Almay • Smart Shade Smart Shade Anti-aging SPF 20 • Foundations

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adkinsjr on 9/28/2011 11:09:00 PM more reviews by adkinsjr

Age: 36-43   Skin: Sensitive, Fair   Hair: Blond   Eyes: Blue    

Decided to try this version of the Smart Shade foundation after using the regular version. I have determined that I will not repurchase the anti-aging formulation, as it feels somewhat greasy, and the shade is not nearly as good a match for my fair skin. It is also harder to remove, almost like it is water proof. I wouldn't recommend this product for anyone with fair skin, and be aware that it is a rather heavy foundation that requires additional blending to get the shade right, and is harder to remove than other foundations I have used.

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glowingskin on 9/22/2011 3:29:00 AM more reviews by glowingskin

Age: 36-43   Skin: Dry, Fair, Cool   Hair: Brunette, Straight, Fine   Eyes: Brown    

I purchased the Smart Shade Anti Aging SPF20 foundation because the sale was buy 1 item and 2nd item would be 50% off. There was also a bonus tube. I figured I try that first. The shade I purchased was light. It freaked me out when the color came out white-ish gray. Well after blending it, I was pleasantly surprised on how well it matched my skintone. I also like that it comes in a tube which is much more hygenic than if it came in a bottle or a compact. I'm also considering buying the concealer from the Smart Shade Anti Aging line.
So, for anyone who would like a simple way to choose a foundation color,
I'd give this one a try. The coverage is light to medium and the texture is quite smooth. Btw, the small bonus tube had enough for at least 10 applications so, I image the full size will last for a really long time! Oh, one last thing...I was a makeup artist : )!

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bkaips on 8/31/2011 5:38:00 PM more reviews by bkaips

Age: 36-43   Skin: Dry, Fair-Medium, Warm   Hair: Brown, Wavy, Coarse   Eyes: Green    

For sure the best foundation I have found for 40 year old skin. Provides great coverage and gives my face a flawless, glowy finish. I am fair skinned and use the light/medium, have a few age spots, broken caps that are the bane of my existence...mind you, I have no wrinkles or lines so I can't comment on if it settles or not, but I've tried many foundations that look cakey, settle in to pores and look horrible on my dry skin. This stuff is fabulous for me and the best I've found to date. I give it 4 stars merely for not having at least an SPF30 in it, anything less is useless. Up the SPF in this and it would be a 5'er easily:)

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Jaylakent on 8/9/2011 9:21:00 PM more reviews by Jaylakent

Age: 36-43   Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Green    

Did some research for a foundation for women over 40 and this was ranked as a "steal". I thought I would give it a try - was about $10 at local drugstore. Start with moisturizer then apply spread small dabs to one area at a time with fingers. Gives a nice finish - covers my mild melasma(age spots). I finished with the Almay Line Smoothing Powder - both in Light/Medium. Lasted through my work day with only one touch-up around T-zone.

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lovie1 on 7/20/2011 10:50:00 AM more reviews by lovie1

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

I love this foundation it is beautiful without having the cake make-up look especially in the summer. my skin is clear so this is the best it stays, my oily skin does'nt show thru- i love this stuff. i use med. for summer and light/ med for fall winter. yes i will purchase again.

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*TOP REVIEWER* lotusfairy on 7/1/2011 6:26:00 PM more reviews by lotusfairy

Age: 25-29   Skin: Oily, Medium, Neutral   Hair: Brunette, Curly, Medium   Eyes: Brown    

I was intrigued by this while walking in CVS since it contains SPF 20 and is supposed to help with fine lines. The tube makes it easier to apply with clean fingers and I like the idea of the tiny beads. However the color was a bit off even though the perfect shade for me would be medium. It looked chalky in some areas and is somewhat sheer for areas that I really need coverage. If you have a great complexion free of redness or other skin problems, then this is for you. I also recommend using a bronzer or powder to keep it from disappearing gradually throughout the day. I will not repurchase.

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barebeauty11 on 6/24/2011 11:21:00 PM more reviews by barebeauty11

Age: 18 & Under   Skin: Normal, Olive   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Hazel    

i love this product. i picked it up from my mom over the winter. i now use it in the basic product that isn't anti-aging but i personally didn't notice any difference in the quality or results.

i hate liquid foundations for the reason of them making my skin oily, and also it makes my face look caked. this foundation though is very light and has the consistency of a lotion. the only complaint i would have is that since the foundation is so light and more like a lotion the coverage is average. if you need good coverage you have to apply a good amount. the tubes also don't hold much and are rather pricey for a drug store product about 15 dollars maybe i'm not sure.

