Let's Talk Foundation
Have you ever thought how hard it is to pick a foundation nowadays? I mean think about like 10-15 years ago and now... Don't you think that a lot has changed since then? There are so many brands and so many different products that promise so many things.. However, how do you decide which foundation to pick?
Before internet came into my life or let's say blogs, I always got my foundations depending on what I read in magazines or I just picked what seemed promising. There were some disappointing products and some were good, you never knew what might get until you actually gave it a try. Also, there weren't so many brands when I was a teenager and even the "not high-end" ones were pretty expensive. Unlucky me...
I have some questions about foundation, let's start with the first one!
How do you pick your foundation shade?
This is something I've been struggling with all the time. I even got some foundations with colour match and at that moment they looked good, then later on they either looked too dark or too light. Don't you hate it when it happens? When you pick your foundation in summer then it might be too dark in winter or if you pick in winter it might be too light for later on... It's just a struggle isn't it? Sometimes I mix the foundations just to get the right shade, however, then I don't get the full efficiency of the foundation, because of different consistencies. Also, I don't tend to buy two different shades of the same foundation, because I like to try new ones. So do you think there's a right season to pick a foundation or do you just need to change the foundation depending on the season?
What are your high-end and budget foundations?
When there are so many brands, it must be really hard to pick one, however, it also depends on the budget. When I was a student (been student for so long-around 20 years... crazy!) I always looked for a budget but a good one, luckily there are many option on budget scale too. I think L'Oréal, Max Factor, Bourjois, Rimmel, Maybelline and No7 have some great foundations for every skin type and budget. Max Factor Face Finity, L'Oréal True Match and No7 Stay Perfect are my favourites on budget foundations. They are good at giving really nice finish, my skin looks flawless after applying any of these! When it comes to high-end, I haven't tried many products, but the ones I've used are NARS Sheer Glow, which I absolutely love, and MAC Pro Longwear, which is perfect for oily skin! What I believe is you could actually find some great products without paying so much money, however, when you want one then you should go for it!
I don't have any favourite undertone for foundation. Sometimes I wear yellow undertone and sometimes pink undertone one, it just depends on the look I am going for. Which undertone do you go for?
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142 Comments
I love maybelline and olay :) Such great buy LOve this one on you <a href="http://www.thebandwagonchic.com/" rel="nofollow">The Bandwagon Chic</a> | <a href="https://instagram.com/thebandwagonchic/" rel="nofollow">Instagram</a> | <a href="https://www.bloglovin.com/blogs/bandwagon-chic-14303811" rel="nofollow">Bloglovin</a> | Snapchat: bandwagonchic
They have good ones too, I love Olay's tinted creams, they are good x
You're right, picking up a new foundation is really hard and I still haven't found my HG. I normally choose warm undertones and use different products in summer and winter, because of the shade issue you mentioned. http://carolinapage.eu
Such a struggle! I choose warm undertones too, they look better on me.
