In case you missed the first post in my Makeup Series, click here to read it! Every week or so, I will be focusing on a certain category of makeup and reviewing each product in that category that I’ve tried including drugstore and prestige brand products. This week, I am sharing all my reviews of Foundations. If you have a great skin tone already, you many not use foundation regularly, but it can be useful for special events or when you will be in photos or on camera. I advise against applying foundation with your fingers and instead recommend using a brush. Read about all my favorite brushes for applying foundation (super affordable options!) here. Below you can click the name of any of the foundations to see more details and shop. First I’ll review some drugstore options:
Maybelline Dream Wonder Fluid Foundation (around $5) – I bought this foundation a while ago when it was on clearance at Target. It has actually been discontinued, but you can still find it places like Amazon, Jet.com, etc. Since it was on clearance, this is a shade way too dark for me. However, I use it to add a drop or too into foundations of mine that are too light for my face sometimes when I am really tan! I have never applied it to my entire face, but I do like the formula, especially at this low price!
Maybelline Fit Me! Foundation • $7.79 – Similar story with this foundation…I got it on sale even thought it is way too dark for my skin, I decided I could use it for a cream contour! That is all I use it for, but it works great! Looking online now, it seems the “regular” version of this foundation is now packaged in a stick form. The offered in bottles like this are either “Matte & Poreless” (for oily skin) or “Dewy & Smooth” (for drier skin.) You’ll find all three linked when you click on the name of the foundation above! Right now all Maybelline products are Buy One, Get One 50% off at Ulta 🙂
Milani 2-in-1 Foundation + Concealer • $9.99 – This is foundation I would for sure recommend from the drugstore price range. I purchased mine at CVS but it is also sold on the Milani website (linked above.) They have a decent range of shades and I use the shade 05 ‘Warm Beige’. The idea with this product is that you don’t need to use a concealer because it is included in this foundation. However, I still need a separate concealer so I’m not sure if I really give them credit for that claim. Nevertheless, this is a great formula that has a nice finish and lasts a full workday for me. The finish I would say is pretty even in the middle between the matte and dewy ends of the spectrum. I think it could probably work for all skin types. Definitely worth a try for anyone!
L’Oreal Magic Nude Liquid Powder Foundation (around $6) – This was once my very favorite drugstore foundation, but it has unfortunately been discontinued. Luckily I stocked up when it was 50% off everywhere, but you can still buy it some places like Jet.com (via the link above.) I own two different shades: ‘326 True Beige’ for when I have less color in my face and ‘328 Sun Beige’ for when I’m more tan. I love this formula – it is more watery consistency, but that is because it was formulated to have a “no makeup” feel on your skin, and that is exactly what it does! There is still good coverage and finish, and this lasts me through my day as well. Definitely recommend ordering some of these if you’re looking for a bargain buy!
L’Oreal Infallible Pro-Glow Foundation • $12.99 – This is probably my new favorite drugstore foundation! It is on the more pricey end for drugstore, but it is definitely worth it and should last you a few months. The finish of this is very dewy and glowy, so if you have oily skin, this is NOT for you (but the one mentioned below is!) It has a medium coverage and lasts all day. I love the glow that this foundation gives my skin! My only complaint is that their shade range is not very wide, only containing 12 different shades.
L’Oreal Infallible Pro-Matte 24HR Foundation • L’Oreal • $12.99 – This is the version of the above foundation made for oily skin. It dries with a medium coverage matte finish that should keep your skin from getting oily throughout the day. I consider my skin to be normal and this actually dries it out in some places (around the nose area and under the eyes.) I do think it is a great formula and finish if you are looking for a matte foundation. Again, I wish they offered more shades but you should definitely check this one out as well.
ShopMissA.com Oil Free Silky Foundation ($1) – This is from the website where everything is $1. Check out my review of it here in my blog post reviewing tons of items from this site.
Now let’s review some prestige brand foundations:
Hourglass Vanish Seamless Finish Foundation Stick • $46 – This was given to me to try from a company called Influenster. I actually did an entire blog post reviewing it a couple weeks ago, so click here to read my post and find out how you can sign up to receive free products like this one as well!
Tarte Double-Duty Beauty Empowered Hybrid Gel Foundation • $39 and Tarte Rainforest of the Sea Water Foundation with Brush • $35.48 – These are two of my favorite foundations I own! I did a blog post specifically reviewing them before, so click here to read it now!
Estée Lauder Double Wear Stay-in-Place Liquid Makeup • $39.50 – This is my go-to foundation for “important” makeup days. The first reason is that it is full coverage, and that coverage lasts all day long! Although it is full coverage, it still does not feel cakey or heavy on the face. I also really like the color shade range they offer, it was easy to find my perfect match! The finish of this foundation is in between matte and dewy, so I think any skin type could probably benefit from this one! This is a holy grail foundation for lots of beauty bloggers and vloggers and I totally see why! Definitely try this out next time you are in your local Ulta, Sephora, or department store with an Estee Lauder counter! They always have really cute gift with purchase bags full of little mini products available with any $35 purchase!
Dior ‘Diorskin Airflash’ Spray Foundation • $62 – This foundation is definitely the priciest I own! I would say however that it is just about worth the price. Reason being, this aerosol foundation gives a very flawless finish that lasts all day long! It is full coverage as well as the Estee Lauder one, but it is a bit more lightweight feeling. Also, keep in mind that if you’re traveling it is small enough that you can carry it on, so you might prefer bringing this as opposed to a liquid foundation that runs the risk of breaking/spilling in transit. Just something to consider! I save this for super important occasions so it has literally lasted me almost 2 years now and it is still not near the end of the can! I spray this into its lid, then dip a brush into the lid to apply it to my face. Definitely check this out when you’re browsing in Sephora and give it a try! I also like the cool feeling it has on your face as any aerosol product would 😉
Hope you found this post helpful! Have fun shopping for foundations, and leave me a comment below this post if you have a favorite foundation I haven’t reviewed but need to try! Stay tuned for my next post which will review tons of concealers! Sign up for email updates with my blog to be notified when this post launches! (if you are on a phone or tablet you can scroll below to sign up; if you are on a laptop see the sidebar at the top right of the page!)