Bourjois Air Mat Foundation

I picked up a few Bourjois goodies during a little haul in Debenhams [post here] last month and have already reviewed the Rouge Edition Velvet Lipsticks [post here] which are my current favourite lip colours.  These last forever and I keep reaching for them every morning.  In fact, while I was doing laps at the pool, I was asked what lipstick I was wearing as it had stayed put for the most part!  

Anyway, I picked up the new Air Mat foundation during this haul.  When every beauty blogger and her dog were raving about it, how could I not, right?  So, is it totally worth the hype?  As I've had it for a month now, I thought I'd post my thoughts.  

I'll start off with the one (and only one) negative I have about this as its always great to end on a high note.  The shade selection here in Kuwait is the pits with just 6 shades ranging from very light to a medium.  I'm an NC42 and couldn't believe that the Bourjois supplier for Kuwait just couldn't be bothered shipping shades that catered to those my skin tone and darker.  I actually find this is the case with a lot of drugstore brands here, Revlon here's looking at you!  Women come in all colours and are not just shades of light and very light!  I bought the foundation in the darkest shade available here which is the 06 Golden Sun, but unfortunately it is a tad too light.  I can make it work by mixing in a little moisturizer, but its sad that I'm not able to enjoy this foundation out in public on its own merits.  It does oxidize a little, but I still look a little ashy when this is applied on its own.

Ok, apart from the poor shade selection available, this is the foundation for you if you're lighter than me and have combination to oily skin.  I've heard that this does cling to and accentuate any dry patches, so girls with dry skin, stay clear of this!  It is a build-able medium coverage and comes in a easy to use squeezy tube which doesn't leak, is travel friendly and is the perfect size to pop into your carry-on or handbag.  The finish is a beautiful natural matte almost powder finish minus the flatness or cakiness that you'd expect with a matte foundation.  The foundation itself feels lightweight and I akin it to Mac's Waterweight foundation, though Mac has a more fuller coverage and of course a vast selection of shades!  

I took the above swatch photos in the same location and once blended in, you can see how more even toned and smooth my arm looks and maybe, dare I say, more "velvety"?  The veins are also less visible.  Wear time on my oily skin without a primer and a setting powder is a good 2-3 hours before some shine starts coming through, however with powder touch ups in between, this foundation will easily last me the entire work day.  

All in all, a great foundation to have in your collection and at just 6KD, a bargain I might add.  I however will not be repurchasing this, that is until someone decides to bring in the darker shades.