July 18, 2019

Maybelline Dream Urban Cover Full Coverage Foundation SPF 50 Review & Swatches

I purchased this item and I receive a small commission if you shop using the links in this post.
3 stars out of 5

Maybelline Dream Urban Cover Full Coverage Foundation SPF 50 ($12.99) is the brand’s latest contribution to the world of foundation with a formula that has a built-in SPF 50 and promises full-coverage with a lightweight texture that’s natural looking and protects against harmful environmental aggressors.

I actually wasn’t too interested in this when it originally launched because packaging is everything. And this packaging reminded me of just about every single Maybelline Foundation that’s launched in the last year or so. The squeeze bottle is sort of their go-to packaging lately and it throws me off slightly because I see it and I’m like, “Eh how much different is this from the last foundation they launched?” Perhaps it’s my twisted logical but that’s why I didn’t buy it when it launched a few months ago.

I’m glad some part of me decided to pick it up though as I really like this. But guess what? A lot of people won’t because it’s not exactly the formula they market it as.

Maybelline Dream Urban Cover Full Coverage Foundation SPF 50 arrives in a 1 oz squeeze tube with a needle nose applicator that squeezes out the perfect amount. It’ll set you back anywhere from $11 to $13 depending where you purchase it.

According to the brand it’s a full-coverage foundation that provides lightweight protective coverage that’s breathable, weightless, and natural looking. I don’t really rely on my foundation to provide SPF protection since I don’t apply a ton of foundation to my face. Here’s the deal. I apply about a quarter-size of SPF on my face, sometimes more. You can never have too much SPF right? I don’t actually apply that much foundation on my face though. My skin is blemish free, fairly smooth, pore-less, but dull and lackluster. I rely on foundation to even my skin tone and brighten up my complexion. A little bit goes a long way for me as I like a more natural look or a my face but better look but not one covered in a thick layer of foundation. So, SPF 50 in my foundation is awesome but I am really skeptical if I’m putting enough on to fully protect my skin. It doesn’t contain titanium dioxide nor zinc oxide which makes it a great vacation foundation as it won’t give you a weird cast in photos.

That being said it doesn’t mean this applies to you as well. You might like more coverage and maybe you’ll find that the sunscreen is enough in this formula. I personally prefer applying my own sunscreen prior to anything else.

This is a liquid formula which reminds me of a tinted moisturizer and guess what? The finish and coverage also, remind me of a tinted moisturizer too. So much for full-coverage! I would not in anyway say this is a full-coverage foundation. It builds and perhaps, maybe, sort of, kind of you can get semi-medium coverage from it but full-coverage isn’t something I feel is possible with this formula. And that’s ok for me but the marketing is misleading if you expect more coverage. I love this coverage! It’s perfect for me but for someone expecting pigment it might be disappointing.

The lightweight, breathable coverage is a promise they do deliver on. The texture is a thinner liquid that absorbs easily into skin without clinging to drier areas. It feels like I don’t even have makeup on at all. It blends like a dream and doesn’t drag or tug on my skin. The second-skin finish is very, very natural. I went with the shade 128 Warm Nude since I tan easily in the Summer even when I SPF myself to death and stay out of the sun. This is a touch too dark for me but it wasn’t too bad match at all. It likely won’t work for me in the Winter though so, I got the shade Ivory to try in the cooler weather as that seems more my tone.

I love how natural and fresh it looks. It has just the right amount of pigment to make my skin look fresh and if you do apply powder over your foundation it sets a nice base for it. I got about five hours of wear from it before it showed signs of wear. This was a humid, hot day and I applied it over a primer. In a cool office during the week I’d say it lasts a good deal longer at around seven hours. Maybelline isn’t making any 24 hour claims as far as I know so, thankfully that part of the marketing isn’t making me rant 😉

The finish isn’t matte nor dewy in my opinion. It’s hard to say what exactly the finish is. It just feels smooth and skin-like. It doesn’t feel greasy nor does it create shine and it sets to a smooth, skin-like finish that wasn’t matte, nor satin, nor dewy. It just sits very naturally on skin.

Maybelline Dream Urban Cover Full Coverage Foundation SPF 50 might be a disappointing pick for those expecting a full-coverage foundation experience. But for me, who prefers natural, lightweight foundations it was a dream. It feels very much like a tinted moisturizer and wore like one as well! If you’re seeking natural, lightweight Summer coverage this is a great pick!

