Hey guys! I have to say, I'm kind of really excited about today's review because it's a product that I didn't really see coming. In the past, I've really enjoyed some Almay mascaras and lip products, but their complexion products have never really worked with my skin so it's just not a brand that I personally go to for that type of product. However, I got to try out the new Almay Clear Complexion Foundation* and I've been really, really impressed with how well it has worked for my skin!

Keep reading for more!

The Almay Clear Complexion Foundation is housed in a 1oz glass bottle with a pump - always preferred. The formula contains salicylic acid to help treat and prevent acne - which is something I don't think I've personally ever seen in a foundation before. It promises to be a lightweight formula that leaves your skin feeling hydrated and soothed, with buildable coverage and a soft matte finish. It also promises to look freshly applied all day, minimize the appearance of pores, help control oil breakthrough and be non-cakey and non-irritating. Had I read all of those claims before I tried this, I would definitely have been skeptical. However, it has miraculously lived up to them for me.

I use two pumps of this foundation and I get a really solid medium coverage. I haven't tried building it up because I'm not really a full coverage kind of a girl, but based on the texture of the product I suspect that it would build really well without getting heavy or cakey. I've tried applying this with both a kabuki brush and a sponge and, while both methods do work quite well, I just personally prefer the look I get with it when it's applied with a sponge. The finish on the skin is what I'd call a natural matte, in that it reduces shine but it still has a healthy, natural look.

What has really impressed me about this foundation is the way that it wears. I don't think I would go so far as to agree that it looks freshly applied all day, but it does really look good all day. I've noticed that later in the day and into the evening, there is a bit of a fade in the coverage, but the fade is really even and doesn't completely disappear on me. Instead, this is a product that has provided consistent coverage on me for up to 16 hours of wear without breaking up. I've noticed that my t-zone can start to look a little bit shiny if I'm wearing this all day and into the evening without touchups, but honestly that's just how my skin is as far as I'm concerned.

So tired. So very, very tired - but the foundation looks good!

As you can see in the photo above, this is a medium coverage product that really evens out the complexion and gives a good base, but isn't completely full coverage. For me, especially at this time of year, a solid medium coverage with a natural matte finish is exactly what I tend to be looking for, so this has been just absolutely thrilling me lately.

As I said at the beginning of this post, I really didn't expect to like this product as much as I do - but now that I've really tried it, I know I'm going to keep on reaching for it! If you're like me and Almay foundations have never really worked out for you, but you're looking for something with a medium coverage and a natural matte finish, this could be a great option for you. Likewise if you're someone struggling with oily skin or acne, I feel like the salicylic acid in this formula could be really beneficial for you!

The Almay Clear Complexion Foundation* is available now!

Thanks for reading!