Calling all foundation recommendations! - YouLookFab Forum

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Calling all foundation recommendations!

Becky

Veteran

OK, all you fab YLFers, you rose to the occasion when I wanted mascara recommendations. How about foundation? I have been using Neutrogena Healthy Skin Liquid for a couple of years now, but would like something with a bit more coverage. Here is a "wish list" of requirements:

*moderate (vs. sheer) coverage as I have enlarged pores and some scarring from acne
*doesn't get cakey or settle into lines (tough to balance with the first item on my list)
*controls (or at least doesn't contribute to) oily-tending skin
*doesn't clog pores or contribute to breakouts for acne-prone skin
*available in a variety of fair shades (my skin is more yellowish than the standard "fair")
*won't break the bank, as I do use it daily

I eagerly await your contributions!

General

18 replies

Latest reply was from Becky

Beth

Veteran

Becky, I'm sure you'll get some good suggestions, but it might be worth it to take a look at Paula Begoun's recommendations over at beautypedia.com. It's usually a subscriber-only site but I think it's free through the end of February.

Maya

Veteran

I love love love my Aveda inner light powder. Don't know about fine lines since I don't have those yet, but it is wonderful on my oily skin. It seems to skew on the fair side too.

http://www.aveda.com/product/C.....index.tmpl

annagybe

(website)

Veteran

I use Laura Mercier tinted moisturizer with the mineral primer. Her foundation is pretty heavy for everyday use. I also like Make Up Forever foundation.

Kari

Veteran

Becky, your skin sounds a lot like mine - large pores, a tendency toward oiliness (though mine has become more "combination" over the years, I'm still oily in the T-zone), acne scarring, and still acne-prone. And I'm also very fair!

I have fantastic luck with Bare Escentuals original (not matte) mineral powder foundation in "Fairly Light" with a combination of mineral veil (loose transluscent powder.) It's not cheap, but I do use it daily and my skin has actually improved a lot since I made the switch. When I need more coverage, I use the concealer brush and just use my foundation for concealer. The matte foundation is okay too, but the colors are slightly different (or appear that way) and the matte color was too yellow for my skin, so it actually might work better for you.
A couple ways you can save money:
Try a Get Started kit if you need some brushes. http://www.bareescentuals.com/.....brandId=BM
Sign up at a Bare Escentuals store (if there's one near you) for a memership card. If you go in to buy products in their store during the month of your birthday, you can get (I think) 10% off - the discount is somewhere in that range.

I've also had fantastic luck with Origins Nude and Improved when my skin is dryer. It's a liquid formula, but not cakey. I dust a thin veil of transluscent powder over the top and it doesn't budge. (When I'm more oily, I need to use a powder foundation instead.)
http://www.origins.com/product.....x.tmpl?%3F

Scarlet

Veteran

You might have a look at Shisheido. They have some very good fair colors with yellow undertone. First time I ever found a real match! I have a different skin type, so I don't know which product I would recommend.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

I am a recent convert to the Laura Mercier tinted moisturizer -- it provides light coverage, and as my skin seems to be changing recently, doesn't seem to stick in fine lines like some other foundations I've tried. I also like Shisheido's foundation. Both of these seem to work nicely on my skin, which is getting slightly drier as I get older, but still gets the occasional breakout.

You may like Makeup Forever HD. I didn't care for it -- the coverage was a little too heavy for me.

Mac

Veteran

You might want to look at the website makeupalley.com which has literally thousands of women reviewing makeup.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Another vote for Laura Mercier's tinted moisturizer - I do not wear foundation.

Lynne

Veteran

Shishedo has fair colours with yellow undertones, and their Pre Make up primer (in the tube, not the pot) is a fantastic base for smoothing. I can't wear the foundation because I need pinker undertones, but I SWEAR by the primer and its more effective at smoothing and covering than a weightier foundation.

lyn*

(website)

Veteran

I mix my own foundation ... I'm not really a conventional "colour" (haha; exotic) so I found two colours that were the same as the lightest part of my face and the darkest part; and I mix equal parts with a Neutrogenea oil-free lotion. Wonderful blendable buildable coverage!

Ornella

(website)

Veteran

I have started using Bare Escentuals a few months ago and cannot recommend it enough.

