The Express Way to a Flawless Face (Maybelline Express Makeup 3 in 1)

Member Name: dream860

Product:	Maybelline Express Makeup 3 in 1
Date:	13/06/08 (383 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: medium coverage, shine-free, spf 15, fairly long lasting

Disadvantages: application can be abit tricky, not great for dark circles, can be drying

When i first saw the little blue stick of Maybelline Express Make-up at my local drugstore i was intrigued. The packaging is nothing special just a dark blue tube with a clear plastic overcase, but the big '3 in 1' is what caught my attention initially. The product made some tempting promises that i couldn't ignore; i mean if it could take the place of foundation, concealer and mattifyer in one then i would surely be impressed. It is also oil-free and contains spf 15, while it promises to finish powder light on the skin. So at the
affordable price of around $10 give or take, i just had to give it a try or else i might regret it. I purchased it in the shade called Natural beige which was a hard choice because afew of the shades look rather deceiving.

When i got home i was busy preparing for a night out with the girls and i decided to try my new purchase and see if it could be my new best friend(especially since it can fit in my purse) I first began by washing my face with a mild facial cleaner, and toner, followed by a good moisturizer which helps to combat dryness throughout the day. So the instructions say to dot on face and blend with fingertips, i dotted a creamy spot onto my fourehead, my cheeks, my nose, and my chin and an extra dot on any imperfection. I began to blend the product into my face, but i realized that i needed more than a dot to cover like a foundation. So i applied afew more dots of the stuff in various areas around my face alternatively blending with my fingers.

The actual application process is not too fun, the stick tugs at the skin abit if you try to stroke it on, and it takes abit more time to get enough product for your entire face. I even had to dot my spots once after i applied the product to my whole face to make sure they were covered. The coverage of the product i would say is about medium coverage, which is fantastic for on the go touchups when your low on time and you dont have concealer handy. The texture of the product is smooth but not as creamy as i'd expected, and does dry to a powder like finish which is great for applying bronzer and blush afterwards.

Once i had flawlessly blended the product into my skin, i applied my mascara, bronzer and blush, and i did need to use my previous under-eye concealer for my dark circles, as the 3 in 1 make-up just could not fix them. The oil-free formulation and powdery soft finish left me shine free for hours which was really pleasant, and the actual product lasted me well into my night. I was so pleased with the lasting wear of the product and the shine-free effect, however, i was slightly displeased when i arrived home later that night to skin that felt slightly dry. I reccommend using a moisturizer before bed in order to combat the dryness that the make-up can inflict onto your skin.

Other than that the product is great for express touch-ups and application when your short on time and on the go, pop the little
tube in your purse for fast application. Just don't skimp on the moisturizer before and after application, especially if you already have dry or combination skin. This product is best for oily skin types and great for the sticky, humid summer months when shine seems almost impossible to overcome. Great product for the price tag and i would definately buy it again.

Shades:
Buff
Fawn
Ivory
Sand
Natural Beige
Soft Cameo
Golden
Nude
Tan

Summary: Overall recommended for price and convenience of use