I recently splurged on Estee Lauder Double Wear but I'd love to try the MAC! It's so hard to find a foundation that hides my rosy cheeks, but, looking at your swatches, they look great! Erin | http://erinbells.blogspot.co.uk
I tried EL and it was really good, it is in my wishlist :) It is really hard to find a foundation that will hide the flaws and won't look fake! x
I found my perfect shade, but now I've come back from my holiday my face is tanned so I need a different one, oops! Corinne x www.skinnedcartree.com
What a shame... Hope you find a good one:) xx
I have been using a MAC foundation for as long as I can remember but I rarely to never actually wear it, only when I want to go "all out". N- <a href="http://www.naomiinwonderland.com" rel="nofollow">Naomi in Wonderland</a>
Mac is good and when I am running low I always save the last bits for night-outs :) x
i've got thousands! :) xx isa www.un-likely.com
Ha ha it must be so hard to pick one :) xx
I always try to get a sample before I purchase. It's so hard to tell if it matches while you're in the store! The worst is when you have a foundation that starts out great and then breaks you out 2 days later. Awesome! prettyneutral.com
I don't usually do that, either I check the shade myself or get matched then some turns out really bad! I have oily skin so I hate it when a foundation breaks out my skin, it is hard to find that won't do that. xx
Just recently I published a post with foundation tips. Check it out if you are interested in this topic! As for the undertone, it is something that can not be favorite... You may have lighter or darker skin tone (depending on the season), but your undertone always stays the same. It can be either beige/yellow (warm), rosy/pink (cool) or neutral (mix of warm and cool). If you do not know what your skin type is, look at your veins, if they are blue your skin type is cool, if green - warm, if it is something in between blue and green - neutral. Have a good day! xx Makeup Tips Everyone Should Know // www.keenonbeauty.com
That's so informative, thank you so much! I will definitely check out your post. Have a good day xx
I hate foundation, it is the bain of my life at the moment lol. I am essentially a simpson, pale and yellow. Everything makes me look orange, everything apart from MAC NC15.. so I use studiofix, I would love to try something else, but everytime I get a sample I am given the wrong shade.... neverending battle! I need to get a NARS counter and get me a bottle of sheerglow, but nearest one is about 50 miles away... so will need to wait until a big shopping trip :) http://www.makeerinover.blogspot.com
That's bad, it is really hard to find the right shade. Even tho there are many different foundations, sometimes you just can't find the right one. Hope you will be able to pick one that matches you in Nars :) xx
This is a fab post hun, I remember finding it so hard to find a foundation when I first started out in makeup, this is so helpful! Elle www.theellenextdoor.com xx
I had the same problem, well I still have it :) xx
I usually go with a more yellow undertone, but to be honest I´d probably need a neutral undertone. Picking the right color is still, to this day, a big struggle for me... <a href="http://www.lindalibraloca.com/" rel="nofollow">Linda, Libra, Loca: Beauty, Baby and Backpacking</a>
I try to go for different undertones to see how they look on me, however not really sure which one looks better. It is definitely not easy to find a perfect one...
Agree. We don't seem to fit the cosmetic industries color scheme I guess.
I love foundations and have a variety - I prefer them with a yellow undertone as they just give your skin a really beautiful, healthy glow! I'm loving the GOSh foundation drops at the moment, they're wonderful as they provide coverage and feels so lightweight on the skin! :) Layla xx http://www.sprinklesofstyle.co.uk
Haven't tried any foundations from Gosh, it sounds really good. I might need to check it out. Yellow tones definitely gives such a nice glow xx
Love this post. I always find it a struggle to find the perfect foundation, especially on the high street. There's usually something I have to compromise on. xx
That's right. Especially for oily skinned people it is really hard to find one that will look natural and has so many shades xx
I find it hard to find a foundation and get confused because there are so many to choose from! Sarah | Moved to: www.whatsarahwrites.com
I am the same! Sometimes it takes me ages to pick a shade, then I regret that I pick that one... x
Great post! I really struggle with foundation and usually end up buying the same one over and over again. Gemma xx www.jacquardflower.uk
Well at least you wouldn't go wrong with the one you know, I have so many that I don't use because they just don't look right *sigh* xx
I think that no matter how much experience with makeup somebody has, picking out the right shade of foundation will always be a struggle! I am just beginning to understand what finish is good for me ! https://fannyanddailybeauty.wordpress.com
Definitely agree with that! I still don't have a clue which one looks good on me and which on I like, I am still experimenting :) xx
I tend to stick with a more yellow undertone, especially with my darker foundations for when I'm tanned. I think finding the right shade will always be a struggle, I try to pick something a little lighter than I can bronze up if necessary. x Megan | http://www.meganjean.co.uk
Yellow undertones gives really nice glow, I tend to go for it when I am tanned. It is a good idea to go for a lighter shade especially if you pick it in summer then it would still be ok for winter. xx
I think I should check out for a loreal foundation, cos I previously tried the one from Maybelline and I don't feel like I like it on my skin. And choosing a foundation for my skin sometimes is just based on my mood hihi.. xoxo Jhem | <a href="http://jhemsays.com" rel="nofollow">JhemSays.com</a>
L'Oreal one is good too and there are so many shades, you should check it. Ha ha it is a good way of picking a foundation :) xx
yep, I realize I'm like that hihi
choosing the right foundation is so hard, I always go to sephora and have them match my colour. even then though, sometimes I'll get home and hate it because it looks too dark or light in natural light. I have a hard time finding foundation that works, they don't make many options for people with yellow undertones! <a href="http://www.hippielace.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow">Emmett - Hippie Lace</a>
I have the same problem. It never looks the same like it does in the store, might be because of the lights! Yellow undertones look nice but yeah hard to find the one that matches you.
