Name a woman out there that doesn't want a beautiful complexion and flawless skin and i'll give you a medal. Whether you have pigmentation, acne, hormonal skin, redness, dullness, shine, or are just looking for a certain glow, there is always something that you want to camouflage or play down. For me, it's the redness in my cheeks that lead me to reach for a cover up. My skin tends to lean towards dryness and sensitivity, so a lot of foundations are a no go for me as they can appear patchy in my dry areas. I have about 15 different foundations in my collection at home as I'm constantly trying to find ''the one'', but lately my foundation loyalty has become aligned to just 4 products. They all vary in budget, and I reach for them for different occasions and different skin days.
Foundation shopping tip: bring a sample of your current favourite foundation with you when you go shopping so you can compare them side by side.
My current favourites listed from splurge to budget options.
It Cosmetics Your Skin But Better CC+ Oil-Free Matte €39.00
It Cosmetics CC cream has been a firm favourite of mine for almost 4 years. Don't let the word ''cream'' fool you, this is a medium to full coverage build-able foundation that not only does what it says on the tin - ''your skin but better'', it also comes with a host of benefits like anti ageing serums, SPF 40 and pore minimising, hydrating, colour correcting as well as including ingredients like charcoal, tea tree extract, colloidal clay and Moroccan lava clay. It Cosmetics have made the CC cream in three formulations with the original, illumination (for a glowy complexion) and matte (oil free) - with the last being my preferred choice.
It's definitely long lasting, helped by a dusting of setting powder and a setting spray which will help keep my makeup in place from the AM till PM, with a little touching up for an evening out. It comes in 12 shades, I wear ''light'', and it can be applied with your fingers if you're more fuss free, or I also like using a beauty blender to get a more even application or to build up the product.
Shop here - available at Arnotts, Brown Thomas, Selfridges, Cult Beauty and Itcosmetics.co.uk
Vichy Dermablend Fluid Corrective Foundation €21.99
This isn't a everyday foundation for me, but it's definitely one that I reach for when my skin is playing up and my redness is more stubborn than normal. It's build-able, full coverage with a matte finish and lasts the whole day. I actually think that if I went to sleep in it, I would wake up with my skin still looking flawless. While it's definitely on the heavier side of the spectrum, it still feels light and breathable on the skin. It was created for those with rosacea, acne, blemishes, dark circles and hyper pigmentation. It even claims to cover up tattoos. It's great for sensitive skin types like myself as it's non comedogenic (formulated so it doesn't block your pores), paraben free and hypoallergenic. It also has SPF 35.
When my skin is super sensitive and my cheeks get so red they're almost purple, this foundation covers it all without causing any further inflammation or irritation. You can apply the product with your fingertips, a brush, or with a beauty blender. If you have a particular area of concern, focus more there and apply a few layers. Because of the light fluid texture it blends beautifully into the skin.
Shop here - available at Boots, Superdrug, Lookfantastic, and some local pharmacies
L’Oreal Paris Infallible 24HR Freshwear Foundation €13.99
This is the absolute crème de la crème of drug store foundations. It is without doubt, my everyday go to that I have been obsessed with for the past 3 months. What's so good about it? Well first off, it's the very reasonable price tag. While the price may be low, it doesn't scrimp on quality. It claims to last for 24 hours, and it most definitely lives up to its claim. I wear it all day long, and have even worked out with it on, and it lasted pretty well, especially with a good primer and setting spray. It has quite a thin consistency and can dry quite quickly, but it builds up beautifully to a light matte coverage if you apply it with a beauty blender or a brush. The thinner consistency is part of the new oxygen technology which gives the foundation a lightweight feel whilst the ultra-strechable formula gives a full coverage look. One pump is all you will need to get a flawless complexion.
It's available in 26 shades, with my shade being 110 Rose Vanilla. Despite having sensitive skin, I haven't experienced any irritations with this product, and with my dry skin it doesn't enhance dry patches at all. While one drawback may be that there isn't any SPF in the product, i'm not too mad at it as it is only €13.99. A couple weeks ago boots was doing a buy 1 get 1 half price on all L'Oreal products, so I jumped at this and got 2 for around €20!
PS - it works beautifully with the L'Oreal Infallible Loose Setting Powder (shop here)
Shop here - available at all drug stores and some pharmacies
Revlon PhotoReady Candid Natural Finish Anti-Pollution Foundation €13.99
Relatively new on the scene, this Revlon Candid foundation has made it's way into my makeup routine steadily. The anti pollution and anti blue light benefits was what drew me to this product, as well as the formulation being made without oils, phthalates, synthetic dyes and fragrances. It is a lightweight formula, and has a moisturising feel allowing your skin to retain a natural look and feel like it can still breathe. It does remind me of the It Cosmetics CC cream in it's texture and effect, so if you're interested in that but the price may not be right, i'd suggest giving this Revlon Candid foundation a go.
It's available in 31 shades, which is great but I did find it quite difficult to match one to my skin tone. There seemed to be a lot of options around the same shade, so I would definitely recommend going to the store and trying out the colours in person rather than buying online. I bought shade 250 Vanilla. For a more low key make up day, I apply this product with my fingers a bit like I would with moisturiser, with some light dabbing on my problem areas that require more coverage. For a more refined or glam look, i'd use my beauty blender to get a more polished look. To ensure it lasts all day, start with a primer for a smooth application and a setting spray to keep it all on.
Shop here - available at all drug stores and some pharmacies
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