I even got this affordable counterpart on sale, so I did not have much to lose except for the possible guilt from looking at another unused foundation bottle sitting on my vanity.
L'Oreal Magic Nude Liquid Powder Bare Skin Perfecting Makeup SPF 18 Light Ivory (310)
(Honestly, why the mouthful?!)
I usually feel generous towards any product that lives up to its claim.
Magic Nude does feel super light and evens out my skin tone wonderfully. The Light Ivory shade is a pretty good match for something from a drugstore range (this rarely is the case for me). Blending is so easy and the finish is natural. All the claims, check.
Whether the product suits me or not is another thing, so maybe I was ready to somewhat dislike this foundation because I also started knowing all the cons - the minimal coverage with initial silicone-y oiliness, the powdery finish that could accentuate dry spots, etc.
Magic Nude is like a double-edged sword or something.
The packaging is probably the worst part of the foundation.
Since the content is very watery, the dropper bottle of Maestro or a squeezable tube would have been so much better.
The rectangular glass bottle is very awkward to pour the foundation from, and there is no way I put my finger on top of the bottle and use it like L'Oreal suggested.
The stopper gets real messy after a while, too.
L'Oreal Magic Nude Light Ivory (310)
Although the Light Ivory (310) is a nice match, it is a tad peachier and darker than my complexion.
Magic Nude seems to oxidize by half a shade after a couple hours of wear and the color runs darker than other L'Oreal foundation range, the unfortunate "face-neck-color-discrepancy" is clearly there.
Luckily, this is not as noticeable in real life.
The finish is not completely matte if I don't set the foundation with powder.
As you can see, it evens out the complexion quite impressively.
(Of course, it has a lot to do with the blindingly bright lighting I use.)
I recently found out Rouge Bunny Rouge Precious Velvet Pressed Powder (review to come) is a match from heaven for the Magic Nude.
It adds a veil of coverage minimizing the color difference between face and neck.
See? It is a little better.
This is not a foundation for everybody.
It is probably the best one for normal/combination gals to use during the cooler months since it seems to lack of real staying power or oil control.
If you want a good coverage, you wouldn't find this foundation good enough although you might end up with the most natural and flawless complexion if armored with a nice concealer.
The truth is, I like this foundation. A lot.
I just cannot get over how easy it is to blend in. Achieving a natural even complexion is virtually effortless with Magic Nude, which is perfect for those busy mornings.
Surprisingly, I do not see dry spots any more than usual because of this foundation. I do see a few flakey spots due to the cold weather, but it just means it's time for my routine exfoliation.
If I decide to spend more on the GA Maestro, it would be to find a better color match, not because I'd expect it to be much superior to Magic Nude.
Have you tried Magic Nude Liquid Powder Makeup?
What is your experience?
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