Maybelline Clear Smooth Aqua Gel Foundation in Natural Beige

Posted on the 21 November 2012 by Ileodarod @ilevillegas
I liked what my Maybelline Pure Liquid Mineral Healthy Natural Liquid Foundation in OC2 can do to my complexion. Unfortunately, it tends to get too oily for my combination skin. So I picked Maybelline Clear Smooth Aqua Gel Foundation in Natural Beige hoping that it'll do as well as my previous foundation, minus the tendency to become oily as I heard this one was made for people with oily skin.

Again, the SA insisted I get the lightest shade but I got natural beige as it is the most yellowish. 
Price: P349 ~ $8.5 for 30ml
not cheap for me.

Claims:Water-based formula gives skin a light and fresh sensationControls shine for an all day perfect and healthy looking complexionEvens out skin tone and covers imperfectionsFeels soothing and cares for your skin100% oil freeDermatologist testedAllergy testedFragrance freeHypoallergenicWon't clog pores
Ingredients
PackagingI was fond of the  Maybelline Pure Liquid Mineral Healthy Natural Liquid Foundation's pump bottle and I wish this one was packaged the same way. But the plastic bottle with the small nozzle isn't too bad. You can carry it in your bag and it does not unscrew itself. It is easy to dispense the product and there's no spill.
Swatches:


It's yellowish and the product itself is really light without being runny.
under a different light
CoverageThis foundation has a light coverage. It can't cover blemishes but it can somehow even out the redness.
ShadeNatural beige is the closest match for my skin. Whenever I apply it though, I notice that it is more yellow compared to my color. But it looks great after I blend it. Since the coverage of Maybelline Clear Smooth Aqua Gel Foundation is quite sheer, you can hardly go wrong with this shade if your complexion falls between fair and medium and if you have yellow undertones. It would have been better though if Maybelline had more shades available in this line.
SmellContrary to its claim, it is not fragrance free. It smells like a typical liquid foundation.
TextureThe product is really light without being runny. The consistency is somehow gel-like, but on your face, it just feels like water. When I first squeezed mine out of it's bottle, there is a slight separation from the pigment and the "aqua" part (hahaha. I don't know what to call it but it was clear like water). That did not bother me though as you can just easily mix it again. When I tried applying this to my skin, I noticed that I had to use more product than I normally would. It dries rather quickly. In the end, I found that the best way to apply this foundation is by using my fingers.

I usually set this with my Maybelline Clear Smooth Extra Shine Free Powder Foundation and I love the combination of the two. They really keep the oily parts of my face at bay. I've used Maybelline Clear Smooth Aqua Gel Foundation on it's own many times too and I say it does great things for my skin. It improves my complexion and although the coverage is light, it evens out my complexion well. The product feels really light on the skin, it's like I'm not wearing any foundation at all. In fact, it doesn't feel like a foundation. It feels more like a tinted moisturizer. If not for the price and the lack of SPF, I would gladly use this everyday.
Likes:Really light textureGreat for my combination skin, oiliness and shine is controlledHas an acceptable coverageImproves my complexion.100% oil freeDoes not break me out.I like the packaging.
Dislikes:Claims to be fragrance free when it is notKinda expensiveLimited shadeDoes not really last all day, despite the claimCan emphasize dryness for those with dry skinYou need a lot of product for a good coverageDries easily.No SPF
I've been using this for:two months and a half
Too many points in the dislike category but I don't really mind most of them (except for the price of course). And despite those, I still like this foundation. In fact, I really really like this foundation. It's no wonder it's popular. Hence, I'm giving it an 
Over-all Rating:4/5
Repurchase?Yes
Recommend?Yes
I can't show you any before-after pics because the foundation is too sheer, you can hardly see the difference. Here are some shots of me wearing the foundation along with Maybelline Clear Smooth Extra Shine Free Powder Foundation in Honey. The lighting is good, making my skin look flawless, but if you zoom in, you can see that there are some blemishes that the combination of the two foundations wasn't able to cover.
On my face:Maybelline Clear Smooth Extra Shine Free Powder Foundation in HoneyMaybelline Clear Smooth Aqua Gel Foundation in Natural Beige

Testimony:A friend of mine had been raving about this foundation earlier this year. We attended the graduation of our common friends and because we go to a state University, our gymnasium doesn't really have an airconditioning system. It was hot and we were all sweaty yet her foundation stayed put for the 2 to 3 hours that we had to endure the scorching heat. She had oily skin and I noticed that instead of looking sweaty, her face looked dewy instead. 
That's it!
Thanks for passing by.
2months ago, shorter hair
glasses from Firmoo