Revlon just upped the game by improving Australia's highest selling foundation. Now it improves skin quality.

My first ever memory of falling in love with makeup was thanks to Revlon ColorStay Foundation. I was a tween, hanging out at my bestie's house. We were flipping through her sister’s magazines and came across a sample of the foundation. 

We headed to the bathroom and excitedly applied it to our faces (quite terribly I can admit now, but back then we thought it was perfect), before admiring each other’s handiwork. 

I recall feeling so grown up, so confident, and it truly spurred on a love for beauty that inevitably became my career.

Obviously, that was quite some time ago. Incredibly, Revlon ColorStay Longwear Makeup is still Australia’s number one foundation.

Image: Supplied. 

The iconic 24-hour wear base is the highest selling foundation in Australia, with one foundation sold every minute, and now, after more than 30 years since it was created, it is getting an upgrade.

Trends in the finish of foundations are cyclical. 

Sometimes really matte and powdery is in, then next season it might be barely-there and dewy. Though the reason this iconic bottle has remained so popular throughout the decades is that women want to apply their base in the morning and then forget about it. 

They don't have time for touch-ups or matte downs, which is why ColorStay’s staying power has kept the product at the top of the sales charts.

The good news is that Revlon hasn't changed the staying power at all. What they have done is now include skincare ingredients to improve skin quality, regardless of whether you’re oily or dry. 

They’ve also enhanced their two unique formulas so you can select which best suits your skin type. Clever. Both variants offer medium-to-full buildable coverage, which lasts all day. 

Image: Supplied. 

First up there’s the normal/dry variant, which Revlon has infused with hyaluronic acid to hydrate skin for 24 hours and boosts skin’s moisture by more than 122 per cent. It also offers SPF 20 broad spectrum. The finish on this variant is soft and natural. 

Then there’s the combination/oily variant, which protects and nourishes with Vitamin E and controls oil all day thanks to the earth-sourced multi-mineral powders. This one protects with SPF 15 and the finish is matte, while blurring pores.

My skin is certainly combination down the t-zone, but my dry bits are quite dry, and I didn’t want a very matte finish, so I decided to trial the normal/dry variant. I liked the idea of a natural-looking, smooth coverage that still stays where I put it.

Of course I started out with my regular skin care and sunscreen, then popped on some primer. From there I applied a small dab of the foundation to my forehead, cheeks, nose and chin and blended with a damp sponge. 

Image: Supplied.

Long wear formulas ‘set’ after a little while, so you need to move quickly, though I didn't feel rushed with this one – it blended really well. 

I added a light second layer to the areas that needed a little more coverage (redness around my nose and a few pigmentation spots) before finishing it with my powdered bronzer, cream blush and liquid highlighter. The foundation layered really well with all textures on top.

Then came the true test. How did it wear? 

Image: Supplied.

Well, as you’d expect from the brand that has mastered long-wear for over three decades, it was exactly where I'd applied it at the end of the day. My base still looked fresh and hadn't separated or gone cakey. It was surprisingly great on my combo bits too – they weren't too oily. The coverage was definitely enough, but my skin still looked like skin.

So, if you’re a die-hard Revlon ColorStay fan and you’re anxious about the new formulas, don't be. I reckon you’re going to love them even more. And for those who are new recruits, welcome to Revlon ColorStay club. You'll love it here. 

Revlon Colorstay Longwear Makeup provides flawless, long-lasting coverage for dry, oily, combination and normal skin. 

Shop Revlon ColorStay Longwear Makeup Combination/Oily and Revlon ColorStay Longwear Makeup Normal/Dry in-store or online at Chemist Warehouse.

IRI MarketEdge, AU Grocery Pharmacy, Total Face Foundation (Brands), 23/01/22. Data sourced from IRI MarketEdge based on data definition provided by Revlon Australia.

Feature image: Supplied/Mamamia.