Ever since the Colour match service arrived at Boots, I had been trying to find the time to pop in and find out the correct shade of foundation for my skin. A month or so before Christmas I finally found the time and after a short, painless twenty seconds, I was presented with a foundation from the Boots N07 range to suit my skin.
After spending my £16.50, which is more than I would normally spend on a foundation, I left the shop with my 30ml bottle.

Protect and Perfect foundation is available in 14 different shades so there should be one to suit the majority of skin tones. Described as a silky foundation rather than a matt appearance, you will also be protected with spf15 when using this foundation.
The packaging is a glass bottle with a pump action lid. I have found that the pump action can get stuck when using it which is a slight flaw in the bottle design which is a shame. You have to manually pull it back up to re pump as you need more than one application from the bottle for full face coverage.
I also think that when the bottle gets empty you will waste a fair bit from the bottom due to the pump action dispense design. However the bottle does look classier than buying a tube of foundation, and when spending a lot on a product, first impressions do need to count.

I find applying this foundation is best done with your fingertips. Some people prefer to use a sponge but I find there is wastage this way and get better, more even coverage with my fingers. The only downside to this is marking towels when washing hands after applying as there is always some residue left no matter how much soap is used.

Once applied, I find there is a nice even coverage and I can barely tell I am using foundation which is a good indication that I am using the correct shade.
The all-important test of fine lines and blemishes being hidden stands up well to this foundation. Protect and Perfect is marketed to soften the appearance of fine lines and blemishes instantly. I can confirm it does hide fine lines and blemishes instantly, but how does it fare as the day goes on?

Sadly for me I don't find the foundation to continue working at full performance all day. If I apply this in the morning then but mid-afternoon, I really have to wonder if I am wearing foundation. I can still tell in certain areas on my face such as forehead and chin areas, but my cheeks start to show blemishes again.
What I do like however about this foundation is that it doesn't look caked on despite using two or three pumps per application. There are also no tell tell lines around the jaw area as it blends nicely into my skin. Despite not lasting and showing my blemishes again, I find that it doesn't look patchy which is a really positive point for the foundation. You could get away with a quick touch up, but it's just a shame to have to do so.

The bottle has the potential to last quite a long time due to not needing to apply too much in one go. The pump action also helps to control usage and prevent waste when compared to using a tube of foundation with free flow.
Overall, I don't think this is the perfect foundation for me, but I will definitely try a different range within the No7 brand in the same shade to see how that fares against my skin.