I usually go with a more yellow undertone, but it's not easy to find a perfect tone. xx karinanopaisdasmaravilhas.com
Unfortunately not easy xx
Really informative post. I find it really hard to get the perfect shade. Usually the lightest one is still too dark for my skin tone (: Nati xx www.simplyartdicted.com
Ah that's bad, it must be such a struggle *light skin problem* :) xx
I always hear great things about the Nars Sheer Glow. I agree foundation is one of the hardest makeup products to shop for My favorites are the Urban Decay Naked Foundation and drugstore-wise the CoverGirl 3-in-1 is amazing! XO <a href="http://www.thevanitypear.com/" rel="nofollow">VanityPear</a>
I haven't tried UD one however heard great thing about it, it is one of the foundations I want to try. We don't have CG here *sigh* xx
totally agreed that nowadays hard to pick up a foundation because of big variety! http://differentcands.blogspot.com/
Such a big struggle!
Oh wow, is your undertone quite neutral? I for one wouldn't be able to make a foundation with pink undertone work! It IS a lot of work to pick the right foundation. I wouldn't want to try one with fiddly packaging even if the formula might be great (I wouldn't get a foundation with no pump, and YSL Fusion Ink with that weird wand is also a no-go). I don't go for full coverage, so that's also something I can take off the list. Oh and since I have combination skin, I try to go for something that is not too dewy. Those go wrong on me very easily as well!
I like the dewy look however oily skin and dewy look don't really go great together! I don't really go for full coverage too, I have some but I mostly use them for special occasions. You have some good criteria, I can't really stick to my criteria then end up regretting.
Nars sheer glow and Mac Pro long wear are some of my fave foundations because they have yellow undertones which suits my skin tone! Great post Ela! :) x Arwa http://cremerose.blogspot.com
They are really good and look great on the skin! Thank you :) xx
I've never tried foundation, It's so scary to me. I have to get the courage to try it! God bless, Xo, Claire Http://www.littlemissfashionqueen.com
It is hard to change the foundation you got used to, definitely need some courage xx
great post! I think I've only ever owned two foundations in my life...1 make-up forever and 1 ma factor. Been wanting to try lancome, l'oreal and chanel ones though! <a href="http://www.lifeisashoe.blogspot.com" rel="nofollow">lifeisashoe</a>
I don't have anything from muf, however there are some I so want to try. x
I am beige all the way! I do like to experiment with foudations - more budget than high end though. Even though I do have high end ones that I love, I am always tring to find budget ones I love too :) x <a href="http://www.brendabusybee.co.uk" rel="nofollow">Brenda BusyBee</a>
I am the same. There are some great budget ones and if it doesn't work well on your skin then you are not wasting so much money for something you won't ever use :) xx
I really do love this post and like I've said before your photography and detail is gorgeous - really looking forward t seeing your next post! :) Layla xx http://www.sprinklesofstyle.co.uk
Aww thank you so much :) x
Beautiful photos, as per! I don't wear foundation as much anymore (tend to just stick with concealer) but I use No7, their match made service is super handy! I'd love to treat myself to a NARS foundation xxx Hannah x <a href="http://www.hannatalks.uk" rel="nofollow">hannatalks</a>
I don't always wear foundations but tinted moisturisers/CC creams. No7 is good in colour range and I really like match made service. xx
I don't really use foundation a lor, I mostly go for a BB-cream, but when I do want good coverage I mostly go for aa foundation by Vichy, I feel like you can never really go wrong with that brand! sallymeredith.co.vu
If it is something you always use then you wouldn't ever go wrong with it. It is best to have a foundation you could always rely on :) xx
I definitely buy foundations which are known for good coverage and mainly from the recommendations of bloggers. I'm always on findation to match me up shade wise after being matched up by MAC x han // <a href="http://emandhanxo.blogspot.co.uk" rel="nofollow">em&han xo</a>
Match made service is great, at least then you know your true shade. x
