Top 5: Foundations (January/February 2015)

My Top 5 Foundations (at the moment)

You'll notice that typically my foundation choices don't change. That's because when I find one that works, I cling on to it for dear life. Haha.

Skin type: Varies day to day (typically super dry in cold weather, combination in normal weather and super oily in humid and hot climates)

Skin tone: Light / Neutral to Warm

Skin issues: Redness, pores & blemishes - sometimes flakiness when its cold or irritated

Ideal Finish: Satin

Ideal Coverage: Medium

Other Features I look for: Light feel, good coverage, easy to blend & long lasting

My skin tends to vary in texture and oiliness on a day to day basis. In a sense it's annoying because I need a range of foundation is to cover dry flaky skin all the way through to super oily. Having said that, it's a good excuse to buy more makeup. Haha. I own over 30 foundations and these 5 are currently my go to products for my troubled skin.

My thoughts:

1. MAC studio Fix Fluid (NW20)

I know people have a love hate relationship with this little guy but personally, I love it. It's great for my oily or combo skin days and is super long wearing (easily lasts 8+hours). It's very easy to blend (it merges seamlessly with the skin), has a huge colour range (great for fair skinned tones and women of colour) and makes my skin look picture perfect and flawless (especially in photographs).

Whilst I do recommend this product there are a few things to note... a big downfall is the price (in Australia) and the fact that you have to buy the pump separately... It ends up quite costly. Also for my girls and guys with sensitive skin, there is quite a strong scent. Personally , I don't mind it because it reminds me of being in a MAC store, but if I had to compare the scent to something, I'd compare it to paint. Hence, if you are sensitive to fragrance, be aware. Finally, the colours tend to run either really orange or really pink. Since I have neutral to warm skin, I tend I have to mix my foundation with something like Illamasqua Skin Base in White or Covergirl 3 in 1 Outlast Foundation in 105. It makes the undertone much less intense.

Finish: Almost matte

Coverage: Medium buildable to Full

2. Chanel Perfection Lumiere (B20)

My first words... Wow. Out of all the Chanel foundations this is my favourite. It's great for combination skin days, easy to blend and smells so nice. While the foundation is on the higher $ scale the packaging is amazing. It comes in a glass bottle with a sturdy pump (sometimes foundation does build up on the tip though). Chanel also caters for neutral, slightly warm and slightly cool undertones i.e. unlike the MAC, the colouring doesn't run too orange or pink. The foundation gives a medium coverage on my skin and has a ice satin finish. Whilst it doesn't blend as nicely as MAC, it still does a nice job and still creates a seamless finish. Also, just to note... this foundation did cling to flaky dry patches so use a primer!

Finish: Satin 

Coverage: Medium 

3. NARS Sheer Glow (Fiji)

My HG foundation. This little gem works on dry, combo or oily (when set with a powder) Skin which is one of the primary reasons I love it. It does not cling on to flaky skin, controls my redness, smoothes my pores and provides a beautiful base to start any look. NARS has a great range of shades and like Chanel, the colours don't run too orange or too pink. Girls with neutral/warm and cool undertones, this is for you (haha)! The foundation is able to blend so easily, so much so that it gives a natural and satin finish. I know people tend to have the misconception that this product is for girls with dry skin because it'll provide a glowy finish, but I can tell you this is not the case. I was also once sceptical but it wasn't until I actually tried it at Sephora that I converted. Sheer glow has fantastic longevity and after an 8 hour day at work it still looks great. LOVE this (in fact I've finished a few bottles, one of the first foundations ever that I have gone through multiples).

I'm trying to find faults in the product and all I have is price point. I can't even fault them on this given they did drop their prices in Australia and their foundation pump is only $4, which is much cheaper than the $8 you pay at MAC.

Finish: Satin

Coverage: Medium to Full

4. Makeupforever HD (120)

This is my go to foundation for photography. The HD technology allows my skin to appear so smooth and flawless on film. For everyday use, this isn't the best for my skin as it provides less coverage than I like. The colour range is also amazing for this product. It comes with shade for all girls whether or not you skin is as white as snow or a beautiful ebony. MUFE HD also has a few different undertones so you are likely to find a colour that suits you. While the formula is not as easily blendable as the others in this photo, it's forgiven purely because it photographs well.

Finish: Natural 

Coverage: Light (buildable)

5. Bourjois Healthy Mix (51)

What a beauty. Best part is I picked it up for $8 on sale. This foundation is great for dry skin days. It does not cling onto dry patches and gives a dewy/natural finish on my skin. While the coverage isn't as heavy as the others, I don't feel this product on my face. There is also a beautiful fragrance that is quite calming. The product is also said to contain vitamins that improve the skin. Who wouldn't want that? When you feel the product, it is super light and a tiny bit more runny than some of the other foundations mentioned above. This consistently somehow allows this foundation to blend nicely into my skin. I often use it with just my finger tips for a nice even layer. I also find that this is quite comparable to the Chanel VitaLumiere Aqua, just without the high price point. Note the colours in this range lean towards warmer/neutral tones so to my cooler tone friends, I recommend swatching it before you buy.

Finish: Dewy

coverage: Light to Medium 

Any recommendations on what I should try next (not that I need any more to fuel my addiction haha)?

Love Cindy aka Skindzmakeup