The Makeup: Foundations I am Loving

I am super picky when it comes to foundations. Mainly because I have combination skin - very dry and flaky in some areas (but its getting better now due to my updated skincare!) and oily in my t-zone. Not to mention I am also acne-prone and have to make sure I don't use makeup bases that clog my pores (clogged pores = trouble). However, I managed to find three products that I can use and like.



First off is the Revlon Nearly Naked Foundation. Ulta is having a 40% off sale for this product so if you live in the US or have access to an ULTA (I hate you) then head over and grab it. For the ladies hailing from the true north (a.k.a. that place where its STILL snowing in April!?!?) then this is available in your local drugstore. I bought mine at Shoppers. My shade is 170 Natural Beige and although right now its a bit dark, I imagine it would make a better match when I develop a bit of a tan during the summer months. This foundation is very light, light to medium coverage and blends well on well-moisturized skin. The texture is very similar to a tinted moisturizer like the Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer. If you have always wanted to try the TM from Laura Mercier but is put off by their price (an astounding C$55) then maybe give this a try and see how it fares with you. If your skin leans on the oilier side, you will probably need to powder with this.

Next up is the Make Up Forever HD Invisible Cover Foundation. This is a lovely oil-free medium to full coverage foundation that sits really well on my combo skin. I bought mine at Sephora (my shade is 120 Soft Sand) and if you are going downtown (Toronto) anytime soon and haven't been to the newly relocated/renovated Sephora inside the Eaton Centre then you must go as they have a fabulous counter dedicated to MUFE with their MUA's. Get color matched - I get foundation shade to match my chest - and ask for a sample (resist buying right away - store lighting is tricky at best). Then take it home and give it a good trial in different lighting to make sure the shade is right for you. As the name of this foundation suggests, this would be really good for photos/videos as it gives you a very flattering HD finish (not too matte, nor shiny). For the most natural look, start with a sheer layer by using a minimal amount. If you need more coverage then add another layer as this is buildable and still won't give you a cakey look.

Finally, and the most loved out of the three, I picked up the Estee Lauder Double Wear Light foundation recently. And its love, love, love! My shade is Intensity 2.0 which is sold out online, but still available on makeup counters. There is a gift-with-purchase going on right now at Sears so its the best time to grab any Lauder products you've been eyeing (like the Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair perhaps?). Yes, I am an enabler and I apologize. Now back to the foundation. If like me, you prefer a more natural look and don't necessarily want/need a full coverage foundation, like the Estee Lauder Double Wear then this is a really nice everyday base to try. I found that applying this with my fingers works best which is a great time saver! The product blurb says its "15-hour wear and controls oil" which I put to the test recently (13 hour day) and it lasted beautifully the entire time although it did start to look a little shiny by the 11th hour - nothing a bit of powder-ing won't fix. Another thing to point out is that the Double Wear Light has very little SPF which translates to no photo flashback (that unflattering white-ghost look for pictures using flash photography) so this is a good alternative to the MUFE HD foundation for photos. 

I hope you enjoyed this read! I have a  few posts lined-up that should be about the other makeup products I am loving sorted by category so watch out for those =)

*Disclaimer: All items mentioned are purchased with my own money and I am in no way affiliated with the mentioned sites and companies (i wish lol)