Almay Smart Shade CC Cream Review & Swatches
I think part of the irony of Almay Smart Shade CC Cream is the fact that the Almay Smart Shade Foundation is more of a CC Cream than this is.
At the moment CC Creams are pretty popular in Korea and we’re seeing some of that in the Western market. Most of these CC Creams in Asia are white, self adjusting formulas with lightweight textures. Remind you of anything? Almay’s Smart Shade Foundation is actually white and self adjusting….
I find it funny that their CC Cream actually doesn’t go the self adjusting root. It’s unusual that their original, old formulated foundation is more a CC Cream than a new product they just launched.
Oddness!
If anything at all Almay Smart Shade CC Cream is most comparable to Revlon’s Photoready BB Cream. This is available in three shades with an SPF 35.
They had a Light, Light Medium, and Medium shade selection and I thought I had picked up the Light Medium but actually it was the Medium shade I ended up getting. Needless to say it was a little too dark for my skin and had a dark beige undertone. The thing I didn’t love about it was it oxidized almost as soon as I started blending it out which resulted in an orange-y undertone on my skin. EEP not good.
It’s a lighter creamier texture but not as creamy as a Korean BB Cream and as I said most comparable to the Revlon BB Cream. It’s quite hydrating and applies easily giving skin a touch of a moisturizing finish with a cool, smooth dry down. It doesn’t cling or accentuate drier areas on my face and has a soft, smooth finish that’s very flattering. Coverage is very minimal so it will even out skin tone and subdue minor redness but won’t conceal major problems like darkness, blemishes, etc….I wouldn’t say it really offers any correcting benefits especially if you’re relying on it for subduing redness on your cheeks or face.
Wear time is iffy…as I mentioned it oxidizes almost as soon as you apply it and it wears away within an hour on my skin. It doesn’t really brighten or ease my dullness plus the fact that it goes orange on initial application makes my dullness even more visible.
Overall, it’s a basic lightweight tinted moisturizer product of sorts that perfects skin but offers little coverage and correcting benefits. If you tried Revlon Photoready BB Cream and you liked it, chances are you’ll enjoy Almay Smart Shade CC Cream. If you disliked Revlon’s version, well, chances are you won’t find much to love here.
Personally, I didn’t really love it. The texture is nice enough but the formula didn’t do anything incredible for my skin.
It’s available now at drugstores.
You don’t really need it unless you’re currently looking for lighter coverage for Summer plus in this fact there are range of other far nicer CC Creams to try out!