Review: Maybelline Superstay 24HR Liquid VS Stick
If you have read my Kavita takes Tanzania post or followed my Instagram this past year, you’ll know that my ride or die foundation is the Maybelline Superstay 24HR liquid foundation. It’s what I wear on the hottest and humid of days, weekend aways, day-to-night events or anytime I want to wear a full face of makeup. This foundation hasn’t let me down since I first bought it and ticks every box on my checklist for the perfect foundation.
Recently, Maybelline launched a stick version of their Superstay foundation. Having loved the liquid foundation so much, I thought I’d try out their new stick version and see how it compared. Of course, after trialling out the two, I wanted to share my thoughts with you on the blog!
Liquid vs Stick? Is there a winner? 🤷🏻♀️
Price point
The Liquid foundation retails at £9.99 ($13) for 30ml of product. The Stick foundation offers...a very small amount of product for £8.99 ($11). (See below for photo)
Packaging/Application
Liquid foundation - This comes in a glass bottle with a pump which makes it really hygienic and easy to use. I usually pump foundation on to my hand and then use either a real techniques expert face brush or a flat top kabuki brush to stipple foundation on my face. This helps control how much product I put on and allows me to add more coverage where necessary.
Stick foundation – The packaging is small, cute and convenient! The foundation swivels up and I swipe the foundation straight onto my face. I then go in with a flat kabuki brush to blend the foundation into my skin. The stick form makes it really easy to apply and keeps my hands free of foundation. This also comes with a blending sponge on the reverse side of the stick to help blend out the foundation. Personally, I don’t like this sponge as I found that it doesn’t blend the foundation enough and isn't ideal to clean. However, for quick touch-ups on the go, it is a really nice addition to have.
Swatches
My shade in this foundation range is '36 Warm Sun' which has warm undertones and matches the colour of my neck. The stick foundation appears to be more orange but this lessens after blending out the product. Swatches below show the difference in consistency and the blendability of both foundations with and without flash. The stick foundation is much thicker and cakey in comparison to how smooth/runny the liquid one is.
General wear
Both foundations wear exceptionally well and last all day long – especially when paired with a good long-lasting primer. The liquid foundation looks a lot more ‘natural’ than the stick foundation. There is no evident layer of makeup on my face which is why I love wearing it so much. It evens out my skin tone and gives me the perfect canvas to create both simple and dramatic makeup looks. Depending on the primer I use, I do need a blotting tissue/slight dab of powder on my t zone but this is usually after 8+ hours of wear.
Unfortunately for the stick foundation, the finish isn’t so natural and gives a cakier look, which for me, feels heavy on the skin. I find that the foundation creases in my smile lines and around my nose area. The foundation isn’t fully transfer-resistant either. Even once I set my face the same as I do with other foundations, the foundation doesn’t feel fully ‘set’ and does transfer if you happen to touch your face. Another problem with the stick foundation is that it's not as blendable so you end up using more product which just makes the foundation look even cakier!
Applying the rest of my makeup looks great on both foundations but if you're not used to cakey makeup, then you will not enjoy the stick foundation! When it comes to taking photos, they both photograph really well! There is no flashback with either of the foundations and they look pretty much identical on camera.
Final Thoughts
I have a clear favourite of the two and the Maybelline Superstay liquid foundation still holds 1st place for the best highstreet foundation! I feel like this foundation suits all skin types and can easily be sheered by adding a moisturiser or liquid illuminator to the mix but at the same time, the coverage can be built up depending on your preference. As for the stick foundation, I think it's really travel-friendly and I would use this when I need an emergency full coverage foundation on the go. If you have dry skin, stay away from the stick foundation as it will cling onto any dry patches you have. Next time I use this, it may work better with a more hydrating primer or using a glow mist to set the foundation but I will update this post once I have!
Have you used this foundation? How did you find it? Comment below - I'd love to hear your thoughts!
Kavita K xo
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***All of the products I have mentioned above are from my own personal experiences. Please remember that everyone reacts differently to different products - products that work for me may not work for well for you. Be sure to do some research before making purchases, especially if you do have allergies to certain ingredients.***