviews by il23

Age: 18 & Under   Skin: Combination, Medium, Warm   Hair: Black, Wavy, Coarse   Eyes: Brown    

Update: I really loved the wear and coverage of this foundation and was determined to give it another try. This time I mixed in a very thick, rich moisturizer (The Body Shop Extra Rich Grapeseed Night Cream). The end result was very nice, since the moisturizer does not make me greasy. The foundation looks much much more natural and better but I use the smallest amount possible. It's probably one fingertip fdtn mixed with 2 parts moisturizer. (just to give a rough estimate) Using it this way, the coverage is a bit sheerer but still wears like iron.



Also, touchups throughout the day with powder often looks blotchy and uneven on top of this foundation. This could be a big problem for people with oily skin all over. I have combo skin so I don't use this fdtn on my tzone.


This foundation is definitely not for people with dry skin. It easily cakes and emphasizes dry patches, as well as large pores. That being said, the coverage with this stuff is amazing. I spot conceal with this because my skin is definitely too dry to handle having this fdtn all over my skin. I use a thin layer and blend it, over moisturizer. It stays put throughout my whole day, which is nice. It looks very very good from a distance but definitely fake up close if you use too much, which is not hard to do.


The bottle isn't great. The mouth is too wide to get a good amount of foundation and the glass seems thick, but I wouldn't want to drop this or anything.


The texture feels like paint and there's a slight chemical fragrance. It goes on evenly but sets VERY quickly. This would best suit people with normal to oily skin. Oil control is actually pretty good. It lasts for a little less than half my day with loose powder on top. But this stuff lasts everywhere else for the whole day so I like it.


Price is pretty high for drugstore (12$USD) but this stuff wears like iron so I will definitely keep it around but it's not my HG.

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*TOP REVIEWER* misscruella16 on 11/12/2005 7:56:00 AM more reviews by misscruella16

Age: 18 & Under   Skin: Other, Fair-Medium   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Brown    

I loved the coverage that this gave and their neutral shades, I picked buff Beige and in the summer Sand Beige. This lasts a really long time, but it dried out my skin, and made it very red (i have sens. skin) I knew it was this so I stopped using it. I wouldn't buy again because of this, but I gave it a high rating because it is s so good for such a cheap amount, and Im sure I would love it if it didn't dry my skin out! Anyone with oily non-sens. skin would love this fndtn.

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Kahani on 11/3/2005 2:31:00 AM more reviews by Kahani

Age: 19-24   Skin: Oily   Hair: Black   Eyes: Black    

I think after many years of searching I've finally found my HG combination!
This (ColorStay Stay Natural) as my foundation and ColorStay foundation as a concealer make a perfect face.



I'm 23, fair Chinese, and I have very oily, acne-prone, easily-clogged skin. I also live in Malaysia where it's hot and humid, and to top it all off I'm a journalist. So I'm always on the go, oftentimes outside where I get hot and sweaty.



As a foundation I have NO IDEA how to use this product. It doesn't blend, it's chalky, it looks weird when I try to blend and it smells like paint. But I've discovered that it's a miracle as a concealer!



Up till I tried this product, I've been using MAC Studio Concealer. It's a great product, but on my oily skin it slips at the end of the day and it cakes under my eyes making me look old - what's more, it oxidises a little.



ColorStay's Concealer is great, but the tube is tiny, and it also cakes.



The FOUNDATION however is wonderful. Messy, but wonderful. I apply a thin layer with a concealer blush after using Colorstay Stay Natural (as a foundation), and blend it in by patting. If I need more coverage, I dab and pat again. It matches the foundation perfectly, it never slips, it lasts and lasts and it doesn't cake. Amazing.



And not to mention how LONG the bottle is going to last if I use it as a concealer. Talk about value for money.



I do loathe the packaging though. I've learnt to use what's in the cap rather than dipping into the bottle or dabbing it out. But I'm considering getting a smaller glass bottle and decanting this stuff. What was Revlon thinking with this damned jar anyway?





Oh, one thing about this range though to keep your skin clear you have to get it off. Get it ALL off. I use a Deep Cleansing Oil (doesn't matter which one, L'Oreal, Za, Tiss, they're all wonderful) followed by Neutrogena's Deep Clean Scrub. It's a bit more effort, but hey I got what I asked for, and unbudgeable foundation.

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*TOP REVIEWER* Katras on 11/2/2005 12:45:00 PM more reviews by Katras

Age: 19-24   Skin: Sensitive, Fair-Medium, Warm   Hair: Black, Wavy, Coarse   Eyes: Brown    

Color: Buff (which is perfect for my light eurasian skin).





Pro's: Has SPF, has very good lasting power, can hide any pimple, bruise or unsightly with very little product and a nice matte finish.

Con's: Can look chaulky, must work fast or you won't be able to blend (I add a couple drops of liquid luminizer to rid chaulky-ness and add to blending time), only has an SPF of 8, would prefer a pump.






Overall: I'm not really sure if I would buy it again, but I now know that if I want a concealer/ foundation in a bottle i.e - short on money, this is definetly a product I would consider.

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barbie16 on 11/1/2005 2:05:00 PM more reviews by barbie16

Age: 19-24   Skin: Acne-prone, Fair   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Brown    

This foundation does what it says: it stays put and covers really well. However it is IMPOSSIBLE to blend and sinks into pores, and I'm normally a pro at applying foundation!. It also feels really heavy on the skin and kiond of tacky to touch. The only plus is that the shade Ivory really is pale enough for me, and not a dodgy orange colour like most over companies' palest offerings. Definitely not a re-buy, and for £11 it does not justify it's price tag at all.

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Mexipina on 10/24/2005 11:01:00 PM more reviews by Mexipina

Age: 18 & Under   Skin: Combination   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Brown    

I am absolutely in love with this foundation! I use it on myself and it covers all my blemishes and broken capillaries completely, stays on all day and has a nice finish. At my best friend's wedding, the makeup artist didn't show up,(terrible, I know) so she turned to me to do her makeup. I used this on her... it made her skin look flawless, stayed on all night, and needless to say, she loved it! I also turned my aunt on to this; she has flaky, very sensitive rosacea skin, and when she has this on, you would never guess that she has a pretty bad case of rosacea. I think there is a also a pretty good color selection, and although it's pricey for a drugstore product, it's worth every penny imho. My only gripe is the packaging...a heavy glass bottle with no pump or anything. I pray Revlon never discontinues this.

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*TOP REVIEWER* lucyrox on 10/22/2005 2:07:00 PM more reviews by lucyrox

Age: 36-43   Skin: Very Dry, Fair, Neutral   Hair: Red, Wavy, Medium   Eyes: Hazel    

This foundation is a great drugstore buy! I have dry, sensitive, very fair, mature skin with dark spots and red capillaries. I use the lightest color, Ivory, and it blends well and has medium to full coverage. I use Olay Sensitive skin SPF 30 moisturizer underneath this foundation, and that helps the foundation spread on evenly and smoothly. I'm very pleased with the staying power of this foundation, even after blowing my nose, my upper lip still has foundation on it. Since I have mature and dry skin, I only put a thin layer around the lines on my eyes. I recommend using a foundation brush to apply (any) foundation. I use a MAC foundation brush #190 and it works great. The color holds true all day long with no color changes. I wish the glass bottle would change to plastic.
UPDATE: I'm going back to using PC fdtn because this Revlon CS goes on a little too thick for me and doesn't let my skin breathe. I do love the full coverage, but it's too masklike.

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