How many of us have spent money and countless hours searching for a perfect foundation? Way too much and way too many hours. Finding the perfect foundation can be a nightmare but it doesn't have to be. The main issue with foundation is finding the perfect match and drugstore foundations are notorious for not having testers nor colour selection. Which in itself can make the search difficult. However, with patience, a mirror and the right lighting you can find your match. Next, finding the right formula for you! If there is one beauty item I splurge on, its foundation. But we can't all afford to spend close to $60 on foundation and maybe you don't have to! Up till now my favourite foundation (HG status) has been Chanel Vitalumiere, I will admit that the above four budget-friendly foundations are pretty close to pushing that Chanel off the vanity table.
A little background on what I'm looking for in a foundation:
(a) I normally wear foundation in the drier/colder months (in the Summer I prefer a tinted moisturizer)
(b) at work, if I'm working long hours because of the dry conditions of an airplane. I find that foundation gives my skin a barrier.
(c) although I would classify my skintype as combination I prefer foundation targeted at Normal-Dry (obviously because I'm wearing it in drier conditions)
(d) I want a foundation that offers medium to full coverage (although I lean more towards medium coverage).
Items in this set:
Revlon - ColorStay® Makeup with SoftFlex® for Normal/Dry Skin: is a staple for most beauty junkies. It's a medium to full coverage foundation, blending is key! I also set this with powder unless I want a more dewy look. A little goes along way as this is a thick oil-free liquid foundation. It photographs well even though there is SPF (which can give you a mask like look in pictures). Colour selection is good! Shade I use: 240 Medium Beige (its a tad dark so I use this when I want a tanned look). Comes in a screw top glass bottle & is a bit messy.
Faces Cosmetics Hydro Balance Foundation: medium coverage water-based liquid foundation, semi-dewy, needs to be set with a powder if you want it to last all day. I like this foundation if I'm just heading out for shopping or a day off work. Why? Doesn't feel heavy on the skin. For all day wear doesn't last all day (long days=12hr+ work day). Photographs really well actually! Shade I use: 651 (very good match). Comes in a screw top glass bottle & has a build-in spatula in the top.
Revlon - ColorStay® Makeup with SoftFlex® for Normal/Dry Skin: is a staple for most beauty junkies. It's a medium to full coverage foundation, blending is key! I also set this with powder unless I want a more dewy look. A little goes along way as this is a thick oil-free liquid foundation. It photographs well even though there is SPF (which can give you a mask like look in pictures). Colour selection is good! Shade I use: 240 Medium Beige (its a tad dark so I use this when I want a tanned look). Comes in a screw top glass bottle & is a bit messy.
Faces Cosmetics Hydro Balance Foundation: medium coverage water-based liquid foundation, semi-dewy, needs to be set with a powder if you want it to last all day. I like this foundation if I'm just heading out for shopping or a day off work. Why? Doesn't feel heavy on the skin. For all day wear doesn't last all day (long days=12hr+ work day). Photographs really well actually! Shade I use: 651 (very good match). Comes in a screw top glass bottle & has a build-in spatula in the top.
Yves Rocher Flawless Finish Fluid Foundation: one of my top budget-friendly favourites! Lasts all day long, I don't have to set with powder & I'm not shiney by the end of the day. Offers medium coverage, is not as thick as the other listed foundations. Feels very natural on the skin! My only gripe is the fragrance which does fade but is quite apparent at first. Shade I use: Rose 200-teint clair. Comes in a pump glass bottle (which I love for hygienic reasons & easy to travel with)
Maybelline New York: Products: SuperStay™ 24HR Makeup: this is tied in 1st place with my Yves Rocher foundation (above). Offers medium-full coverage, no need to set with powder. This is a thick liquid foundation. If you want full coverage & set with powder can feel slightly mask-like (but what full coverage foundation set with powder wouldn't?). This is my go-to foundation when I feel like I'm having a bad skin day. Shade I use Sand Beige. Comes in a screw top glass bottle.
Maybelline New York: Products: SuperStay™ 24HR Makeup: this is tied in 1st place with my Yves Rocher foundation (above). Offers medium-full coverage, no need to set with powder. This is a thick liquid foundation. If you want full coverage & set with powder can feel slightly mask-like (but what full coverage foundation set with powder wouldn't?). This is my go-to foundation when I feel like I'm having a bad skin day. Shade I use Sand Beige. Comes in a screw top glass bottle.
All of the above are under $20 (before tax) and purchased on sale! Lately, I have been applying my foundation with my favourite brush, Quo Precision Foundation Brush (which I got on sale) but I also use my fingers when in a hurry:)
What are your favourite budget-friendly foundations? Have you tried any of the above favourites? Let me know!
Haha Monica, perfect timing for this blog post. I just tweeted today asking people how many foundations they tried in the past year. My number, 16. My main issue with foundations from high to low end are that they tend to clog my pores giving me either small bumps all over my face or cystic acne.
ReplyDeleteI recently tried the Revlon Colorstay normal/dry formal and loved the dewey finish. But I had to use a lot of it just to achieve the coverage that I would normally get from say 2 pumps of DiorSkin Nude. Also, it was a pain to scrub off my face at night. Had to return it to Shoppers because of that.
I'm glad you have found your staples, I will continue on my search. Out of curiosity, what colour are you in MAC?
Hi Fiona, In MAC I'm NC30 except in the Studio Stick Foundation NC27. Other foundations I've been lemming are: Chanel Prolumiere, Clinique Supermoisture, Clinique Repairwear (that might work for you->check out youtube tutorial Pixi2woo (Ashley Olsen vid). If you want to spend a little over $20 Lise Watier's mineral liquid foundation is really good too (it was listed under my "top picks" for September. *if you do break out I'd just stick with a tintet moisturizer like Dermalogica's but I know with the Holidays coming up sometimes you want a little more coverage:) Goodluck & let me know what you get!
ReplyDeleteMy HG foundation is Diorskin Nude -- and would love a cheaper alternative as well. This is so helpful! I wish the testers in the drug stores were better so we can colour match.
ReplyDeleteThis is so helpful, thanks
ReplyDelete