It has been a good few years since I had done some foundation testing. With new formulations constantly emerging, I thought it might be time to possibly expand my range. Foundation is the hardest product to get right and it is so obvious when it is wrong. The garish fluorescent lighting in department stores only makes it harder to see if it matches. Beauty counter staff can be helpful but vary in their knowledge, get the wrong one and another mistake purchase is likely. Don’t be tempted to test it on the back of your hand, as the colour is different to your face. Best to ask for a sample and try it at home in natural light, it’s not just the colour that needs to be right. It’s the formulation.
Please note that I am basing the testing of the following products on how they looked and felt on my skin. Take into account what your skin type is and if the formulation will be right for you.
NARS Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturizer SPF 30
I recently invested in the Nars tinted moisturiser. As the weather gets warmer, I prefer to let my skin breathe a little. Smashbox and Laura Mercier are old favourites. The Nars RTM gave me a slight bronzed glow and it has a lovely light silky texture with a dewy finish a little goes a long way but if you have any blemishes you will need a concealer. It’s a keeper.
Nars All Day Luminous Weightless Foundation
Now I have been reading about this everywhere online. I got a couple of samples in the colours Tahoe and Cadiz. When I first tried this my skin was extremely dry, so it wasn’t ideal. Firstly let me point out that I couldn’t believe how little is needed to cover the entire face. A single drop gives the face a good coverage. Based on this alone this foundation would be very good value for money. Once applied, you do need to work quickly with a beauty blender, foundation brush or even your fingers to get an even finish. It covers blemishes and uneven skin tone extremely well with a velvety finish. However, I felt like it was clinging to the dry patches on my face and as a result felt heavy on my skin. I persevered as I wanted to see how it would wear throughout the day. It lasted very well but again due to my skin being dry it did get a bit patchy. As for the colour, I went with Cadiz but I am undecided as it is not an exact match, it looked slightly orange on me. I will be going back to test another colour and maybe after mixing two colours I will create the perfect shade. I did apply this again a week later when my skin felt more hydrated and it was comfortable and long wearing. Impressive and a must for all you Nars fans. I did find it had a bit of flashback so if you are going to be photographed it’s not ideal. I wouldn’t use this on brides for that very reason.
Chanel Vitalumiere
I have friends that absolutely adore this foundation. It was perfection to apply and the coverage is fairly light but it is buildable up to medium coverage. My skin felt hydrated and it gives a dewy finish. My gripe, yes the colour. I tried 60 Hale and it is too light and there are only eight shades in the range, so am not holding my breath.
Laura Mercier Silk Crème Foundation
I really like this foundation. It feels like you are not wearing makeup and gives really good coverage. The colour cashew is too light, I was in a hurry and the beauty consultant decided this was my colour and I didn’t check (big mistake). This is why you should always get a sample first, never just buy it. Believe me I had a draw full on useless purchases prior to my training. It is a cream foundation so if you are used to a sheer foundation this will feel different but it is really comfortable on the skin and provides long lasting velvety finish. Apply a small amount and make sure you blend it really well. Don’t use too much as it can look like a mask.
Bobbi Brown – Intensive Skin Serum Foundation SPF40
A brand new launch from the amazing Bobbi Brown. Part foundation/part skincare with SPF. This felt fabulous on my skin. It gives a light coverage like a tinted moisturiser and the added SPF is a great bonus for all of you that forget to apply sunscreen. Did it last all day? No, not quite but as more of a tinted moisturiser that’s to be expected. The packaging is gorgeous but be warned, the dropper applicator is messy.
Conclusion
So my list is by no means exhaustive, with so much available on the market it is difficult to keep up, however I will continue to swatch others. I was disappointed as I really wanted to find something that I loved. My skin can be a little patchy and can be difficult to match without it looking flat, yellow, grey etc. etc. At present I will be reserving my judgement and sticking to my Bobbi Brown foundation stick and the Armani Luminous Silk. Please feel free to let me know what your recommendations are and what works for you.