I've been using the same foundation for years! It's proven pretty faithful and it matches perfect (even for summer!) because I don't tan too well anyway... But I agree, I used to rely on ads in magazines to decide. It was actually my Mum who suggested I use the one that I have come to love (Rimmel's 25 Hour Foundation) Great post :) www.lindseyginge.com
Your mum told the right thing. Even tho I like trying different foundations, there is always one that I know I can always rely on. Thank you :) xx
I don't really wear foundation very often, I've had the same CoverGirl shade for like 3 years haha. Great post! xo Kiki http://colormekiki.com/
That's great if it still matches you. In summer I am like struggling to find a foundation that matches my skin tone. Thank you :) xx
Nice post! http://www.adelaacanski.com/
Thank you :)
I've been using a Lancome foundation for a couple of years. I'm afraid of changing and choosing the wrong one. Have a nice weekend! www.spring2spring.com
You shouldn't change it then, it is always best to go for the one that you can always rely on! x
I find it hard to find a good foundation because I'm so pale but luckily No7 do a great pale shade! x <a href="http://www.josies-journal.com" rel="nofollow">Josie’s Journal</a>
What a shame there's not a great range of pale skin. I like No7, they have many different shades and they can find the one matches your skin xx
Nice roundup, as always! I generally prefer foundations with a yellow undertone as they balance out the redness in my skin! www.vibrantbeautyblog.com
Yellow undertones also give really nice glow to the skin xx
I've used Laura Mercier Oil-Free Tinted Moisturiser for over a year and half and haven't looked back! If I'm looking for something with more coverage I go with the Silk Creme foundation which is just amazing! Albana Janjeva | Stylist | <a href="http://www.albanajanjeva.com/" rel="nofollow">albanajanjeva.com</a>
It must be a really great product then, I haven't tried anything from LM however there are some that I want to try xx
Haven't tried the Nars Sheer Glow yet, but I can hardly wait to! xx www.chroniclesoftheseers.com
It is a good one xx
I love this post, really helpful info about foundations! Never used Nars before, but will look into it! xx Melis http://fashionmews.com
Thank you so much :) xx
Lovely post, Ela! Bourjois is my most favourite budget foundation & MAC Pro Longwear is my no.1 among all high-end ones. It is just the best <3 Btw, how do you pick the right shade? Do you apply a bit on your wrist or neck? xox Nadia http://mielandmint.blogspot.co.uk/
Bourjois foundations are good. I mostly apply to my wrist, it works most of the times :) xx
I honestly do not wear foundation and stick to the BB cream. Still, this was a good read that I might need for future reference! :) <a href="http://annescribblesanddoodles.blogspot.com" rel="nofollow"><b>www.annescribblesanddoodles.blogspot.com</b></a>
BB creams are good too, I use them when I don't want to wear foundation :)
I usually prefer tinted moisturizers, but when I do wear foundation, I only have drugstore ones! My faves are bourjois healthy mix, and l'oréal true match. It's true, there are so many good budget foundations nowadays! <a href="http://www.samanthaseries.blogspot.ca/" rel="nofollow">Samantha Series</a> | <a href="https://www.bloglovin.com/blogs/samantha-series-13319933" rel="nofollow">bloglovin</a>
Your faves are also my faves too haha. They are really good. Tinted mousturisers are great, I like Nivea and Olay one x
Love this post! SMART. -Adi xxo www.fancycorrectitude.com
Thank you xx
I only use the YSL Toche foundation now. It's soooo light! What a great post and love the photos! www.petiteandpretty.com
I read great things about it, I like light foundations. Thank you so much :) xx
I'll be honest and say I hardly ever wear foundation, but BB creams and tinted moisturisers count... right? I'm a noob at this makeup thing so it's been difficult to find foundation shades that actually match my skin tone! Since BB creams come in slightly more limiting array of colours, it's hard for me to actually use a base product that looks good on my skin, haha! May | <a href="http://themayden.blogspot.com" rel="nofollow">THE MAYDEN</a>
BB/CC creams and tinted mousturisers are what I go for when I don't want to wear foundations. At least they give me a nice colour and glow.
