Let's unify the tone, shall we?
- Annette Pestano
- Jan 9, 2015
- 6 min read
Hello, my name is Annette and I am a foundation hoarder. Yes I said it, I love buying foundation. I think this addiction stems from my tanning booth days. My skin tone was constantly changing, and of course that led to me wanting to buy different shades of foundation. Well, I don't tan anymore, but I have to admit, I still have my hoarding problem. Although now, most of my foundations are around the same color.
So, for you all today, I want to share my top ten favorite foundations. Above each picture will be a brief review on that foundation and why I love it.
JUST A LITTLE TIP OF ADVICE WHEN PURCHASING FOUNDATIONS:
Before you go shopping for the perfect foundation, draw a line of permanent marker on top of your hand. This will allow you to test the coverage of the foundation without having to ruin, or take off, your makeup. Just pick the foundation you want to try and blend it over the mark. You'll get an idea of just how much the foundation actually does cover.
1. Make Up Forever HD: This foundation has a pretty good coverage, and it also looks beautiful on all skin types. It’s one of those foundations that work for every day wear. What is awesome about Make Up Forever HD is that I feel like I never need to prime before applying it. It's perfect for those lazy days that I just don't feel like getting all glammed up. Also, I would totally recommend applying it with a beauty blender. I think it gives the foundation a seamless and flawless look!
2. Laura Mercier Silk Crème: I know this is going to sound obvious, but it REALLY is creamy! This is one of those foundations that when I am breaking out, it's a must to have. It's oil free and fragrance free.
Laura Mercier's Silk Crème foundation works well with basically every skin type (dry, oily, and combination). What astonishes me the most is that it works well with dry skin. I would never think that a silky foundation would work well with dry skin, but this one does! It has a nice matte finish and comes on quite smoothly. This foundation is buildable if you want a lot of coverage, but I would not say it's necessary because it's pretty thick. I would recommend using your hands to apply it as I like the way it looks better on the skin. I think this foundation would be perfect for a wedding or big event.
REMINDER: ALWAYS wash your hands before applying anything to your face!
TIP OF ADVICE: You need to really shake the bottle before it is applied.
3. Dior Forever: This foundation is great for people with normal to oily skin. If you have dry skin you need to moisturize beforehand or it will look cakey. The coverage on Dior Forever is pretty great. I would recommend applying it with a foundation brush. My go to with this foundation is usually my Real Techniques Expert Face Brush (The gem of foundation brushes). It is the best brush ever, I love it! This foundation is pretty long lasting and just needs a midday touchup if you plan on wearing it all day long. It has SPF 25, so no need to put sunblock on beforehand.
On the negative side, for some people, this foundation does have fragrance in it. I personally love the scent and it doesn’t irritate my skin, but I am aware that fragrance in foundation isn’t everybody’s cup of tea. So, if you don’t like fragrances – stay away.
4. MAC Mineralize: I would recommend this foundation for someone who is going for that mineralized natural look. I don’t’ personally wear this foundation every day, but I do break it out around the summer time. I like to wear it when I’m going to the beach and don't want that hey I am wearing foundation look. It’s not a heavy duty foundation at all. It's not an I need you to last all day foundatin at all. But if you’re going out for a 2-4 hours you’ll be just fine. This foundation does have shea butter in it which super moisturizing and great for the skin. The finish is very light and you won’t see any blotchiness at all. It'll make you feel as if though you are not even wearing any foundation. There is SPF 15 in it so if you want to get a little bit of color, but not too much, it's perfect.
5. Loreal True Match: Let me be real with you, I have never been a huge fan of drugstore makeup. I understand that not everyone can afford a $30.00 foundation, or even possibly want to pay that much for one. Which is cool, more power to you, but I personally have no problem with splurging on makeup.
This foundation was a game changer for me. I initially purchased Loreal’s True Match out of pure curiosity due to several YouTuber’s ranting about how awesome it was, and well they were right! It is an incredible drugstore foundation that really does last all day long!
As of now, this is the only drugstore foundation that I can recommend. I promise though, I am going to start giving more of them a try. The coverage, finish, and quality of this foundation was impressive. Bravo Loreal, you seriously did an excellent job with this one! Hopefully with time, I’ll discover more drugstore foundations that I can recommend to you all.
6. Kat Von D Lock-it Tattoo: HOLY COVERAGE. DISCLAIMER: THIS IS NOT FOR DRY SKIN; BEWARE IF YOU HAVE DRY SKIN. If you are sunburnt, have dry patches, or are using a medication for acne that dries out your skin, STAY AWAY. Forget the fact that it covers incredibly well, because it will look cakey and not sit well on your skin. One pump of the Kat Von D’s Lock-it Tattoo foundation and your entire face will be covered, I promise!
My reason for purchasing this foundation was totally random. I was just shopping at Sephora one day, came across Kat Von D’s line, and had no idea that it was going to be such a heavy-duty foundation! I love it don’t get me wrong, it has a nice finish on MY skin (I have combination skin), but I would not refer this to everyone. I’ve found that applying this foundation with your hands looks best.
7. Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk: THIS IS MY NEW FAVORITE FOUNDATION. Mr. Armani totally did it right! This foundation was given to me as a gift from my Sista, Yvette, and I cannot say enough good things about it. I LOVE IT! It’s made for normal to combination skin and leaves such a gorgeous finish. I like to apply this foundation with my Chanel Foundation Brush No. 6, because I think it glides the foundation on smoothly and evenly. The coverage is not heavy, so I usually only wear it during the day, but it is buildable if you want to wear it at night. The finish is absolutely stunning, it gives off a beautiful appearance, and naturally glowy look. All positives in my book!
8. MAC Studio Fix Fluid: This is one of the first foundations I've ever owned, and I will never give it up. It is affordable, has a huge assortment of shades, and is totally buildable with its coverage. Studio Fix really is a nice starter foundation for someone who is unsure of which foundation to get. It works with all skin types, and gives a nice matte finish to the skin. No need for reapplying either, this foundation lasts hours and is great for going out!
9. MAC Studio Face and Body: Studio Face and Body by MAC is a VERY VERY VERY LIGHT coverage foundation. It is water based and by far the lightest coverage on my list. If you like the no makeup look, this one's for you! Don’t get me wrong it is slightly buildable, but ultimately isn’t going to cover much. Apply this foundation with your hands instead of a brush, it looks way better and is more buildable that way. This foundation does not have a matte finish to it, but if you blot powder over it, it can give the appearance of a more matte look.
DISCLAIMER: shake the living crap out of this foundation for an even blend.
10. Tarte Amazonian Clay: THICK. That’s the one word I would use to describe this foundation. I assume that’s because of the clay and whatever causes the 12-hour hold. Tarte’s foundation really looks gorgeous at nighttime! It's perfect for comination skin (not too oily/not too dry). If you have dry skin, I would advise moisturizing before applying. Also, make sure that the moisturizer really sinks in and dries before you apply the foundation. As weird as this may sound, the foundation will slip off your skin if the moisturizer is not dry.
So there it you guys! My top ten favorite foundations! You see, being a foundation hoarder does have its benefits. You end up having a variety of shades and consistencies that end up being perfect for all skin types and weather conditions!
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