Maybelline Super Stay 30H Lumi Matte Review: A Luminous Letdown?

There is nothing I love more than testing a new foundation, especially when it promises the best of both worlds: long-wear and a luminous matte finish. Enter Maybelline Super Stay 30H Lumi Matte Foundation, which claims to be lightweight, buildable, transfer-resistant, and powered by amino acids to keep skin looking flawless for up to 30 hours. It sounds like a dream, right?

I put it to the ultimate test through a full workday, multiple walks, and even a couple of hot flashes. Here is my experience with how it held up.

About 3 Hours In! Beginning of the day!

First Impressions: Shade Struggles and Silky Texture

Using the Ulta Beauty shade finder tool, I picked up shade 330, thinking it would match my self-tanned skin. However, it was the wrong shade and had a strong orange finish after applying. That's one of the toughest things with drugstore brands: the lack of being able to use a tester for a shade match. Anyway, I was able to blend it to a better skin tone match using my favorite concealer in a lighter shade.

Despite the shade issue, I was pleasantly surprised by the texture. Maybelline describes it as lightweight, but I was taken aback by how thin and liquidy it was. It effortlessly glided onto my skin, blending well and providing buildable, medium-to-full coverage.

The finish is a delightful mix of matte and radiant, giving my dry skin a fresh and healthy look. It's far from dull or flat. My first impression was indeed positive, leaving me optimistic about the product.

Wear Test: 30 Hours? Not Quite.

I used my everyday skincare and applied the foundation as usual, using primer and no setting spray to see how it performed on its own. Here is how it held up:

Six-Hour Check-In:

• Still felt lightweight and comfortable

• No settling into fine lines or clinging to dry patches

• Noticeable fading around my chin and nose

12 Hours! End of the day.

Twelve-Hour Check-In:

• Completely disappeared from my chin, nose, and cheeks

• Broke down with sweat despite its sweat-resistant claims

• Still controlled shine where it had not worn off

• Photographed beautifully with no flashback

I put this foundation through an entire workday, two 20-minute walks totaling 4,000 steps, and a couple of hot flashes. While it looked stunning for the first few hours, I would not consider it long-wearing without additional setting products.

Final Thoughts: Keep or Skip?

What I Loved:

• Lightweight and breathable

• Beautiful finish with a balance of matte and radiance

• Buildable coverage

• Did not settle into fine lines or emphasize texture

• Looked stunning in photos

What Disappointed Me:

• Not transfer-proof or sweat-resistant as claimed

• Wore off within six hours, far from the advertised 30 hours

• Shade range can be tricky, as I experienced with shade 330

While I was not impressed with the longevity, I did pick up another shade to try again. This foundation is not in my top five for mature skin due to its lack of longevity, but I will keep it in my rotation for days when I do not need all-day wear. If you're interested in trying it out for yourself, you'll be pleased to know that you can find it at Ulta Beauty, major retailers, and Maybelline's website.