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Glitterlullaby on 6/24/2011 7:39:00 PM more reviews by Glitterlullaby

Age: 25-29   Skin: Oily, Fair, Neutral   Hair: Blond, Straight, Fine   Eyes: Hazel    

It's an amazing foundation covers well and it has spf 20 which is perfect for a foundation and tons of antioxidants too including peptides.. but it broke me out can't wear it anymore :( ...

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BeautyVicious on 6/12/2011 8:00:00 PM more reviews by BeautyVicious

Age: 30-35   Skin: Normal, Fair, Neutral   Hair: Red, Wavy, Coarse   Eyes: Green    

I recently purchased the Almay Smart Shade Anti-Aging foundation & concealer, here is my review:

They have an SPF of 20 as well as a 'skin sensing' forumla which is said to instantly minimize the appearance of fine lines & wrinkles. The products come out white in color with tiny little colored beads (a lot like my Origins Vita-Zing moisturizer), you apply the products with your fingertips to your face & it evens out in color as you rub it into your skin.

I would say it's a light to medium coverage & you can build it up with more if you need to. It's not heavy, cakey or dry. I cannot judge whether or not it is oily since I do not have oily skin. It lasts for quite awhile but not the entire day. I do set my foundation with powder which will make your foundation last longer so it's possible that it would not last throughout a good portion of the day without setting it. It did seem to fill in & 'erase' the fine lines that I do have which is a plus.

I had tried the sample in the store of the regular Smart Shade formula (without anti-aging) & it seemed exactly the same. The concealer acted just as the foundation & it has AWESOME coverage!

The only thing that I did not like about the foundation was that it had a yellow undertone to it which does not go well with my skintone. If you are looking for products with a Pink or Neutral undertone, this is not the product for you, however if you are looking for a yellow toned foundation that is super fast & easy to use, try this out!

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norimaki on 6/9/2011 8:32:00 PM more reviews by norimaki

Age: 36-43   Skin: Dry   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Brown    

I got this foundation and a bonus tube of the corresponding adjusting concealer in Light. I was really dubious when I first put this on as the concealer seemed too gray and light. I put the foundation over the concealer just to see how it would all pan out and the foundation also seemed like it would give me a grayish cast to my fair Asian yellow toned skin. I waited a few minutes and looked back in the mirror and lo and behold, the colors had "developed" to a natural shade of my face and neck! The coverage is better than I expected- it doesn't cover all my sun damaged spots but my face looks polished enough! Overall I am very pleased with these products. By the way, I have been trying all kinds of high to low end foundations in all different formulas this is working better for my early 40's skin! It would be perfect if it covered just a tad bit more but gave the same natural finish, so the overall rating should be 4.5 but I rounded up!

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

jCurli on 5/24/2011 11:05:00 PM more reviews by jCurli

Age: 25-29   Skin: Dry, Medium, Neutral   Hair: Brown, Curly, Coarse   Eyes: Brown    

I have very sensitive skin. I love this product, very easy to apply, good coverage without it looking like a "masque"! Looks natural.
Several people commented on how great I look, somewhat "glowing" and they didn't refer to the make-up directly but i am sure it helped me to those compliments ;)
yes it has a light sparkle in certain light, i like it!

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*TOP REVIEWER* JenPhil1313 on 5/9/2011 5:29:00 PM more reviews by JenPhil1313

Age: 36-43   Skin: Sensitive, Fair, Cool   Hair: Brunette, Wavy, Fine   Eyes: Grey    

Really like this foundation a lot (probably 2nd only to Revlon mineral mousse foundation). Provides a nice medium coverage, a little moisture, and an awesome completey chemical-free SPF. It's perfect makeup to use on those mornings when you are rushing and need to keep things simple and quick- this does the job of 3 products at once. It does initially dispense as white- but as you rub it in, it turns flesh colored. The lightest shade works nicely on my fair, sensitive skin. Ideally, this would work best on top of a moisturizing sunscreen- but on a lot of mornings, this is all I put on and it works fine. Price is good too.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

giasabine on 4/6/2011 8:00:00 AM more reviews by giasabine

Age: 44-55   Skin: Acne-prone, Fair, Neutral   Hair: Red, Straight, Fine   Eyes: Green    

The product comes out of the tube white and then the color appears, once you start applying it to your skin. It's a fun gimmick. I am fair skinned and even the lightest shade of this product is dark on me. That is the main reason I won't buy it again.

I also look really shiny, after I am done. I have combination skin and start out very dry after cleansing in the morning, so I did not expect to look all greasy with this product.The coverage is medium sheer. It has more coverage than a tinted moisturizer, but may be too sheer, if you are looking to cover more than some mild spots. It does help to dot a little extra on in areas that need a little more coverage, but don't expect too much.

