Having fussy skin means that I have tried many a foundation in order to get a reliable glow.

Whilst the TikTok age has introduced many to the idea of skin prep, it's been a non-negotiable for me since I started wearing makeup over a decade ago. Prepping and priming my skin is usually the only way to get longevity out of my makeup, otherwise it falls victim to my dry and sensitive skin.

If there's any sort of hydration to be found in a base product, you best believe my skin is drinking that up.

Cue patchiness, lack of glow and an overall 'meh' effect.

Over time, I have found a few favourites, but in 2026 it physically hurts to part with more than $80 to repurchase my daily foundation.

Once again, Maybelline is raising the bar for what affordable makeup can do. The Maybelline Lifter Plump and Glow Foundation ($35) is designed to feel like skincare while delivering buildable, natural coverage. Packed with two per cent niacinamide and hyaluronic acid, it's been scientifically tested to plump and brighten the look of your skin — both instantly and over time.

Of course this all sounds great, but how does it hold up against my fussy skin?

Lucky for you, I tested it out over five different days — work days, minimal makeup vibes and torrential rain all included — to give you a proper idea of just what you're buying into.

Day 1

Today was spent at home, and I just wanted to give the foundation a try to see how I went with the shade and how it went on the skin with no pressure. I chose shade 110, and I'm really happy with the match. As someone with a fair, neutral skin tone, I used to find it a bit difficult to get a good match with a pharmacy brand, but in the last few years that has really changed.

First impressions are that it does blend very easily and rather seamlessly, even with little skin prep. It also felt lightweight and like it was working with my skin, not just caking on top or settling into fine Iines.

I didn't leave the house today, but I will say that by the time I went to cleanse in the evening, I had completely forgotten I even had makeup on. 

Day 2

What a day to trial this properly — I applied the foundation at 10am with my usual pre-makeup skin prep and did end up doing a full face including setting spray. Full marks for the finish and for how well it played with everything layered on top. Hot tip: if you're a fan of the Lifter Stix like I am, you can draw them straight on top of this base without displacing the foundation underneath.

The real test was that I then spent a few hours ferrying trays of pizza scrolls in and out of the oven, running to the car in the pouring rain and stress eating a burrito with my friends for a Formula 1 watch party. High humidity, high temps and high stress. I was very impressed when I checked in at 5pm at how natural and glowy my skin still looked.

Dare I say, the foundation around my mouth was still in place but the lip stain I was trialling had left the chat. Very interesting.

Left: foundation at the start of the day. Right: six hours after wearing the foundation. Image: Supplied.

Day 3

A long Monday at work is always a challenge, but especially for my makeup. The good news is that today my routine felt easy to do and left me feeling cute and ready to face the day. I also tried a blush with a dewy finish and the combo really just hit right.

By the time lunch rolled around, I checked the mirror and my foundation still had a healthy glow — no oily patches or disco-ball shine in sight.

Day 4

Today's challenging condition was the 'post-workout and running a wee bit late' makeup application. I do love a morning workout, but it can leave me looking quite pink and with a lot of warmth in the face even post shower. That meant that today's skin prep was basically just my sunscreen and I relied on my foundation to do the heavy lifting to make my skin look plump and fresh.

Day 5

Last night I did not sleep well, so I am relying very heavily on the skincare side of this formula to keep me looking a bit fresh and alive. I did share on my stories that I was trialling a new base product and I actually had someone message me to say how glowy my skin looked. What an absolute mood boost!

Plus, here's how my skin looked after cleansing my face and five days straight of wearing the foundation. Did someone say radiant?

Skin after five days with no foundation. Image: Supplied.

The final verdict?

Colour me very impressed.

This foundation doesn't just deliver on that natural, glowy finish but makes it really easy to get there. I love that it works well when I've had time to skin prep and layer up my products, but it also does the heavy lifting when I'm in a rush and just want my skin to look good.

Most importantly though, this feels really, really comfortable on my skin. No weird reactions, itchy spots or dryness in sight. In fact, it genuinely feels like this foundation gives back to my skin while I'm wearing it. I shouldn't be surprised, given Maybelline actually tested for this, and it was scientifically shown to visibly improve overall skin quality, skin texture and skin tone evenness over time.

I can't wait to keep using this in my daily routine, the finish is so lovely and it's much more friendly to my purse. Plus, I will absolutely be keeping an eye out to see how my skin continues to benefit — it's a very big yes from me!

Shop the Maybelline Lifter Plump and Glow Foundation at your local Priceline or Chemist Warehouse.

Featured image: Supplied.

Product scientifically tested to visibly improve overall skin quality, texture and tone evenness, according to Cosmeto-clinical study, 76 subjects, after 4 weeks of use.

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