Josie Maran Cosmetics • Matchmaker • Foundations

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betteefelon on 1/9/2012 12:11:00 AM more reviews by betteefelon

Age: 30-35   Skin: Sensitive, Fair-Medium, Neutral   Hair: Brunette, Wavy, Fine   Eyes: Hazel    

I received a sample of this, so I can't really comment on the packaging quality... But I felt compelled to write a review all the same, since this foundation did something really strange.... I never even wore it, mind you. I received it as a sample along with an order I placed while visiting family over the holiday. The sample included two different shades, in a cardboard folder with little see-through plastic windows. When the samples arrived, they looked like normal skin tone foundations. After I flew home with them, though, they turned a weird greyish white color, still in the packaging... Not sure how that happened. When I opened one, and stirred it around with my finger, it started to turn back into a skin tone, but now it was very orange.... I don't know what the heck happened, but I'm glad I didn't shell out money for the stuff! Also, not sure what it smelled like before I flew (obviously, since it wasn't open), but it had a bit of a smell when I opened it, too. Baffling.

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*TOP REVIEWER* sarahcurll on 1/7/2012 2:29:00 PM more reviews by sarahcurll

Age: 25-29   Skin: Combination, Fair   Hair: Brown, Wavy, Fine   Eyes: Hazel    

The color match was not bad, though a tiny bit orange. It gave a nice, dewey hint I liked. The only negative thing about it is that it came off very easy for me. If i blew my nose or touched my face it would all come off. My normal foundation does not do that for me. It seems to just sit on the skin and not sink in.

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fromstarstuff on 1/4/2012 12:36:00 PM more reviews by fromstarstuff

Age: 25-29   Skin: Sensitive, Fair, Neutral   Hair: Brunette, Straight, Coarse   Eyes: Brown    

Chose this as a free sample from Sephora. It came with light/medium and medium/dark, though there is a lighter shade (fair/light) available. I didn't expect a good match, and I was right. The undertones listed for each shade just aren't all-encompassing. I have very near porcelain skin, but I have olive undertones. The sample pack showed the light/medium foundation matching all the way down to a pure white, so I used that one, even though I'm well aware (as hopefully most people are) that "chameleon pigments" are a bunch of hooey.


It immediately turned orange. Not a little orange, not just a little too dark. I mean Oompa Loompa dark orange. I tried blending it over my entire face, and it was hideous. Even though it was way too dark, it barely providing any coverage at all, if that makes sense. I would still have needed a lot of concealer, even though my face was the same color as Bob Barker's is now. The product was very oily/slicky and felt like a mask, even after ten minutes. I also ended up in a sneezing fit because it had such a strong smell. I had used mineral foundation almost exclusively for about four months now, and I forgot how awful liquids tend to smell. I can't even place the scent, but I can tell you it wasn't argan at all.


I'm really glad that I just tried the sample instead of purchasing the foundation. Even if it would have been a perfect match, $40+ is a lot to spend on a foundation that would still need a lot of concealer and finishing powder.

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h0neymahal on 12/28/2011 9:17:00 PM more reviews by h0neymahal

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

i got this in light/medium and i was pretty excited. when i put it on, it turned orange on me! it also looked cakey and it made my face very oily. too bad this didnt work... will be returned to sephora. this was $42 fyi.

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mebeagray on 12/22/2011 1:14:00 PM more reviews by mebeagray

Age: 19-24   Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium, Neutral   Hair: Brunette, Straight, Fine   Eyes: Hazel    

I tried all 3 shades of this and every single one of them turned me ORANGE! I dont belong on mtv so i def. would not recommend this! :)

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littlefangfang on 12/20/2011 8:35:00 PM more reviews by littlefangfang

Age: 25-29   Skin: Combination, Medium, Warm   Hair: Black, Wavy, Coarse   Eyes: Brown    

I can't say I don't like this product but it just doesn't give the coverage I need. It's very sheer, and does give you a nice glow... I'd say it's more like a tinted moisturizer than a foundation. I wear it everyday to work, and it works just fine with my heavy duty concealer from Hard Candy, but when I go out at night or on the weekend this foundation definitely is not my " go-to guy". Overall, if you are looking for a natural sheer tinted moisturize I would recommend this product ( If you don't mind the cost $42 for 1 oz.) but if you are looking for some coverage I'd say forget about it.