Where to buy

Ulta Amazon Walmart Target

Maybelline Dream Urban Cover Full Coverage Foundation SPF 50 is a new protective liquid foundation that’s available in 16 “SUPER-SATURATED SHADES” as per the brand. It’s arrives in a 1 oz squeeze tube that’s around $10 to $13 full-retail price. I think the claims of full-coverage are false as I felt like this barely supplied medium coverage never mind full. I didn’t mind so much though as I don’t wear a lot of foundation so, I did love the natural, lightweight coverage it provided. It applies and blends easily without adhering to my drier skin and provided smooth, flawless, light coverage that felt and looked more like a tinted moisturizer than a foundation. It wore for around 5 hours on a humid day outside and about seven in a cooler office. It did not oxidize on me nor did it transfer.

Active: Homosalate 10.0%, Octisalate 5.0%, Octocrylen E 4.0%. Inactive: Water, Dimethicone, Propanediol, Alcohol Denat., Niacinamide, Vinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, PEG-30 Dipolyhydroxystearate, Tocopherol, Caffeine, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Polyglyceryl-4 Diisostearate/Polyhydroxystearate/Sebacate, Magnesium Sulfate, Phenoxyethanol, Disodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Aluminum Hydroxide, Fragrance, Limonene, Benzyl Salicylate, Citral. May Contain: Titanium Dioxide, Iron Oxides.

Pros

  • Lightweight, breathable, barely there.
  • Absorbs easily, blends like a dream.
  • Great for drier skin, doesn’t adhere to drier areas.
  • Feels and looks very, very natural.

Cons

  • Doesn’t provide full-coverage as promised.
  • Shade range is a little iffy with unusual undertones.

Who

Maybelline Dream Urban Cover Full Coverage Foundation SPF 50 is an ideal pick for anyone that enjoys lightweight, natural coverage.

I purchased this item and I receive a small commission if you shop using the links in this post.

About the Muse

Isabella MuseIsabella is just an average everyday geeky girl who doesn’t blend her eyeshadow correctly, wears too much blush, and hopes she never finds her holy grail products because she likes the thrill of the chase so much. Her mission is to bring you super honest reviews on makeup, skincare, fragrance and all things beauty. She’s in no way an expert on the topic and she sure as hell isn’t a super model. But she’s passionate about makeup and is seeking like-minded individuals that like pina coladas, getting caught in the rain, and ones that enjoy spending hundreds of dollars at Sephora without feeling buyer’s remorse. If you’re that person feel free to reach out and leave a comment or follow me on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Bloglovin‘.

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Comments

  • Adrienne

    I was tempted to try because of the SPF and I don’t wear a lot of foundation either. If I do its lightweight. I was skeptical because there wasn’t a huge range of colors. Did you choose your color based on the color you wear in another Maybellin foundation? I noticed you said it still wasn’t a good fit. I like the pore less matte which has a lot of shades but I didn’t see anything close to my shade.

    BTW, you haven’t mentioned BBB in a while do they have anything new on the shelves?

    • Isabella Muse

      this would be ideal for you if you do lightweight coverage or none at all! I didn’t simply because I am a little darker now than I normally am in the Winter. I’m typically ivory or classic ivory in drugstore foundation so I went two shades up from the ivory and that was this shade. Weird logic I know. I think these shades seem off to me. There are 16 of them but they all look wonky in the tubes. I got my shade and my best friend purchased two shades and another friend of mine purchased one and all of us thought the undertones were a little weird. I heard BBB is doing away with makeup! I haven’t been in a while but a reader commented her BBB was removing makeup/beauty from the shelves. I was at Harmons recently but they are realllyyyy slow putting new stuff out. Mostly it is due to brands releasing new product on their websites first and later at exclusive retailers like walmart and finally to mass drugstores. Harmons is sort of the last place to get anything new lately! Which is odd as they have always been an endless source of new items!

  • yelena

    I wanted to love this for the amazing SPF, natural finish and color match BUT….even in an office setting with Air conditioning, it crapped out at hour 6.

    I don’t need 24hrs but I do need atleast 8 full hours (normal work day). I tried different primers and setting spray, setting powder and no luck.

    if anyone finds the magic combination that makes this last 8-10 hours, PLEASE SHARE 🙂

    • Isabella Muse

      Aw sorry! I got about five hours outside and indoors about seven set with powder! I used Becca’s Hydra Powder if that helps at all!