No7 Match Made Foundation Service

1 Review

1. 

   jubilantChowder9

   Reply

   A few weeks ago I decided to try the Boots No7 Match Made Foundation Service, mainly because I’d seen quite a few rave reviews for it and was looking to get a new foundation after the latest one I’d tried (the Dior BB Cream) didn’t suit my skin.

   I went to my local Boots store for my reading (there’s no need to book an appointment) where the No7 consultant used a small electronic device to read my skin colour. Apparently the device takes over 20 photos of your skin to deduct which shade is the best for you (your ‘true match’) and according to the Boots website there’s no need to take off all your make up, although I did as I wanted to be sure I got a good match for my skin tone.

   After taking two readings – one from my left jawline and one from my right cheek – the consultant said my match was ‘Warm Ivory’ and suggested I try the No7 Stay Perfect Superlight Foundation as I have oily/combination skin and was looking for something with lightweight coverage. The consultant applied the foundation with a brush and then handed me a mirror to ask me my thoughts. In store it’s fair to say it didn’t look too bad (under electric lighting, in quite a small mirror and with only half my face done that is), so I decided to purchase it and try it at home. But not before ensuring I could bring it back if I wasn’t happy with it once I got it home and tried applying it myself.

   The following day I applied the foundation myself using my preferred method (dampened make up sponge as opposed to brush). I didn’t use a huge amount and tried to blend it out as much as I could as I already suspected on first applying it that the colour wasn’t quite right. Sure enough, after no more than 10 minutes on my face it became impossible to ignore the awful ‘tide mark’ between my face and neck and 10 minutes later this had oxidised so badly my face was an orange mask.

   Needless to say I took the foundation back that day and asked for a refund as opposed to the offered option of doing another consultation to see if they could match me with a different colour. The sales assistant who served me was lovely and totally understood my reasons for taking the foundation back, so I certainly have no complaints with the service I received in that respect.

   There are nine different foundations to choose from in the No7 range, all with different claims and coverage, and all with 13-14 shades. However, all the shades are the same. Most start with Calico as the lightest (the shade I personally think would have suited me better) going through mid-tone shades to the darkest which is Mocha. The disappointing thing for me is that all the shades are quite close together in colour, which I suspect actually makes it quite difficult to individually match someone’s skin tone, as opposed to other brands which have a much wider range of shades to choose from.

   Obviously this is my personal experience of the Match Made Service and it’s quite possible that others have found it to be an amazing service which worked wonders for them. However I’m doubtful that this service – specifically the device they use to colour match a person’s skin tone – really works in the way it claims, especially given the limited choice of shades. A better option – as many other brands do – would have been to sample 3-4 shades on my jawline/chin and then get me to decide which shade I thought suited me best, but Boots seem keen to push this new electronic way of colour matching, claiming it’s more accurate.

   Based on my experience I certainly couldn’t (and wouldn’t) recommend this to anyone as a good service to try, especially anyone who’s already struggling to find the right shade for their skin or is just confused by what kind of foundation is right for them. Massively disappointing, but at least I gave it a try!