Rimmel Stay Matte Foundation

I was really really hoping that this foundation would be the best matte foundation at the drugstore. I had extremely high hopes because I had read some rave reviews about it online, and even seen a video or two on YouTube that spoke so highly of it. I purchased it at my local Harmons for $4.99 after using a $1 coupon that was on the display. 

The foundation itself is a thicker formula, a very thick formula that does not glide onto the skin as nicely as some other matte foundations I have tried. The foundation itself clings to any dry patches that you may have so I recommend using a good thick moisturizer and letting it completely set before applying the foundation.

I also recommend a good primer, preferably something is oil controlling. 

The foundation claims to be "feather-light", that it "blends flawlessly for a natural looking all day shine control". They also claim that it "won't feel heavy". I have to disagree with these claims. You can defintely feel the foundation once you put it on. It does not provide all day shine control and it definitely feels heavy. The color match is okay but not he best. 

I used the foundation several different ways, with the Rimmel primer, with Benefit Porefessional, with Too Faced Primed and Poreless, L’oreal primer, Monistat Chaffing Gel, and finally the Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer. I also tried various mattifying powders on top; I even wore it without powder on a few days.

I wore it for two weeks and was consistently disappointed in the performance of the foundation. With any of the primers I tried I found that I had a ton of foundation breakdown on my nose and forehead within 3 hours; same thing happened with the powders. I was so disappointed that I was ready to give up but then I decided that I needed to try it with the Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer and I finally received the results I had hoped for. The foundation lasted a good 8 hours without it breaking down and without powder. It was amazing. But without this primer the foundation underperformed and I was not impressed.