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kiddorina on 12/6/2011 3:35:00 AM more reviews by kiddorina

Age: 19-24   Skin: Oily, Tan   Hair: Black   Eyes: Brown    

I have such horrible luck with finding the perfect foundation color due to my warm tan glow that does NOT pair well with Chanel, Dior, or even my beloved Laura Mercier. I went to Sephora in hope that Make-Up Forever's HD Foundation would be my HG foundation but my attention was brought to this lovely unusual bottle. At first the foundation itself is a white-tanish color that adjusts to your skin tone. I was skeptically at first when I saw the product itself but once I heard about the benefits (organic, argan oil) and tried it for the first time ever, I immediately purchased it with no regrets. Worked beautifully with my Laura Mercier concealer and my skin looked put together even after an 8 hour shift at work or school. I gave this product a 4 because of the price $42 and the time it actually lasted for me - less than two months. But with the product performance alone... 5 lippies all the way! Can't wait to purchase this once again :)

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*TOP REVIEWER* puppylove on 11/1/2011 2:18:00 PM more reviews by puppylove

Age: Unknown   Skin: Normal   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Green    

This light-coverage foundation has a natural finish and impressive lasting power. It spreads easily over the face with the help of a foundation brush and does a good job of evening out slight skin imperfections without looking cakey.

Sadly, the shade offerings are insufficient. I am pale, but I'm not Nicole-Kidman pale, and still the lightest shade (fair/light) gave my complexion a slightly yellow/muddy tint. At first I thought it looked okay, but when I saw myself in natural light I realized that the shade was off.

If Josie makes a paler shade, I'll buy it!

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candiy1028 on 9/29/2011 4:20:00 PM more reviews by candiy1028

Age: 19-24   Skin: Combination, Medium, Warm   Hair: Black, Straight, Fine   Eyes: Brown    

I like the fact that this actually matches my skin! It has light to medium coverage I've only used one layer of it so Im not sure if its a good heavy foundation. It is extremely moisturizing! so if you have very oily skin it might not be for you especially during the summer. I have combination skin and with this foundation my face tends to look oily around my nose, chin, and forehead so I would suggest using a powder to set the foundation and get rid of the oils. I do love the concept of her cosmetics and this foundation does give me a wonderful glow and makes my skin feel great. I hope she comes out with a matte foundation cause most of her face cover up is too oily. I probably wont re-purchase this again though. I prefer Tarte foundations over Josie's.

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TaniaMst on 9/19/2011 10:43:00 PM more reviews by TaniaMst

Age: 19-24   Skin: Dry, Fair, Neutral   Hair: Black, Straight, Coarse   Eyes: Blue    

I REALLY wanted to love this. I loved that it's white and turns color and in the bright lights of Sephora it actually kind of matched my skin. I had an orange spot but I'd tried so many I couldn't tell which one had left the spot (perhaps it is not this one). I wore it for a few days and had to be honest with myself.

I had a kind of orange glow (I bought the medium one as the light one was too pale) but people didn't seem to notice until I brought it up (my own mother would have absolutely told me if I'd been orange). I was told that I did have a kind of 'tangerine' glow... Definitely not what I was going for. Also this is definitely not a foundation and more of a tinted moisturizer! I didn't wear concealer then and I had no coverage at all seriously I don't have that many imperfections but this didn't hide anything!!

I love Josie Maran but I was disappointed by this product. It doesn't match your skin tone. It gives you the illusion that it matched your skin when your skin is the color it would have turned to anyways!

Will definitely not buy again and I returned this one to the store!

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jmb217 on 9/14/2011 5:34:00 PM more reviews by jmb217

Age: 25-29   Skin: Combination, Fair, Neutral   Hair: Blond, Wavy, Medium   Eyes: Green    

I have fair skin that's neutral, but leaning to warm. I bought the fair/light. You just need a tiny bit to give lovely coverage. I will say that I have pretty good skin, but this just looks really beautiful and feels weightless. I think if you put too much on, it could get a little dark. It seems that less is more with this. My face eats foundation, but this is still on in the late afternoon which is kind of impressive for me! I wear it over rexaline serum and Josie's argan spf 40 sunscreen. The finish, on my combination skin, is satin which is my favorite. I really like it. Matching colors for me is hard, but this is working out great. I think the packaging is nice (a pump) and very hygienic; however, my first bottle wouldn't pump. I returned it for one that did pump, but that leaks a little around the top of the pump. Ugh. Good concept on the packaging, but not the best execution. After one week of use, no breakouts, rashes etc. on my sensitive skin.

