Foundation Faves
1. L’Oreal True Match Lumi / 2. NARS Sheer Glow / 3. Revlon Colorstay / 4.Urban Decay Naked Skin / 5. Make Up For Ever Mat Velvet+
When I worked at Sephora, I liked to play this game where I’d try to guess the question people were going to ask, before they asked it. 9 times out of 10, the question was “can you help me find a foundation?” That being said, I formed some pretty set opinions on certain brands and formulas. I learned what worked for lots of people, and what seemed to never work. These are my 5 tried-and-true favorites! I’ll tell you why.
1. For a medium-coverage, dewy drugstore foundation, L’Oreal True Match Lumi is it. I love the pump-style glass bottle and the myriad of undertones. Shade Tips: The True Match line is great because it’s broken into warm, cool and neutral undertones for you. I’m quite yellow/olive so I stick to the W’s. I mix W1-2 with W4 right now. Application Tips: I recommend applying with the Real Techniques Buffing Brush.
2. For a foundation that has never let this dry-skinned, yellow girl down, NARS Sheer Glow is my beloved. I have never found another foundation I loved as much. Ignore the word “sheer” in the name as it’s a full coverage in my book. It’s beautiful, natural, not shimmery or heavy. If you have oily skin, you might like the the Sheer Matte formula. Shade Tips: I wear Ceylan currently, Fiji in summer. The entire line is quite yellow-based with the exception of the middle-tone Santa Fe and paler Mont Blanc. The shade spectrum is particularly impressive on the darker end. Application Tips: I recommend applying with the Sigma F80.
3. What can I say about Revlon Colorstay that hasn’t already been said? It’s the drugstore pick for the fullest coverage and best staying power. I used it during the Allure Beauty Blogger Awards here! Shade Tips: The shade range isn’t great for yellow undertones, though I found a rare gem in Golden Beige 300. It’s only available in the Oily/Combination formula, and even though I’m dry, the formula wasn’t much different. Application Tips: I recommend applying with a beautyblender.
4. This foundation is the newest in the list and a major home run for Urban Decay. It has a very thin consistency, but the coverage is superb. It smells like house paint, which I weirdly love. It has anti-aging peptides and light-diffusing particles. Shade Tips: All colors that end in .0 lean more yellow and shades that end in .5 are more pink. 4.0 is the most yellow/olive by far. 3.5 is one of the more popular medium shades. Application Tips: The Good Karma Foundation brush was developed for this particular foundation and it’s really nice!
5. Oily skin? Here’s the foundation for ya! With excellent coverage and photograph-ability, Mat Velvet is baller. Shade Tips: If you’re accustomed to Make Up For Ever’s HD Foundation, you won’t find the same shades and range here. As a rule, the shades tend to run more pink. Application Tips: A damp beautyblender will give you a lighter feel.
So, I’m dying to know! What’s your favorite foundation? Comment below!
Ashley
11/06/2014 at 9:11 AMI have (and am actually wearing today!) the Naked Skin foundation. I love it! 🙂
I really want to try the Lumi foundation- everyone who’s tried it seems to really like it!
-Ashley
http://lestylorouge.com
Ivy Boyd
11/06/2014 at 9:12 AMYeah! Team Naked Skin!! The Lumi has a little less coverage than Naked Skin, but great for those “good skin” days!
Coeli Nartey
11/06/2014 at 10:20 AMI like that your Favs include a brand for everyone’s price range! I really enjoy your reviews and always look forward to the next! Keep up the good work!
lush4blush
11/06/2014 at 11:16 AMI swear you read my mind with this post. I still haven’t jumped into the high end foundation pool and was literally strolling around ulta and sephora last week trying to find one that was right for me but with little to no help from any employees, so this post is saving my life. I have tried (and love) loreal true match lumi, but def want to check out nars sheer glow, but also MUFE mat velvet+… Just because I like both finishes, but I also almost took home Naked skin.. Ugh the choices! I want them all… Damn you. 😉
Ivy Boyd
11/06/2014 at 1:24 PMHaha! I’m a bad influence 🙂 I love my NARS best. I have tried and tried so many, and I always come back to it! I love Naked skin, and the only reason I don’t own it now is because I can’t find a light enough shade that’s yellow enough for me. For everyone else I’ve seen it on though, it’s great.
Lisa
11/06/2014 at 12:01 PMYou picked some great ones, I used to love NARS Sheer Glow, definitely NOT sheer at all though!
I love 3 foundations. MAC Face and Body because once it’s on it stays there forever, I love Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk because it just feels luxurious on the skin and looks beautiful, and a new favorite is Makeup Atelier Waterproof Foundation, only when I go out and for special occasions because it literally doesn’t move but doesn’t feel like clay like Estee Lauder Double Wear.
Ivy Boyd
11/06/2014 at 1:25 PMI’ve heard SO much about the Luminous Silk and I simply MUST try it now! I am also curious about Makeup Atelier now too. I hear what you’re saying about the Double Wear. It’s long lasting, but the feel is a bit much. Thanks for reading Lisa!
Callie Bell
11/06/2014 at 12:40 PMI’m always so shocked that no one ever mentions Hard Candy’s “Just Face It” 3-in-1 foundation… I tried this out of an “I’m out of foundation and out of money” sort of emergency… and I got hooked! I keep coming back to it after 2 years of trying other liquid foundations. Flat topped buffer brush, beauty blender, mixed with moisturizer? Looks flawless every time. for 7 bucks?? Yes please.
Ivy Boyd
11/06/2014 at 1:26 PMThis is making me wanna make a Wal-Mart run, Callie! I do really love the Hard Candy Glamouflage as one of the best high-pigment drugstore concealers. I imagine the foundation has good coverage too? Guess I’ll have to try it!!
Callie Bell
11/06/2014 at 2:21 PMAMAZING Coverage! on a good day I barely have to conceal– and that is a serious compliment to the foundation! 🙂
Jess Zimlich
11/06/2014 at 1:15 PM#5 is my go-to!!
Ivy Boyd
11/06/2014 at 1:27 PMIsn’t it great?! And am I weird about the smell, or do you know what I mean? I was an art major. I love the smell of paint 🙂