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Review: Almay Smart Shade Makeup

A foundation that blends to match your skin tone

Author: Charlotte Kuchinsky February 29 2008

Almay claims that women can stop stressing over locating the exact, perfect shade of foundation for their skin because Almay Smart Shade Makeup will blend to match anyone’s skin tone. And in fact it does so, at least as well as it can considering that it only comes in three shades: light, light/medium, or medium.

Luckily, I have fair skin and light works perfectly for me during most of the year. I suspect that I may have to switch to light/medium during the summer when my skin is a bit darker. However, my daughter has an olive tone skin and the medium really isn’t appropriate for her. Almay needs to go back to the drawing board and find at least one more shade for those with a darker or olive toned complexion.

The revolutionary Smart Shade formula is white right out of the tube, but its special formulated color is activated when you apply the foundation, blending into the skin beautifully to a flawless, satin smooth finish. It feels gorgeously silky as you apply it, and its lightweight, sheer coverage still manages to cover those little flaws that all women have. The product’s ingredients of grapeseed, ginseng, and gingko biloba also work as antioxidants to keep your skin looking healthy with a youthful glow.

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I tried Smart Shade primarily because it is hypoallergenic and carried an SPF protection of 15. Those points are important to me because I have very sensitive skin and I have been a victim of skin cancer. True to its word, the foundation did not make my skin break out. In fact if anything it made it look and feel better overall. It didn’t clog my pores, nor did it run even after hours of chasing my grandson in the park.

I have to admit that this has become one of my favorite foundation options. I even have the Smart Shade Blushes as well. They work just as beautifully as the foundation and I love the fact that their “glow” appears to ignite from within rather than sit on top of my cheeks. For a woman pushing 60, anything that makes me feel youthful is tops in my book. This product does that - in spades.

FINAL VERDICT: This one is a winner. If it expands to cover darker skin tones, it will be spot-on perfect!