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CAZUAE on 9/9/2011 11:04:00 PM more reviews by CAZUAE

Age: 44-55   Skin: Sensitive, Fair-Medium   Hair: Blond   Eyes: Other    

I love this. It goes on white but quickly turns to a very natural shade for my light beige skintone. I don't feel like I am wearing any foundation at all and I only need apply a very small amount. It lasts throughout the day without going shiny (this through a very hot day in Rochester today).. I like the pump dispenser as it keeps the product fresh and allows me to pump the right amount. I love Josie Maran products and this is another keeper for me.

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lara003 on 8/14/2011 8:51:00 PM more reviews by lara003

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

If you're looking for a foundation that is lightweight, sheer, and natural looking then this is NOT the product to use. I have a fair to medium skin tone with yellow undertones and this product came out too orange-ish a color. You can really tell that you're wearing foundation because of this unnatural orange tone and almost looks like those self-tanner lotions gone wrong. The foundation seems a bit thick and heavy and doesn't make a perfect match for those with medium skin tones. Foundations are supposed to even out your skin tone and look as if it is your natural skin but this makes it seem a bit cake-like and unnaturally colored. If you want a foundation that is lightweight, natural, sheer, and looks as if you're not wearing anything at all, then I highly recommend Make Up For Ever's Face & Body Liquid Makeup.

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julees70 on 8/14/2011 7:49:00 AM more reviews by julees70

Age: 36-43   Skin: Dry, Fair-Medium, Warm   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Brown    

I got on this whole organic/healthy skincare and makeup kick and got the entire Josie skincare line plus this foundation. Thanks to Sephora's great return policy, I ended up returning everything except this Matchmaker. Argan oil and the cleanser felt great for the first few days but ultimately freaked out my skin in weird bumps and flakes... But seeing that Matchmaker didn't list argan oil as its first ingredient, I decided to swap out the skincare routine and still use this. Turns out that this foundation doesn't cause any problems for my skin, which is a great thing b/c I really love it!

The coverage is very light so you definitely need concealer with this, and it takes a while for it to sink into your skin. I love the soft glow it gives, plus I find that it lasts well throughout the day for me. I got it in Fair/Light, which is more neutral in tone than pinkish, so it works well for my NC15-20 skin.

This is definitely not for everyone, especially if you want fuller coverage - but if you're looking for a non-matte, light finish, you'll enjoy this one.

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berrybellajoy on 7/28/2011 10:25:00 PM more reviews by berrybellajoy

Age: 36-43   Skin: Dry, Olive, Warm   Hair: Black   Eyes: Brown    

I'm not sure if I would buy it again, simply because I'm still not sure if it's HG material. I really liked the feel of it when I used my sample (which oxidized quite quickly), but when I finally bought it, I noticed my lines on my forehead more. I think it may be b/c I have eczema and dry skin, but I thought since it was argan oil that it would be better for my skin. I like how it looks and feels on the other parts of my face.
I also had trouble getting the pump to work in the beginning and I really didn't want to open up the bottle b/c of how quickly my Sephora sample oxidized. I ended up having to open it up very briefly and then the pump FINALLY worked. I think I tried to pump it over 20 times to know avail and thus had to open it. It comes out looking a little gray with little veins that look like it is oxidizing, which makes me worry. I'm not sure if it would have looked that way if I didn't open the bottle or if that's just the way it looks. I've also tried the Tarte Foundation and really like it, but am having difficulty deciding between two of the colours which guided me toward Josie Maran. I must admit the colour change was amazing! It really did match my NC35-40 skin (Med/Dark). However, after I'm finished with this bottle, I think I'm going to have to decide on a colour and use the Tarte one instead. It doesn't make me self-conscious about the lines on my forehead.
I will try to do what one of the other reviewer suggested and try my darndest to keep it moisturized.
This product is way too expensive for me to just feel okay about it. Plus, the bottle was quickly used up in a month and a half and I really don't use that much daily. So unless I can make it work for me I will not be repurchasing.

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cinnamonpink on 7/26/2011 6:26:00 PM more reviews by cinnamonpink

Age: 19-24   Skin: Dry, Fair   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Green    

TRY BEFORE YOU BUY! I am very fair, I can never find anything that matches me so I had a sales lady use this on me in the store...it turned ORANGE! I had nothing on my hands prior, they were clean. I was just too fair for this product.... For the price and all the good reviews I was extremely disappointed...I'm so glad I tried it rather than just buying online! $42 is a lot of money...

