Beauty Age Rewind Eraser 355 vs 118: Shade Match Showdown Here
Shade 355 and shade 118 sit at opposite ends of the Age Rewind Eraser range: warm medium versus fair light. We compared them on undertone, coverage behavior, best skin types, and value to settle the shade debate.
| Factor | Maybelline Instant Age Rewind | Maybelline Instant Age Rewind | Maybelline Instant Age Rewind |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shade depth | 355, medium | 118, fair light | Different depths |
| Undertone | Warm golden | Neutral to cool | Opposite undertones |
| Best skin type | Medium to tan warm skin | Fair light skin | Complementary range |
| Coverage | Buildable light to medium | Buildable light to medium | Same formula |
| Finish | Natural radiant | Natural radiant | Same formula |
| SPF | SPF 20 | SPF 20 | Same protection |
| Applicator | Micro corrector sponge | Micro corrector sponge | Same system |
| Common mismatch | Ashy on cool skin | Ashy on warm skin | Both undertone sensitive |
| Typical price | Check price | Check price | 118 slightly cheaper |
| Best overall | Best warm medium option | Best fair option | Different winners |
Our Verdict
There is no better shade, only your shade. Choose 355 if your skin is medium to tan with warm golden undertones; it will melt in seamlessly. Choose 118 if your skin is fair light with neutral to cool undertones. Buying the wrong undertone is the number one disappointment with this line, so judge by undertone first and depth second, and test on your jawline in daylight whenever possible.
More Top Picks in This Category
Not sold on either of these two? Here are more bestselling options worth considering.
Best for: Tan warm skin with sponge on coverage
Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Eraser Foundation SPF 20, Shade 360
- Shade 360 for tan warm undertones
- SPF 20 broad spectrum
- ProVitamin B5 conditioning
- Micro corrector applicator head
Pros
- Warm tan shade well calibrated
- Conditions while covering
- Quick morning application
Cons
- Warm undertone not for cool skin
- Cap can loosen in bags
- Remove applicator to deep clean
Best for: Very fair neutral coverage on a budget
Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Eraser Foundation SPF 20, Shade 112
- Shade 112 natural ivory fair
- SPF 20 sun defense
- Lightweight flexible formula
- Eraser sponge for targeted application
Pros
- True fair shade option
- Lowest price of the shade range
- Feels light on skin
Cons
- Fairest shades oxidize slightly
- Sheer finish needs setting
- Applicator stains over time
Best for: The original SPF 18 eraser formula in classic 120
Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Eraser Foundation SPF 18, Shade 120
- Shade 120 creamy natural
- SPF 18 original formula
- Goji berry and collagen
- Original micro corrector applicator
Pros
- Longtime cult favorite formula
- Creamy natural suits many
- Proven wear over the years
Cons
- Older SPF 18 versus SPF 20
- Fewer shades in original line
- Packaging dated versus new
Want the Full Picture?
Oxidation: Why Your Shade Darkens by Afternoon
Foundation oxidation, the shade darkening an hour after application, frustrates buyers who swatched perfectly in the store. The mechanism: foundation pigments react with skin oils and air exposure, shifting darker and often more orange. The Instant Age Rewind Eraser Foundation shades here, including 355, 118, 360, 112, and 120, can all oxidize slightly, with deeper shades showing it more visibly. The test: swatch on the jawline, wait a full hour doing nothing, then check in daylight. The color at hour one is your real shade, not the color at minute one.
Managing oxidation has three levers. First, primer creates a barrier between skin oils and foundation, reducing the reaction. Second, blotting excess oil before application helps, especially for oily skin types. Third, choosing a shade a half-step lighter than your minute-one match compensates for the expected darkening. If a foundation oxidizes dramatically orange rather than slightly darker, the undertone is wrong for your skin, not just the depth: switch undertones rather than fighting with depth adjustments. The Instant Eraser guide details the shade system, and the Age Rewind top models compare the concealer pairings.
SPF Foundations and Flash Photography: The White Cast Problem
The SPF 20 and SPF 18 in these Instant Age Rewind foundations create a specific photography problem: flashback. Certain SPF filters, particularly physical blockers like titanium dioxide and zinc oxide, reflect camera flash as a white cast, making the face look ghostly in photos while looking fine in person. This ruins event photos for buyers who tested their makeup only in the mirror. The at-home test is simple: apply your full face, take a flash photo in a dim room, and check for the cast before the event, not during it.
The trade-off is real: SPF in foundation provides genuine daily sun protection that most buyers would otherwise skip, but it compromises photography. For events with flash photography, the practical answers are a non-SPF foundation for the event with separate sunscreen applied well beforehand, or accepting minor flashback for the sun-protection benefit. Chemical SPF filters cause less flashback than physical ones, so checking which type your foundation uses predicts the severity. Day-to-day wear favors keeping the SPF; camera-heavy occasions favor the swap. The Instant Eraser buyer guide covers the full range for choosing your event versus daily shades.
Seasonal shade shifting catches foundation buyers off guard every year. Most people run half a shade deeper in summer from incidental sun exposure and return to their winter shade by late fall. Rather than buying a new bottle each season, keep your two closest shades and mix: more of the deeper shade in August, more of the lighter in January. The sponge-blend method makes custom mixing easy, and it costs nothing extra beyond the second bottle you would eventually need anyway.