Hey lovelies! I thought I'd share with you my current top five foundations. A few of them have been adored by me since they were first released years ago(!) and a couple of fairly new ones that I've tried just recently - i.e., in the couple of months that I've absolutely been loving that needed to be included ASAP! >_< :D
For reference, I have dry to dehydrated skin, so I find all these products work for me provided I prep my skin beforehand with a good moisturiser. I also live in dry weather conditions - both in winter and in summer. So, the wear and longevity of these foundations may vary depending on your skin condition type and weather conditions that you experience.
// Chanel Vitalumière Loose Powder Foundation
Out of all the foundations, this is my absolute favourite. (Click here for my full review of it). I have used this one the most in the last year. This comes with an ultra-soft mini kabuki brush that's perfect for applying this powder. It gives medium to full coverage. The coverage can be built very easily and quickly by dabbing or pressing a little more powder onto the skin. Then, buff the powder in circular motions to blend it out. The powder never gets caky or look thick and powdery even after layering, but do note that you don't really need too much of this on. Out of all the foundations, I find this one wears the most beautifully - actually, the complexion looks better as the day goes on and looks glowing (not oily or shiny, but slightly luminous and healthy looking) and skin-like by the end of it! In fact, I often feel sad to remove my makeup off before going to bed, because of how good my skin looks! This stuff feels almost weightless on the skin as the powder is incredibly fine so it looks imperceptible on the skin, but there's a lot of it so it carries a lot of pigment. The finish is exactly what it was designed to do - creates a "light box" effect on the skin, or a healthy, luminosity. The skin looks even and smooth. There is no shine, shimmer, or oiliness. That "lit from within" glow is achievable with this product and one that does it with the most natural-looking finish. Application is so quick and easy once you get the hang of it. It took me a few goes as I was used to liquid foundations. I find it's actually quicker than the latter because you don't need to set it (with powder) unlike with liquid foundations, and I don't need to get my hands dirty during application. It's also very easy and quick to blend out because of how fine the texture is. This is a gorgeous foundation that works even on dry/dehydrated skin like mine. Once, I'd forgotten to apply moisturiser and I applied this on and it still looked alright - not the best way to do it(!) and you should never do that, but I was surprised that it didn't look as bad as it should have. It didn't seem to accentuate any dryness that I had. Overall, it melds flawlessly on the skin. I think this would suit all skin types. Brilliant. I don't know why it's not talked about enough! Although I must say the shade range in Chanel is usually limited (the darkest shade being No. 50), so there really isn't a shade available for those who have darker skin tones (~NC40-45 or darker), which is unfortunate.
// By Terry Cover Expert
This was previously my go-to foundation for years, before I purchased the Chanel Vitalumière Loose Powder Foundation. So, I'd say it's my second favourite. This one blends very easily so it applies just as well with clean fingers as with a brush. It has a velvety, matte finish, but with a natural, slight radiance. It also delivers medium to full coverage without looking mask-like and thick on the skin. This foundation is fluid, but it is not too thick or too thin. I highly recommend you try this out if you're looking for a full coverage foundation in liquid form. I imagine this would also work for all skin types, but especially on those with oily or combination skin. I do need to use two foundation shades to get the perfect match though (a No. 9 Honey Beige and No. 10 Golden Sand), and adjust the proportions of each depending on if I have a tan or not. Note, this foundation has now been reformulated late last year, and it is called By Terry Cover Expert SPF 15+. The obvious difference is the addition of a teeny bit of sun protection (I don't know why they bother! Please add at least SPF 30+!!), but I'm not sure what else is new about it so I can't say if the results will be exactly the same. Hopefully it's just as good if not better! Fingers crossed. >_< If anyone knows please leave a comment. The updated foundation is now available at Mecca.
// Perricone MD No Foundation Foundation
This is a recent discovery. I think those with normal or dry to dehydrated skin types will enjoy the moisturising texture and feel of this. As this is meant for a "no makeup" look, it only has a sheer coverage similar to a tinted foundation or BB cream. The finish looks just like skin, but well moisturised, dewy and supple. If I need extra glow and don't want to wear much makeup, or just don't need it because you're skin is in fairly good condition, this is the one I use. It has good sun protection of SPF 30 and because it is sheer, you can easily apply quite a bit of it on and massage well it onto your skin like you would an SPF and not worry about it looking like you're wearing makeup (that is if you did not want to apply SPF separately underneath this). I like that it is a small, convenient glass bottle, but still contains the standard 30 ml / 1 fl. oz. of product and it comes with a pump that dispenses a sufficient amount for a light layer.
// EX1 Invisiwear Liquid Foundation
Another recent discovery of mine. Brilliant for those with olive skin tones like myself who struggle to find the foundation shade with the right undertone. Many are pink-toned so they can look ashy, or they are too orange. This brand has all the shades available from light to dark skin tones, but have an olive undertone. The shade I have, F200 is a perfect match for my current summer tan skin tone (~NC35). It has a natural, skin-like to slightly dewy finish. The formula is scent-free and oil-free. It has a slightly thicker fluid consistency, but I can still apply it with clean fingers without any problem. You can also apply it with a dampened Beauty Blender sponge for more of a dewy finish. It has a medium to full coverage, and has great longevity on the skin from morning to night. This is a great find!
// Chanel Vitalumière Aqua Foundation
This is a lightweight, water-based foundation. Excellent for all skin types and those who don't like wearing anything heavy on their skin. I've worn this for several years and it's still one of my favourites to this very day and having tried many other foundations that have been released since this came out. It has a light to buildable medium coverage. I have the shade in Beige 30 which is good for winter on me.
Swatches
All swatches below were applied on medium, olive skin (~NC30-35), and photographed indoors using a strobe. All were swatched reasonably heavily to depict the shades.
Thanks for visiting...and yay for the weekend! ^_^ xo
What are your current top 5 foundations?
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