Almay Smart Shade Mousse Makeup Review

Finding the perfect foundation can be a struggle, especially when some brands only release a small selection of shades. The first time I heard about makeup that morphed to match the color of skin I was perplexed and intrigued. Almay Smart Shade Mousse Makeup is definitely an innovative concept; the light-weight formula is designed to instantly transform into your ideal shade and blend effortlessly into the skin.

I will admit to being a bit skeptical at first but after trying the product I was impressed with how the mousse changed color and seemed to disappear into my skin. At first glance the foundation appears light and sandy with minuscule color beads and  it remains this shade until you apply it to the skin and rub it in. Once blended the foundation melts in to provide seamless coverage.

The texture is velvety smooth, creamy and a tad thick but it spreads consistently and looks very natural, similar to a light BB cream. It is formulated for “a flawless, airbrushed finish” and although the color does appear evenly it is subtle and does not provide full coverage or offer much camouflage for blemishes and discoloration. For me this makeup works well as a base or primer but I still wear concealer on top in order to achieve a flawless look. If you prefer subtle makeup with a soft, barely-there effect then this may be all you need.

When applied to my face I can barely distinguish the mousse which is exactly the point of smart shade makeup! It also has a nice sheen and a satin finish that helps illuminate and is safe for sensitive skin. The transparency may be why it is able to provide a decent color match and for me the mousse worked rather well. It helped blur the texture of my skin for a smoother appearance and slightly dulls underlying tones.

Although the mousse is designed to suit your complexion you do need to choose a shade within your color range. There are 4 options: *light, *light/medium, *medium and *medium/deep. The shade featured here is medium/deep which is still quite light to be considered "deep." If you do have a darker complexion I recommend doing a swatch test. Click HERE to see all available shades. 

You can find this product at most drug stores including: Walmart, Target and Shoppers Drug Mart. Visit Almay online by clicking HERE. (Retail price: $16.99)

**Disclaimer: product was provided for review