La Mer The Soft Fluid Foundation, which I still get irritated about purchasing, but it sits on my skin SO well the most often while providing a great finish (particularly in real life) with the perfect level of coverage (for my preference).
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I’m super happy with my Chanel Les Beiges foundation! It’s a light coverage that just looks like beautiful skin. I’m too tan for my winter shade by now so I might splash out for it again in my new shade.
Dior Airflash – both the primer/radiance mist and the spray foundation (though the latter is a bit of a pain to use). The effect of the primer on its own or the foundation on its own is fantastic and used together, they were uber-fantastic.
For some reason, I only ever bought high end foundations. I had bad reactions to any drugstore foundation as a teenager, so I couldn’t bring myself to buy any even as an adult. It’s totally irrational given the great quality of certain drugstore brands, but I don’t really experiment a lot with foundation, since I only wear it on occasions so it takes years to finish. I have become VERY picky with both ingredients and expected results.
Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua is not exactly a splurge given there are products at much higher price points, but it’s been my ride or die forever. Other things that were definitely worth the price were the Hourglass lighting powders, though I only buy mini sizes because it’s going to take forever to even hit pan on anything lol. And Guerlain Cruel Gardenia, a splurge only to wear on special occasions.
Other things Chanel that were absolutely worth it were the LD blush Horizon and the 4 colors Soleil Tan a few years back: when I need something I know it’s going to look amazing and last for hours, I always go for them.
I’ve noticed the same for me: although there are plenty of good drugstore complexion products, I always gravitate to high end.
When it comes to complexion, that 5-10% slightly better is worthwhile the money for me. Also, even when considering similar shade ranges on numbers of shades, high end complexion products have a better match for me; drugstore light-medium shades are usually too pink/cool (some brands assume that light complexions are pink and only darker skintones are warm) or come in a very unflattering yellow undertone.
The search for the right color that doesn’t make me look dead…argh! It’s been so long I had forgotten about that!
I don’t have regrets for anything high end or lux product that I’ve purchased. I won’t say any of it isn’t worth the price but can you find decent, great, and sometimes better for much better…absolutely !
Two: the La Mer Soft Fluid foundation for all the reasons you listed, and the Sisley-Paris Phyto-Poudre Libre Loose Powder. I swear, that powder does something magic to my skin, and is well worth the splurge.
It’s a good thing I can make my complexion products last a bit…
I was going to say my splash is the Sisley loose powder. It mattifies my oily skin without making me look flat. Magic is a good word for the final effect (which sadly is not the same for the Sisley blurring powder for me).
I do not view Estee Lauder Futurist Hydra Rescue necessarily as a splurge, but I purchased two shades which takes it into splurge territory. I think it is worth of it in terms of texture, finish, coverage and also that I can nail down my skintone having both on hand.
I also have a love for Sunday Riley UncompliKated soft focus finishing spray. I view the price point for a setting spray as a splurge, but I like to layer sunscreen products and find this spray makes my skin look its best in Summer. In winter, I am too dry for this setting spray. it’s on sale right now at Sephora. I’m guessing it is going goodbye… ugh.
Love Armani Luminous Silk… it looks just like my skin and the tone is perfect. I’ve never had a foundation match so perfectly. I’m 3.75. I keep hunting for another foundation but keep returning to Luminous Silk.
Three winners that I buy regularly are ALL worth the dough! Drunk Elephant Protini Peptide, Dr. Dennis Gross Ferulic & Retinol Eye Serum, and Ole Henriksen Truth Serum. However, the Truth Serum went out of stock during Sephora’s sale, so I ordered the Farmacy Very Cherry one in its place since Tarababyz always raves about how kind it is to her likewise sensitive skin.
Since I’m not that into luxury brands, I think my biggest splurge was Lancome Teint Idole concealer, which was definitely worth every penny. It did wonders for my creasy wrinkly dry under eyes, which have had dark circles and fine lines since I was like… 12. 😅 Shade match was also on point.
But I the complexion splurge I will be always happy I made is purchasing my first Estee Double Wear foundation. It was a splurge because in my early 20s I didn’t had that much money. But I would spend it on drugstore foundations that looked awful and didn’t matched me (in the early 2000s in Eastern Europe few drugstore brands had more than 5 shades 😅 ). But once I tried Double Wear I fell in love with complexion products, it wasn’t anymore just a product I used to cover my acne marks, it was something that lasted all day and made my skin look perfected. And it lasted me a long while… I was wondering why people were complaining about being a heavy foundation… until I realized I use like 1/4 of what “beauty gurus” slap on their face. 😅
the armani power fabric foundation balm… i bought one discounted a whim when barney’s closed and i was SO MAD when i first swatched it on my hand because i already knew it was gonna be Good. and it is! it’s so good! it makes my skin look FLAWLESS and it barely feels like anything’s there!
I agree with La Mer Soft Fluid Foundation. It’s really good but not absolutely perfect for me. However, I have discovered that if I mix it with a half pump of GA Luminous Silk, it is divine! I thought I was only imagining things, but once I found this combo even my husband felt the need to let me know how good my foundation looked. And he has NEVER commented on my foundation before!
Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk foundation, it’s perfection. Every time I wear it I just love how my skin looks.
There are not many complexion products that I buy, but if Clarins ever did another of their Everlasting foundations in a porcelain rose, I would buy it. It was that good.
I swear Armani luminous silk foundation and have for years. Since I don’t wear makeup as often since retirement, I buy the small size of almost everything to avoid waste. My favorite and really only finishing powder is Laura Mercier. I tend to buy mid to higher end and don’t regret it.
I just bought La Mer foundation during thee Sephora sale. I am trying it tomorrow and will let you know what I think.
I just tried the Tom Ford Traceless Soft Matte foundation. Its nice, but I won’t repurchase it. I’m at the age where everything I’ve known and loved just doesn’t seem to work. Everything clings to dry patches and settles into my fine lines. I wanted to try the LaMer, but there isn’t a shade light enough. I think I’ll try the Tom Ford illuminating foundation next. I would welcome any suggestions.
Dior serum foundation – its so versatile for me. I mix some in with sunscreen and make my own moisturizing tint. I love its consistency and how it feels like nothing.
Well at $36 it’s prob less of a splurge than others, but Urban Decay optical illusion primer was my HG and I repurchased it a bunch of times. It literally made my skin look better than any foundation ever has. I’m so sad it’s discontinued!
Lancome Teint Idole 24H Longwear Foundation. It has a shade and undertone match for me, it’s full coverage without feeling heavy, and stands up to both my oily skin and hot summer temperatures.