Hey beauty lovers! After diving into TONS of feedback about this foundation, I’ve got the full scoop on the COVERGIRL & Olay Simply Ageless 3-in-1 Liquid Foundation in Fair Ivory. I’m not holding back – you’ll get the good, the bad, and everything in between. Let’s break this down!
THE BASICS
This foundation is a collaboration between COVERGIRL and Olay, promising to be hydrating and age-defying with ingredients like hyaluronic acid. It’s positioned as a foundation that works especially well for mature or dry skin. The Fair Ivory shade is their lightest option, designed for very fair complexions.
COLOR MATCH: SERIOUSLY PALE
Let’s talk about this shade first – Fair Ivory is PALE. Like, really pale. Several users described it as “almost white” and one even mentioned looking like “Casper the Friendly Ghost”! If you have porcelain skin that typically finds even the lightest shades too dark, this might be your holy grail. But for many, it was shockingly light, even for those who usually wear the fairest shades.
One reviewer who’s nearly 80 years old was thrilled because she’s “tried to find a foundation to match my very fair complexion but Fair Ivory does that.” So if you’re super fair, you might be in luck. But for everyone else – you’ve been warned! You might want to go a shade darker than you normally would.
COVERAGE: LIGHTER THAN ADVERTISED
While some marketing might suggest this provides full coverage, the reality is more mixed. Most users reported light to medium coverage at best. One person said, “I wouldn’t call it full coverage but it is lightweight,” while another mentioned, “It doesn’t really offer actual coverage.”
If you’re looking to completely hide imperfections, this probably isn’t going to cut it alone. Several users ended up using it more as a primer with other products on top. However, if you prefer a natural, lighter look that evens out your skin tone without masking it completely, you might be perfectly happy!
TEXTURE & FEEL: LIGHTWEIGHT WINNER
This is where the foundation SHINES! Almost everyone agreed that it feels fantastic on the skin. Descriptions included:
- “Feels really great and light on the skin”
- “It gives me the look of great, smooth, healthy, moist skin”
- “Not heavy”
- “Smooth and supple”
- “Feels like nothing is on your face”
The lightweight, comfortable texture seems to be its standout feature. For people who hate that heavy, cakey foundation feel, this could be a game-changer.
FOR MATURE SKIN: MIXED RESULTS
Since this is marketed for aging skin, results for mature users are particularly interesting. And honestly? They’re all over the place.
THE GOOD EXPERIENCES:
- “This product is fantastic for mature skin, it glides on and stays put without caking”
- “Great coverage without sinking into every wrinkle”
- “This foundation is beautiful on my mature skin”
- An 80-year-old reviewer claimed, “I have used every foundation under the sun – from the most expensive to those which could be called cheap. I have never found a foundation to equal this one”
THE BAD EXPERIENCES:
- “I’m 51 and this is the MOST drying, wrinkle accentuating make up I’ve ever purchased”
- “It settled in my pores and enhanced those plus left my face looking dry and patchy”
- For one 70-year-old, “it was very drying and caked on my skin. It appeared to settle in my pores”
So what gives? The huge difference seems to be skin type. If you have dry mature skin, this foundation with its hydrating properties might work beautifully. But if you have any texture issues, large pores, or deeper wrinkles, it could end up highlighting rather than hiding those concerns.
HYDRATION FACTOR: GREAT FOR DRY SKIN
The Olay influence shows in the hydrating properties. Many users with dry skin were THRILLED with how moisturizing it felt:
- “Very moisturizing”
- “This is super hydrating”
- “Hydrating with a nice finish”
One user with “VERY dry fair skin” found the shade perfect but still had issues with the formula clinging to dry patches. Others mentioned it made their skin look “dewy” without being too shiny.
If you have oily skin, however, this might not be your best match. Some oily-skinned users complained about it looking too shiny or breaking up throughout the day.
LASTING POWER: DECENT BUT NOT EXTRAORDINARY
Opinions varied on how well it lasts throughout the day. Some mentioned it lasted “all day” while others had issues with it separating or breaking up after a few hours. One reviewer was impressed that “it even withstood the 2 hour trek through woods and uphill with my dog.”
It seems to perform better on normal to dry skin types for longevity, while those with oily skin might need to touch up more frequently.
SENSITIVE SKIN & FRAGRANCE: A POTENTIAL DEALBREAKER
Here’s something important: this foundation has a STRONG fragrance. Multiple reviewers mentioned this as a significant issue:
- “The scent was overpowering”
- “It smelled so strong that’s all I could notice about it”
- “Has a STRONG scent to it! Made me feel nauseous”
- “The foundation has a strong perfume smell that was completely unexpected”
If you’re sensitive to fragrances, this is definitely something to consider before purchasing. Additionally, several users reported skin irritation or breakouts:
- “It’s not great for sensitive skin”
- “Unfortunately every time I used it, it’d cause a breakout”
- “My skin must be too sensitive, caused my skin to break out into a pretty bad rash for 2 days”
PACKAGING ISSUES: BEWARE
A concerning number of reviews mentioned receiving products that appeared to have been previously opened, used, or improperly sealed:
- “It was not sealed. So I was able to just open it”
- “This bottle is a different story… it separates”
- “Sadly, it seems like this particular container was open and used”
- “No cap on bottle!”
- “Package was not sealed in anyway and product was smeared in outside of container”
While this seems to be more of a shipping/handling/return issue rather than a problem with the product itself, it’s definitely something to be aware of when ordering online.
VALUE FOR MONEY
At a drugstore price point, many felt this foundation delivered exceptional value compared to high-end alternatives:
- “I am used to buying high-end foundations and cover girl and olay combined did a wonderful job”
- “Works as well as a more expensive product I have purchased”
- “I have been dabbling in expensive makeup; have found my way home to cover girl!”
For those it works for, the price-to-quality ratio seems to be excellent.
WHO SHOULD BUY THIS?
Based on all the feedback, this foundation would likely work best for:
- People with VERY fair skin
- Those with normal to dry skin types
- Mature skin without significant texture issues
- Anyone who prefers light to medium coverage
- Those who value comfort and a natural finish over full coverage
- People not sensitive to fragrances
WHO SHOULD SKIP IT?
You might want to pass if you:
- Have medium to deep skin (the Fair Ivory shade is extremely light)
- Have oily skin
- Want full coverage
- Are sensitive to fragrances
- Have significant pores or texture concerns
- Need your foundation to last all day without touchups
THE BOTTOM LINE
COVERGIRL & Olay Simply Ageless 3-in-1 Liquid Foundation in Fair Ivory is a decent drugstore option that excels in comfort and hydration but falls short in coverage and shade range. It seems to work wonderfully for some (especially those with dry, fair, and relatively smooth skin) while being a complete miss for others.
If you’re looking for a lightweight, hydrating foundation with light to medium coverage and have very fair skin, this could be worth trying. But if you need full coverage, have oily skin, or are sensitive to fragrance, you might want to explore other options.
Have you tried this foundation? I’d love to hear YOUR experiences with it too!
Buy on Amazon: Here