I find it really hard to find my foundation shade, its always just a long decision next to the makeup counter xD I've recently just gotten into Estee Lauder and just got colour matched for that, it saved me a lot of time and money (since we can't return makeup here in the UK once we bought it!) It looks amazing on my skin and less sticky on my face! http://pawlean.com
I tried EL double wear foundation and it was really good. It is in my list, I want to get it when I finish some of my foundations. At least you made a right decision to get colour matched since you paid so much for it :) xx
I don't think I wore foundation before I read blogs as i could never find one that suited me well, so I stuck to concealer. Now I read 100 reviews when I want to buy something and always make sure I am picking up a sample to test first before actually buying it x <a href="http://www.beautywithcharm.com" rel="nofollow">Beauty with charm</a>
Before blogs it was kinda hard to know about all these different foundations that works on different skins, at least blogs are good references. I don't really pick samples. that's wrong. From now on I will make sure to pick up samples before I get it because it mostly looks different in the store. xx
I love Face Finity and True Match as well, they're so good! I have never tried the No7, but it sounds really good. I also love the Infallible one by L'Oreal. Figuring out your perfect shade is always a strugle, they're too light, too dark, too pink, too yellow... Really nice post, have a good day xx selenaponcestyle.blogspot.com.es
I like Infallible too, it is a good one. Picking the right shade will always be a struggle no matter what :) Have a great day xx
I'm pretty new to all this make up stuff but I usually use BB creams cause I want it to look as natural as possible but I might try some of the budget foundation you mentioned! x http://speckleoflisa.blogspot.com/
Natural look is what I try to go for most of the times. These budget ones are good, you should check them out x
I use products of Benefit.. i'm not an expert but i fell they are good products.. do you ever use them? XOXO like my FB page if you want, it would mean a lot to me :))) https://www.facebook.com/fashionneed09 have a great day vale http://www.fashionneed09.com/
I haven't tried Benefit ones however their products sound really good x
I love mousse foundations and I tend to go for a yellow undertone but like you I enjoy trying new ones out regularly! Suze | <a href="http://luxurycolumnist.com/" rel="nofollow">LuxuryColumnist</a>
I used to use mousse foundations, they are really light on the skin, I don't know why I stopped using them :) x
I love L'Oreal True Match, it's my favourite foundation! http://lxdia.blogspot.co.uk/
It is a good one :)
kesinlikle en zor şeylerden birisi fondöten seçimi her zaman zorlanmışımdır :)
Aynen bende, bir turlu emin olamadigim konu bu :)
Thanks for sharing! xoxo, Aubrie & Meg // Lovely & Luxe <a href="www.lovelyandluxe.com" rel="nofollow">www.lovelyandluxe.com</a>
Thanks for visiting :) x
The Nars Sheer Glow is on my list of products to try. I have only swatched it on my hand a the dept store and really loved the finish. This was such a great post. Keisha xo www.chrysalisgals.blogspot.com
It is a really good one. Thank you :) x
I have yet to try a MAC foundation, but the Pro Longwear sounds perfect for me! I tend to stick to yellow undertones wit my favorite Jane Iredale powdered foundation. xo Kelsey | www.abalancingpeach.com
Yellow undertones gives really nice glow, I really like it xx
I'm really pale, but my undertone is pretty warm, which makes foundation buying a little hard for me, since the palest shades tend to be more pink. My favorite foundation at the moment has to be Rimmel Lasting Finish 25hr foundation, it is cheap, looks great and stays for long! http://www.dulcedemango.com/
Ah it must be such a struggle for you. It is so hard to find a perfect shade in general anyway. I like Rimmel foundations, they are pretty good and so affordable.
