The WAR on Foundation

Maybe it’s that I’m a makeup addict. Maybe it’s that I can’t find a foundation I love. You decide.

WARNING: This is a lengthy post.

SO...

The past few years I’ve tried MOST of the foundations on the market. I have a very lovely skin color. One so lovely that on more than one occasions make up consultants/artists/associates whatever you call yourselves have exclaimed something along the lines of “Wow! I don’t think any lines make your color!” Not so exciting. I’m pale and usually categorized as beige…except I have neutral undertones that are more yellow. Yellow undertones are too yellow and neutral undertones are not yellow enough. Not even kidding. I also have “dull” skin (sometimes grey cast) and am prone to acne.

I spent a lot of time perfecting this picture obviously...

Anyhow, here’s a quick “review” of some of the foundations I’ve tried.

Loreal True Match-
Made me break out.

Revlon Colorstay-
Whitecast? Anyone else?

MAC Pro Longwear-
They’re not kidding, this stuff is LONG lasting. The first few days I used it it sucked my face in like a mask. And lasted A LONG time. MAC is just TOO yellow or TOO pink it doesn’t look right on me. And isn’t that great for your skin. I didn’t break out but I’m not sure I wouldn’t in due time. I got a lot of compliments on this when I blended a lot. But I'm on a mission to find the perfect match!

Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer-
I received many comments on how “healthy” my skin looked. But again, not my color and not much coverage. I don’t want to look cakey just don’t want to see scars underneath. On a day to day basis, I’m not spending a good twenty minutes covering and blending.

Makeup Mat Velvet Matifying Foundation-
Not enough “glow” for me. My dull skin looked like I was ten years older.

Makeup Forever HD-
I LOVE this stuff! The coverage is pretty good, it’s easy to apply another layer. I always felt beautiful putting this on. But at the end of the day, I couldn’t use 1-2 pumps like Sephora suggested, the price tag is HIGH to be buying so often, AND it wasn’t my exact color. If my boyfriend says your makeup isn’t blended in, not worth the $40+.

Cover FX Total Coverage Cream Foundation-
A lot closer to my skin than most other choices. However for a line that boasts having an exact match for every skin tone…where’s mine???? Besides that, I’d look in the mirror and feel heavy/slimy after a few hours. Probably an amazing choice for a lot of people just not for me.

Clinique Even Better Makeup-
Looked great in store. Sunlight is another story. I wore this for a few weeks but always felt/looked slimy.

Tarte Amazonian Clay 12 Hour Full Coverage Foundation-
This stuff made my skin burn. Not a great sensation. Also not my color. There aren’t as many colors to choose from.

Bobbi Brown Skin Foundation-
Doesn't cover that well and oxidizes like WHOAAAAAAAA!

Bare Minerals-
About five years ago when I was working at a salon an esthetician recommended I use this for my acne. I tried it but eventually got over the whole powder thing. Sometimes I just felt like liquid foundation just LOOKED better. I don’t remember too much about this first experience in my old age ;) but I do remember getting compliments.

A few months ago I bought the Bare Minerals starter kit (great deal & you get brushes!!) I liked how the color matched ALMOST perfect to my skin color. But when I went on my lunch I noticed that the powder was clumping where I was oily. I’d try to use the mineral veil to reapply but it didn’t really spread the clumps. I’m a pretty busy person and don’t want to be re-doing my makeup from scratch to avoid clumps multiple times a day. I don’t remember this happening five years ago, but didn’t really have time to mess with it so I gave up on Bare Minerals.

A few months ago I started getting some bad hormonal breakouts on my chin. This is probably another post in itself if you’re interested in what happened but basically I needed to switch to a non-comedogenic makeup to help assist in my skin recovery.

Cover FX is one of the options, I just didn’t like how it looked after a few hours & the way it made my skin feel.

I decided to go to the Bare Escentuals store (not Sephora...shocking I know) and see if they had any suggestions for the clumpiness.

Here’s what the chica sold me, a heavier covering brush (Heavenly Face Brush) which would help cover where I needed and focus in on rubbing that powder in, my original powder foundation (I ran out), a COMPACTED touch up mineral veil (final step or “setting powder”) which is better for touching up, and a lighter brush for powdering the under eye (Blending Brush.)

Not kidding, the heavier covering brush, along with her instructions to “buff” the powder longer have eliminated the clumping issue. It looks SO natural. My skin feels GREAT. It covers my acne scars. I’ve noticed I’m a lot less oily. The compacted mineral veil is a great way to touch up later on in the day—and actually helps with oil! It’s the cornstarch in it. Yes, I said cornstarch. Google it. Most of your powders have it! I do use the under eye brush and it's much better than using what's provided in the starter kit, but I still have been using an under eye concealor on top and blending it. I just love the way it looks! And it's pretty darn close to my skin color!

Before you go run out and get Bare Minerals…

If you do buy it and haven’t used it before, WATCH the video. There is a difference in swirling and buffing productively. SOME people have an allergy to some of the ingredients in mineral makeup. I’ve read some great results with people who have acne and in rare occasions, it makes some people break out.

It is non comedogenic though so it shouldn’t clog your pores like a lot of liquid foundation. 

For now, I’ve won the war on foundation. Dun dun dun.

DISCLAIMER: A lot of the foundations I've tried have great results with other people, they're just not for me personally.