Revlon Insta-Fix Foundation Stick; Review & Swatches of Shades

Revlon Photoready Insta-Fix Stick

(Multi-Use Foundation & Touch-Up-On-the-Go Makeup)

New for Fall 2014

Price: $14.99 (for 6 grams?)

Approx $2.50 per gram

CRUELTY FREE!!!

Revlon has decided to follow the current beauty trend and has actually decided to...wait for it....release a Foundation Stick again!!!

(They just used the term "Multi-Use Makeup".)

This is a HUGE deal in the world wide web of makeup because in addition to the fact that cosmetics are making a comeback, Revlon's new PhotoReady Insta-Fix Foundation & Touch-Up Stick will (at least for the moment) be the only Cruelty Free Foundation Stick that is readily available at national drugstores!

If all of this wasn't enough, Revlon really decided to go out on a limb and create a stick foundation formula that is actually pretty darn unique...

Revlon claims that their new Insta-Fix Multi-Use Makeup will provide "all over protection, conceal flaws, and be used for touch-ups on the go." These are pretty standard claims for a foundation stick and any decently formulated option will be able to meet these requirements, but it is refreshing that Revlon didn't try to get all crazy with the bogus claims.

Formula:

The formula for PhotoReady Insta-Fix is very unique. It's an extremely lightweight formula and it has a dry consistency that doesn't drag and lacks the typical "powdery" feel that Maybelline Fit Me Shine Free Foundation Stick, Shiseido The Makeup Foundation Stick or Hard Candy Tinted Moisturizer CC Stick have.

Insta-Fix has some qualities which are reminiscent of an aerated Laura Geller Real Deal Foundation Stick (which is one of my personal favorite but isn't a formula for everyone.)

I haven't had a chance to completely review the ingredients list yet and I'm absolutely dying to. This is quite embarrassing but I'm going to be completely honest and admit that I'm not sure whether the Insta-Fix Stick should be put in the "cream foundation" or "cream to powder foundation" category.

The difference between a cream and cream to powder foundation is actually pretty simple. A true "cream" foundation is an emollient formula. It may or may not have adequate hydrating capabilities and if left undisturbed, it will stay in it's cream form and never dry. 

This doesn't necessarily mean that a cream foundation will have a dewy or satin finish when applied to your skin because many times your skin absorbs the excess oils appears to have a matte finish.

A cream to powder foundation on the other hand begins it's life as a cream but isn't particularly moisturizing. When exposed to air, a cream to powder foundation will dry out. On your skin it will leave a powder-like finish which (95% of the time) is due to a silicone or silicone-like base formula.

Cream to powder foundations are often too drying for those with dry skin and almost always need to be stored in a very secure, air-tight container to prevent them from drying out. (The exception is if the silicone used the most is dimethicone; in which case the formula probably won't dry out; unless there's a large amount of isododecane-type of ingredient.)

Update:

A lovely reader was kind enough to post the ingredients list below and they pretty much reflect what I had suspected. The ingredients are a cream to powder formula and the two base ingredients are dimethicone and isohexadecane which are similar to the often used combination of cyclopentasiloxane & isododecane. The dimethicone and isohexadecane will wear more evenly than typical long-wearing/transfer-proof formulas but you're reduced to only transfer-resistance. 

Use & Performance:

It's interesting to apply Insta-Fix. The stick itself is on the harder side so it feels like it's going to be difficult to apply- but it's not.

If you apply it directly from the stick you'll want to let the makeup warm up for a second before blending it but it does blend wonderfully whether you use your fingers or a brush.

Because Insta-Fix is more of a balanced formula, you can use it with a variety of products and find what works best for you. Those with oily skin may find that a silicone primer helps to control excess oil and those with dry skin may want to use a generous helping of moisturizer first but almost any product will work fine with it so just play around to find what works best for you.

The lightweight and airy qualities mean that you will lose a tad of coverage compared to some of the heavier emollient formulas out there. If you need more than medium coverage you can certainly build the coverage level up but you'll lose some of the natural-looking characteristics and may not be too happy with the results.

(Coverage is on par with most other formulas that have been released the past few years like Maybelline Shine Free Fit Me Foundation Stick , Mac Pro Longwear Compact, so if you found those to be a tad too drying or you want a Cruelty Free/Winter alternative, Revlon PhotoReady Insta-Fix is one to consider.)

The Insta-Fix shade range is indicative of what Revlon usually produces and absolutely fantastic. Those with very deep skin will be out of luck but if you have fair to the deeper side of tan skin than a proper match is almost guaranteed. 

If you're familiar with any Revlon PhotoReady foundation than you're already familiar with the way the shade range works. Be sure to note that Insta-Fix does run a tad lighter than the other PhotoReady foundations but the shade names and corresponding undertones are otherwise consistent which should make finding your ideal shade easy enough.

While Revlon does alternate between pink and yellow undertones, they are all an extremely neutral pink & yellow that have more flexibility and will accommodate a wider range of skintones than most undertone-specific-shade-ranges and the formula is highly resistant to oxidizing which means that what you see is what you get!

Wear time is one of Insta-Fix's more impressive qualities (which is funny because Revlon doesn't market it as a long-wearing formula.) Assuming that you take proper measures by using a primer or setting your makeup if you have oily skin and/or a moisturizer is you have dry skin; you'll probably be pleasantly surprised with the longevity of Insta-Fix.

Because it's not a traditional long-wearing formula it wears away comparatively evenly and without patchiness that can usually be expected and while it's not 100% transfer-proof, it does a decent job of staying on your face and off your clothes!

Verdict:

The fact that Revlon made a foundation stick that fits into multiple categories isn't a bad thing and it will probably actually please alot of people with normal skin. For years there has been a very wide gap in the market between the many formulas that were too hydrating for oily skin and too drying for dry skin, so the fact that there's actually a product that falls in the middle is pretty nice.

$15 for a drugstore foundation of any kind is a bit on the high side and for some reason it seems particularly high for a cream or stick foundation but it's really not unreasonable considering the pricing of drugstore foundations lately and it's really only a 10% increase from the typical Revlon price range of $13-$14!

 (Don't get me wrong, it stinks to have to pay that much at a drugstore but even CoverGirl who's one of the cheapest drugstore options makes 2 foundations with a price tag that's north of $17.)

I don't think that the $15 price range is that big of a deal as long as the product works and does what it says it will do and in the case of Insta-Fix, Revlon made a high-performing product that is definitely worth trying and that's the most we can hope for!

If you're looking for a Cruelty Free alternative to Maybelline's Fit Me Shine Free Foundation Stick, Revlon Insta-Fix is a great choice and the shades are far more realistic.

Revlon PhotoReady Insta-Fix Foundation Stick

Swatches of Shades

110 Ivory, 120 Vanilla, 130 Shell, 140 Nude, 150 Natural Beige

Revlon PhotoReady Insta-Fix Foundation Stick
Swatches of Shades
110 Ivory, 120 Vanilla, 130 Shell, 140 Nude, 150 Natural Beige,
160 Medium Beige, 170 Golden Beige, 180 Rich Ginger, 190 Caramel