Foundation is one of the most difficult makeup products to buy. The color has to match your skin tone, the formulation needs to be right for your skin type and it has to create the finish that you prefer. Achieve that perfect foundation trifecta and you have found yourself a winner.
I was very interested to read review.com’s recent study of the best foundations. They spent over 40 hours on research, gathered 364 best selling foundations and interviewed makeup artists. They even tried out color matching tools and tested the finalists on themselves. And they found two winners: MAC Studio Face and Body Foundation (Best sheer to medium coverage) and Estée Lauder Double Wear Stay-in-Place (Best medium to full coverage).
I have not carried out such an in-depth study, but over the years as a makeup artist I have come to choose my favorite foundations and MAC Face and Body Foundation has always been a makeup kit favorite. I even wrote about it in one of my first blog posts. I agree with review.com that this foundation although very sheer, is one of the best at creating a truly flawless skin that still looks like real skin. Once applied it doesn’t come off, even if you get wet! I use it also on model’s legs or other body parts that need a little coverage. It is sheer so if you prefer more coverage I recommend Make Up Forever Ultra HD Invisible Coverage foundation which is more coverage but still realistic looking. Review.com rated it best for dry skin as it contains humectant ingredients. It may not be the most glamorous of packaging but the price ($27/1.7oz) combined with the array of shades available and it’s unique skin-like finish, MAC Face and Body Foundation is well worth checking out.
The Estée Lauder Double Wear Stay-In-Place foundation is truly long lasting and I like to use it on brides or people with oily skin. It still provides realistic looking coverage but doesn’t budge during humid temperatures or on skin that is oily prone.
L’Oreal Paris True Match Super Blendable Makeup won for best drugstore foundation and I have to agree wholeheartedly. In fact when I was first starting out as a makeup artist and had a small budget to fill my pro kit, I would buy this foundation. There are so many shades that even if you pick one that is slightly off, it blends in well enough that it may not be that noticeable. Since you can’t try it on in the store, you could go for two shades that you feel match the best. You may find the perfect match or you can blend them.
Review.com tried some of the shade matching apps but concluded that in-person shade matching was by far the most reliable. I have to agree as many these apps rely on photography which leaves too much room for error based on lighting situations. Make sure to check out your foundation in natural light, outside of the store before committing to a shade.
Check out the rest of their in-depth study here.
For tips on how to apply foundation for the most flawless finish, you can watch my video here.
Have you found your perfect match?