Maya

Veteran

I tried Laura Mercier tinted moisturizer, but didn't like it. In fact, I tried several tinted moisturizers and didn't like any of them. They always slid off my skin and I looked greasy with spotty coverage by the end of the day. I tried "setting it" with powder and using primer, but it was just too many layers of crap on my face and still wouldn't stay put. I tried this first because I didn't want to look like I was wearing too much makeup, but it just never worked out.

From my experience, it's much easier to say no to foundation or heavy coverage when you have dry or balanced skin. For oily skin, I do think full coverage works better. Oily skin tends to have larger pores and more blemishes, and it needs a more "grabby" formula.

What I like about Aveda is that it just melts into my skin. I am not aware that it's there. It doesn't have the sticky, heavy feeling of a liquid, and it's more effective than a TM.

I also tried BE and didn't like that either. I found if I didn't use a lot (as per the instructions), it looked invisible. If I used more, it would look cakey.

You'll probably have to try a few things before figuring out what works for you because it's all so personal.

Becky

Veteran

Thanks, everyone, for sharing your recommendations and experiences.

@Beth and Mac -- Those sites look like some great resources. I'll be sure to check them out.

@Maya -- I remembered your review of the Aveda product when I posted this, and I'm glad you chimed in. I actually had checked out the site after you posted your review, but the price kind of scared me off. I think I may just have to realize that drugstore products may not work for me in the category of foundation, as it's the most important part of my makeup routine for my far-from-perfect skin. I'm sure you're right that this will be a trial-and-error experience.

@Anna, Janet, and Angie -- I really doubt tinted moisturizer would be enough coverage for me. You all must have naturally beautiful skin! Anna, maybe I'll try the LM foundation. Or Janet's suggestion of Makeup Forever HD. Anything that was too heavy for those who like tinted moisturizer might just be the ticket for me.

@Kari -- Thanks for your detailed response! I am really tempted to give BE a try in spite of the price. Thanks for the money-saving tips.

@Scarlet and Lynne -- Thank you for mentioning Shisheido! I hadn't ever heard of this brand. It may be worth a look for me as it seems like most makeup manufacturers believe everyone with fair skin is rosy and pink. And Lynne, thanks for mentioning primer. I have never tried wearing primer, but wonder if it might be worth a try for me.

@Lyn -- I think I'm too lazy and impatient for this method!

@Ornella -- Thanks for another vote for BE.

Is anyone familiar with Sephora? Which of these brands would I be able to check out in person at Sephora?

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Becky, Maya may have a point. I have normal to dry skin and tinted foundation is *perfect*. I do not need heavy coverage which is why I won't wear foundation. I look like an opera singer when I wear foundation. Not a pretty sight

Maya

Veteran

I don't think you necessarily have to stay away from drug store products at all. As far as beauty products are concerned, I'm 100% convinced that price has NO correlation with quality at all. All you have to do is look at the ingredients and compare. Some brands that have the same parent company will sell virtually the same formula at two different price points, but use different marketing and packaging for the more expensive version.

Aveda works well for me, and meets some of my other misc. criteria (I do not buy products that are animal tested), so I use it and I'm happy to pay for it, but I don't think it's necessarily better than a drug store brand. I just haven't found a drug store brand I like. But I also haven't found a Sephora brand I like either, and most of them are actually far more expensive. Aveda is really mid-range as far as prices go.

All of my hair and skincare products are drug store brands, though.

KristineK

I'd like to second Beth's recommendation about Paula Begoun's website. I bought one of her books a few years ago (Don't Go to the Cosmetics Counter Without Me) and it was a real eye-opener. In addition to the specific product reviews it included a lot of information about those long lists of ingredients you find on the product packaging... what functions they serve, which you should look for and which you should avoid, etc. I think her website would be an excellent place to start.

Ornella

(website)

Veteran

Maya, just a quick one about BE. I have read that they changed the formula slightly recently, as before it used to be a bit 'cakey'.

Becky, I have been to the BE counter a few times and let the girls put the foundation on, so I can wear it for the day and see if it works. I loved it from the word go, but since it was a bit pricey and bit of a risk to change my long-used and trusted Clinique foundation, I needed some convincing

Becky

Veteran

@Kristine -- Thanks. I will definitely check it out.

@Ornella -- I bit the bullet and ordered the BE Get Started kit. They had a new shade (Golden Fair) that looked just right for me. I also ordered some Prime Time Foundation Primer after reading the reviews.