I have been using a matte foundation for years now. After a lot of trial and error (and a lot of disappointment with expensive, much raved about foundations such as Benefit and Clinique) I have found what works best for my face, which is a mix of 'Miss Sporty matte foundation and 'Max Factor Lasting Performance'. Just recently though, I grew a little bored with the 'matte' look, and seeing celebrities with that lovely healthy dewy look to their face made me pine for a foundation that could give me the same look.

I had read a lot of rave reviews on Rimmel Wake Me Up Foundation, and seeing it on offer online for £4.99 I decided to give it a try.

This foundation comes in a 30 ml bottle and the shade I chose was 'True Nude' as I'm quite fair skinned, but there is other shades available.

The promise of this foundation is to lift skin from fatigue to a 'healthy, radiant glow!'. Sounds good.

The foundation itself is a liquid, and quite thin compared to the other foundations I'm used to using. My first time trying this was actually for a night out. After my shower and putting on moisturiser and my favourite Benefit 'Porefessional' primer, I applied this foundation with my fingers, as I would do with my usual foundation. After sitting back and taking a look in the mirror I was delighted with the results. It was the lovely, healthy, slightly dewy look that I had been looking for! I applied the rest of my makeup and set off to meet up with my friends for our night out. On meeting up with my friends I even had lots compliments, I looked a lot different without my usual matte look, and all my friends wanted to know what I had used.


Sounds great, right?


Well, after an hour or two of dancing, and in a warm sweaty nightclub environment, one shouldn't expect miricles from your foundation, but when I went to the toilets and seen my face I was shocked by how shiny it was! The makeup seemed to be going a little patchy around the nose area too. I fixed my face up as best as I could and went on with the rest of the night.

I actually wasn't completely put off by this foundation by my first times wearing it, after all, like I said in a nightclub environment you can't expect miracles from your foundation, and a little fixing up through the night is usually required. However, I had never had this problem with my usual foundation. Still, it had looked so good when first put on, I decided I would try it out again, but this time in my normal day environment. After my morning shower I again did my usual preparation of moisturiser followed by primer and applied the foundation. Again, it looked great. Healthy, dewy, and enough coverage to cover the slight redness I get around the sides of my nose and chin area. I set about my day not thinking about my makeup until only a few hours later a trip to the bathroom and a quick look in the mirror revealed the same thing had happened again. My face looked shiny and sweaty (something I have never had any problem with before). I tried to gently blot my face a little with a tissue and the foundation came away again around the nose area resulting in uneven, patchy looking makeup. I again, fixed it up as best I could and after getting home and removing my makeup I put the foundation away in a drawer and gave my old trusty matte foundation pride of place on my dresser again.

I don't have greasy skin, if anything, my skin can sometimes be on the dry side, so I was really surprised and disappointed with this foundation. The hunt is still on to find the perfect foundation that will give me that longer lasting healthy dewy glow.



I was a little torn as to what sort of rating to give this foundation. As it does look great when first applied. I just wish it was longer lasting. However, going from my own personal experience with it, I wouldn't recommend it.