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Best Cream Foundation

What's the best Cream Foundation that you've tried?

I’ve really been enjoying Tarte’s Double Duty Beauty Empowered Hybrid Gel Foundation, partially as it is more hydrating but more blendable and forgiving than a denser cream.

— Christine

32 Comments

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Deborah Avatar

I was looking online at this product that you like and saw this: “Winner of InStyle magazine’s ‘Best Beauty Buy’ award for Best Oil-Free Foundation, 2016”. I am thinking of trying it and love that they have pretty light shades but I don’t know which one to try. Glad you posted this!

Beth Avatar

I highly recommend it! It is the only foundation I ever used up and re-purchased. I use it with marc jacobs coconut primer and apply with just my fingers. Couldn’t be easier. It is also the only foundation I ever was complemented on.

The colors are confusing. I have porcelain, which is the lightest. I am about nc10-15 and very neutral. I think beauty professor had all the shades swatched with descriptions a while ago.

Kat Avatar

I used the Cover FX cream foundation about 5 years ago and I remember quite liking it, but I didn’t know much about makeup back then so I don’t know how it’ll hold up today, and that’s the only one I’ve used.

Karina Avatar

CoverFX Cream Foundation, Nars Radiant Cream Foundation, MAC Studio Tech. My favorite drugstore cream foundation is the Colorstay Whipped Creme by Revlon.

The CoverFX definitely gives more of a luminous finish than I would like, but the coverage is fantastic. I have the old packaging from before they moved to the dark green compact!

The Nars one surprised me because I thought it would make my skin look super shiny (I’m combo/oily) because of the radiant finish, but with the right primer and setting powder I don’t have problems with it. The coverage is buildable and I had to get one a few shades lighter so I wouldn’t look Trump Orange.

I started out using MAC Studio Tech years ago as I liked the consistency of it. I haven’t repurchased it in a few years because I seemingly went on a “liquid diet”.

Revlon Whipped Creme is great for the price, though the color tends to be a little gray at first. It dries down to a nice matte finish and gives full coverage. I’ve repurchased twice.

Vanessa Avatar

MAC mineralized cream foundation in the compact. I’ve gone through 2 of them, it has a nice natural to dewy finish and doesn’t cling on to dry patches. Great finish for NY winters (although it’s more like spring weather now).

Lea Avatar

I love the Armani Crema Nuda. It’s pricey, but it wears like a dream and I love the hydration it brings. I don’t own a lot of foundations overall, so I don’t mind paying for an expensive one if I truly love it and get wear out of it.

Wednesday Avatar

I’ve wanted to try both the Chantecaille Future Skin and the Suqqu Extra Rich.. but I can’t really get a handle on the shade choices and I already struggle with matches for my neutral light olive skin. Both brands too expensive to just take a stab at and both are something I would have to pick up on-line. Therefore, yet to commit. I have zero cream foundations in my considerable stash; topic has been on my mind since liquids at this point can be drying on me (I usually add +CC to create more coverage and richness or pat on a few drops of treatment oil). Tarte not a good shade choice for the foundations.. orangey for their neutral shades and too sallow yellow for their warm shades. Someone with skintone similar to mine also mentioned Revlon Whipped Cream. Apologies, it’s completely dodged my brain who commented.. can’t remember what colour choice you were using in your mix. You also mentioned IT cosmetics Bye Bye Redness. I use that as well to amp up any missing ‘green’ in my custom blends. I cannot use it alone as foundation; too drying, and that titch too green. So if by chance you see this post… ??

Julie Avatar

Hey, Wendy! The color you’re probably thinking of is “Buff 150” in the Colorstay Whipped formula. I have it, and it most definitely has green undertones, but it is too dark for me…I usually mix it with a lighter foundation, personally. I would say it’s around a level 20ish in the MAC world? And around level 4-5 for Sephora. It matches the back of my hand perfectly! Hope that helps!

Wednesday Avatar

Julie! Right! It comes back to me.. Thank you! Sounds like it could be quite good for me I’m 20ish MAC and level 4 Big S. I’ve got plenty of junk in my trunk (ahem, that is makeup trunk.. I could use some on my scrawny ass) to tweak if need be. I just want to give a cream formulation a go and this one would def be affordable. Thanks again for your help 🙂

Julie Avatar

No problem! Us pale green folk gotta look out for each other! One thing, though–it definitely is a drier formula, not the best for aging skin. I’ve found that applying a couple drops of sweet almond oil to my face a few minutes before application really helps a lot with smoothness and overall appearance!

summerblue Avatar

I’ve go for full coverage. I’ve used Mehron Celebre, Graftobian, Kett, Eve Pearl & Kevyn Aucoin Sensual Skin Enhancer. Mehron & KA are my favs. Next cream I’m gonna try is the MUFE HD Invisible Cover Stick.

Monica Avatar

I mostly stick to my Face & Body (either Mac or MUFE), but when I want a bit more coverage, I reach for Bobbi Brown’s stick foundation. I like to spritz my blush with a bit of water because it helps it blend out. I really like the finish and its portability. Plus props to them for having pretty big shade range!

Kathleen Avatar

in the winter I really like the Elizabeth Arden in a compact. It is less drying than a liquid, coverage is buildable and I think it looks great and I get compliments on my skin when I wear it. it doesnt work well for me in the warmer seasons though. A great find

Miska Avatar

I use a brand from Korea called Skin79 Super Beblesh Balm BB Cream. It’s the hot pink one. I’m fair skinned and this comes in one shade that self adjusts to my skin. It’s on the thick side and a little goes a long way. Also, it has a grey cast that self adjusts and goes away within a few minutes. I’ve worn it mixed with my moisturizer, over moisturizer and over primer. All three methods work. Unless I mix it with my moisturizer, I like to apply it with my fingers. I know this is a turnoff for some but I’ve found it gives the best coverage and blendability from the heat of my fingers. It’s supposed to be matte but I always set it with powder. Other than this I’ve been a fan of mineral powder foundations for years. Lately with some skincare treatments I’ve been trying out, powder foundations can look too dry on my aggravated skin. I have sensative combination skin with a tendency towards oily. I swear this BB cream helps to soothe and protect my skin when it’s frazzled. This has been my go to for fall/winter foundation. It’s one of the only creams I’ve used that HAS NOT oxidized on my skin and turned me that god awful oompa loompa shade of orange. Which is why I fell in love with mineral powder foundations. They never do that. So far, cream wise, this is the best that I’ve found. I wish they had a shade range so more people could appreciate what this does. For anyone looking for this online please be careful and do your homework, so to speak. There are fakes for sale. The actual Skin79 site had guidelines on what to look out for, there is a spot to translate into english amongst others. Sokoglam is a reputable site that curates this particular item.

Brenda Avatar

Revlon CS Whipped. The colors can be a challange, but I have oily/combo skin that breaks out from everything & this one works really well. Great coverage, but not heavy looking & it doesn’t break me out.

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