I need to try Nars Sheer Glow, everyone has been saying how good it is. I also recently got the L'Oreal True Match foundation to see what its like and so far it seems okay - I've only tried it once so I can't wait to see how it fairs out in the next couple of weeks x <a title="Caitriona | Blog" href="http://caitrionatighe.blogspot.ie/" rel="nofollow">Caitriona | Blog</a>
such a great post! I love bourjois healthy mix and Estee Lauder double wear xx <a href="http://www.glossy-boutique.com" rel="nofollow">Glossy Boutique</a>
They are great, I need to get EL one as I only used it a few times from a friend :) xx
This has been a lovely distraction whilst my family have forced me to watch dr.who this evening haha! Thank you!!! (lifesaver) xx <a href="http://talisatalksbeauty.blogspot.co.uk/2015/09/ole-henriksen-invigorating-night-creme.html" rel="nofollow"> Ole Henriksen Invigorating Night Crème Review</a>
Ha ha :) Glad that it was a distraction :) xx
Yellow undertones are my favourite although being fairskinned its probably not correct for me! Lizzy | <a href="http://lizzyorr.blogspot.co.uk" rel="nofollow">by Lizzy</a> x
They just look good, don't they? x
I don't use this product at all - when I was a teenager I had ugly acne so I have been affraid of clogging pores so far)) But sometimes I want to choose some foudation and may be I'll bought it soon so your post is really important for me! I love yellow undertones and they fit me more that others.
I know your struggle, I had the same problems. These are good, I like them.
L'Oreal is good, I hope you end up liking it :) x
I am fair skinned with a cool undertone, I also go either way depending if I want to really hide my pink cheeks or just go with it! I agree there is so much to choose from nowadays, I currently have about four foundations in rotation (not incl. samples etc), and that's before we even get to BB creams/Tinted Moisturisers - the choices really are endless! The older I get the more light and natural I want my foundation to be, lucky we have so many good ones at both ends of the price scale now! :-) Lately I am really loving the Maybelline Dream Nude, it's great on my oily skin! My favourite foundation was a Prescriptives one I had yrs ago but they don't sell them in the U.K. that I know of.
I love Maybelline Dream Nude too, it is really light. It is a struggle to find the one that would like and finding a perfect shade is even harder!
The undertones of foundations still confuse me! I'm so pale I tend to go for the lightest shade and hope for the best. My all-time favourite foundation is Laura Mercier Oil-Free Silk Creme - it's flawless! x Becca | <a href="http://www.thebeautyinbox.com" rel="nofollow">theBeautyInbox</a>
I am having so much trouble to pick a right shade too, it is not easy! I haven't tried this one however I heard it is really good! x
I love Nars Sheer Glow too! I find it o hard to get a good shade with warm undertones though xx <a href="http://www.jasminetalksbeauty.com/" rel="nofollow"><i> Jasmine Talks Beauty </i> </a> | <a href="http://www.jasminetalksbeauty.com/2015/09/win-high-end-palette-of-your-choice-big.html" rel="nofollow"><i> High-End Palette Giveaway </i> </a>
Warm undertones don't look really good on me, I prefer the yellow ones xx
I always have this issue because sometimes they are far to dark for my complexion. Thanks for sharing this very helpful and I love the photos :) http://www.bauchlefashion.com
You are not alone, I am having the same problem and I can't find one that is just right. Thank you so much :) xx
Great post as usual. I love foundations not going to lie, I have ones from collection, rimmel, MAC and maybelline! I'm not fan of pink undertoned foundations purely because I do have quite rosy cheeks so it can make me look like a puffy tomato at some points but then again they're good for the winter. Charlotte // charlottespicks.blogspot.com xx
Pink undertones aren't for me too, just don't look as good as yellow undertones. In winter I have red cheeks and red nose, nothing is strong enough to hide it xx
I change the colour of my foundation depending on the season because I tend to tan easily, so I need a darker one for Summer and Spring and a lighter one for the cold months...but sometimes I go months without any foundation at all...at the moment I'm using essence foundation and I'm pretty happy with it. you are right that it is tricky nowadays because there are so many different products. http://modaodaradosti.blogspot.ba/
I haven't tried any foundation from Essence, I might check it out. xx