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aliora on 7/4/2011 2:54:00 AM more reviews by aliora

Age: 25-29   Skin: Combination   Hair: Black   Eyes: Black    

I would buy this again if I'm thrifty enough to have saved for it. My one complaint is that at around $42, it's an expensive foundation that is a little more expensive than most of the HE foundations on the market. There's been tidbits of criticism about JM's line not being as organic and natural as her products appear to be known for. Her make-up may not be the greenest and the most natural in comparison to some others (the ones you might find at a Whole Foods store) but if you're wandering around Sephora, her line is definitely one of the more greener ones. Plus, she pays attention to her packaging, which is something that I find other organic cosmetic lines forget about in terms of whether or not it's recyclable/biodegradable. But other than the packaging...


For me, this foundation matches my skin color once sit settles down, doesn't break me out, makes my skin look well hydrated and creates a natural finish. I went from L'Oreal true match W5, which tested on animals and had a grayish cast, to this. It was quite a leap in price point for me, but the L'Oreal broke me out (as did many others before it), so I was searching for a better foundation and one that belonged to a company that was cruelty free. I was suddenly serious about finding a good foundation, so I abandoned my drugstore domain and headed to Sephora.


If you have dry skin, this might settle into the lines, but after learning to keep my skin hydrated, this blends into my skin easily. It comes off a shade lighter in the first hour or so, but as the day goes on, it matches my color quite well. The first time I applied it, I wasn't too thrilled as it felt heavy and almost greasy, but my skin soaked it in and it stays on pretty well when the day goes on. The coverage is sheer to medium; you will need a concealer if you have spots or scars. Its consistency is really more of a tinted moisturizer, so this is great if you're a no-make up type of person. I used the light-medium since the medium-dark turned orange on me.

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*TOP REVIEWER* harls321 on 6/30/2011 11:16:00 AM more reviews by harls321

Age: 30-35   Skin: Acne-prone, Medium, Neutral   Hair: Brunette, Wavy, Coarse   Eyes: Brown    

I like to wear mineral or powder foundations for my oily skin however with the changing seasons it is hard to buy a bunch of different shades so when I saw this I decided to give it a try. I am so impressed with this formula. I use a foundation brush to apply as it is the perfect tool for achieving a natural finish. The light/medium shade is perfect for me and it is truly magic how it just blends in without looking or feeling like I'm wearing anything at all yet it covers. It evens out my skin tone and blurs out any of my flaws. I use one pump first and apply a dot on each of my cheeks, nose, forehead and chin and blend it out with my brush, then I take another pump on the back of my hand, dip the brush in the foundation then dab and blend it on any areas that need more coverage. It leaves a natural look of real skin.
I am a NC30-35, BE Medium Beige and use the light/medium shade.

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dykelz on 6/29/2011 5:44:00 AM more reviews by dykelz

Age: 25-29   Skin: Normal, Medium, Neutral   Hair: Black, Wavy, Fine   Eyes: Brown    

I got this as a summer foundation and I AM IN LOVE!! because I do get much darker in the summer season I got it in a MED/DRK shade. I am usually a NC35/40 during summer and this shade matches well. I love the smell of the foundation and the texture is to die for. It's silky but not oily. The only reason I'm giving it 4 lippies is because it doesn't give great coverage. I would say it's light to medium and is hard to build up the coverage without worrying about overloading oil on my face! but I do love it all the same :) The only hard part of getting this foundation is to decide between the two shades. I got the light/med for my cousin and tried it on myself and it also matched, so I guess it's good to go and test it out!

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*TOP REVIEWER* MyBeehive on 6/21/2011 12:53:00 PM more reviews by MyBeehive

Age: 25-29   Skin: Dry, Fair   Hair: Brunette, Straight, Fine   Eyes: Brown    

I have NC 15ish skin but tend toward neutral. The Light/Med is way too warm and way too dark for my skintone.
Comes in only 2 color options: This is NOT universal, so go try it in-store before buying!! Also, the pump is not very economical because it spits out a certain amt at a time and you can't control how much, which I dislike. The substance comes out a freaky gray color but it blends into what looks to me like NC 25 shade.

I dunno, not my thing...

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