I don't think it is a bad product and I might have considered buying it again, except for the above mentioned.

P. S. Strangely enough, this foundation makes my skin burn for about 30 seconds when I first apply it, but no allergic reactions or break-outs.

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*TOP REVIEWER* nicole33 on 2/5/2011 6:29:00 PM more reviews by nicole33

Age: 36-43   Skin: Acne-prone   Hair: Blond   Eyes: Hazel    

EXCELLENT product. I used to use this about a year ago but because I was doing the whole raw vegan thing I was convinced I needed 100% natural products so I spent a year switching around trying new things... WHY? This one is so perfect I don't need to look any further.

The colour is a tiny bit pale but once I put on some bronzer it's perfect.
The coverage is amazing. It looks and feels natural sort of like a tinted moisturiser. It lasts throughout the day and looks fresh. Plus I love that it has sun protection and it has anti aging properties.

I also really like the packaging because it's light and I can throw it in my pure. I was using mineral makeup but it's so messy. This is just right!

I've finally found my foundation and have no need to look around any longer.

Oh, and the price at Walmart fits my budget!

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

cherish66 on 12/30/2010 3:10:00 PM more reviews by cherish66

Age: 56 & Over   Skin: Dry   Hair: Blond   Eyes: Green    

I've been a slave to BE for quite a few years. Within the last couple of years I realized I'm one of those unfortunate people allergic to bismuth oxychloride. I switched to their matte formula but I really missed that "dewey" look. I just happened to pick this product up, tried a sample on my hand and the morph from white to skin tone kind of fascinated me so I bought it. I'm so glad I did! I'm 63 yrs. old, holding up as well as can be expected. As soon as I put this on my face I knew it was a keeper. I had no trouble at all blending it in, In fact I had to show it to one of my friends (who got a tube for herself) because you almost don't even have to look in the mirror, you can put it on like a moisturizer it's so easy. Someone else mentioned how well it covers pores. Oh yes!!! Pores and More. Now, I wouldn't go so far as to say it diminishes all wrinkles -BUT- I will say that it kind of blurs everything together so they're not as noticible. I use a light dusting of silica powder over the foundation and perhaps that helps things along? I just couldn't be more pleased, unless it came in a larger tube. I will have to start a write in campaign if i ever get wind of it being discontinued. My swirl, tap, buff days are officially over!

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

Shannon1313 on 12/24/2010 1:09:00 AM more reviews by Shannon1313

Age: 30-35   Skin: Combination, Fair, Cool   Hair: Red, Curly, Medium   Eyes: Blue    

It's sparkly...W.T.F

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MzIssa on 12/15/2010 2:53:00 PM more reviews by MzIssa

Age: 19-24   Skin: Dry, Fair-Medium   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Brown    

Bought this product with high hopes but I'm very disappointed....I got this in Light and even with a very small amount it is very dark and to beige for my Ivory skin tone. The finish is terrible it make my dry spots and blemishes stand out more then before makeup. It is very hard to blend with fingers or a sponge..........overall for me a bad product will never purchase again.

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DebraWrd on 12/12/2010 12:39:00 PM more reviews by DebraWrd

Age: 36-43   Skin: Combination, Fair   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Hazel    

I bought this at Wal-Mart for $9.98 in Light. It matches my skin very well! It comes out gray-ish/white-ish but turns skin color as you blend it on your skin. I like the fact that it comes in a tube so there is less mess. I only use it under my eyes and around my nose and chin. It has more coverage than Maybelline's Age Instant Rewind Eraser Treatment Makeup in Classic Ivory ime.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

faithgrl on 12/12/2010 7:35:00 AM more reviews by faithgrl

Age: 30-35   Skin: Very Dry, Medium   Hair: Black   Eyes: Brown    

This stuff is amazing. Just bought it on a whim to keep a foundation in my handbag - the packaging is light and easy to carry. The foundation is moisturizing and calming to my easily irritated skin. And SPF too (need this in Australia)! My only gripe is that the color comes out as white and turns to skin color later so it may be difficult to see dark patches of too much foundation until later. Love it!

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annestoy on 11/29/2010 5:54:00 PM more reviews by annestoy

Age: 44-55   Skin: Combination, Fair   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Green    

This product rivals Dior Nude Makeup. Dior Nude is more expensive but lasts longer so the price is really comparable. I like Almay because it goes on smoothly without caking around my eyebrows like many foundations. The low price and quality make it a good choice for me. I am 48 years old and the only downside I see, is that is has a light to medium coverage and I would like for it to hide sun damage a little better. Overall, it's one of the best foundations I've tried. I have fair skin and use the light color.

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