Now, until I have to wash my face and change my makeup thirteen times a day, I think this is the last of the Drugstore Beauty Queen series on foundation. How much foundation can one girl possibly use?!

Okay, don't answer that.

We're talking about drugstore brands, but there are different price levels in the brands. Neutrogena is one of the higher end lines. They can do that, you see, because they already have a reputation for excellent skincare, and many of their cosmetics fall into the same "good for your skin" branding, even though we all know that makeup in general is pretty suffocating to your skin. Neutrogena's Visibly Even Liquid Makeup claims that it has been clinically proven to temporarily even out your skin tone when you wear it, and physically even out your skin tone over time. Really? Does it have some magic voodoo that will erase all the freckles, sunspots, and redness on my face? It does have a soy component and SPF, but this might be too good to be true!Color: Shockingly, I didn't go with what Neutrogena lists as the lightest shade of ten options, Blushing Ivory. I had to go with Softest Gold, though perhaps they are the same lightness with different hues. Softest Gold best matched my pallid, sallow skintone, at least where my skin isn't dark gray (under eyes) or red. The color was fairly accurate.

Coverage: You have to expect that something that is supposedly good for your skin is going to be light. Visibly Even Liquid Makeup is featherweight compared to the other five I've tried, which is great if you like a sheer, natural coverage. However, it was too light for my taste. If it doesn't feel like I'm putting anything on and covering all my imperfections, what's the point? I give it points for going on smoothly, and though it did even out my skin tone a little, I almost felt like I had to let it dry then add a second coat to really create a flawless look. I never got there. After an hour of work, it looked like I had hardly put any makeup on at all.

As far as whether the makeup actually evens skin tone over time, I can't say, since I just can't wear this makeup and feel good about it unless I add a second coat and press myself heavily with powder.

Conclusion: Other reviewers have said that it settles into pores, making them more noticeable. Yikes. That's a good $11-$12 down the drain.

Other foundations:
L'oreal True Match Foundation
Maybelline Dream Matte Mousse
CoverGirl Clean Makeup
Revlon ColorStay Makeup
Rimmel Cool Matte Mousse