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Hit List: Best Foundation for Photography

What’s the Best Foundation for Photography that you’ve tried?

Share your pick!  And don’t forget to share why 🙂

I love Guerlain Parure Gold (discontinued), Make Up For Ever HD, Guerlain Parure de Lumiere.

Thanks to Alexandra for today’s topic!

39 Comments

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christie Avatar

I personally don’t have one but I would love to find one that’s great for in person and photos. Some I’ve seen are great in photos but look harsh in person. I’m combo skin BTW 😉

Barbara Avatar

I like Armani’s Luminous Silk foundation for pictures. It has a satin matte finish, no SPF, less flashback at night than most foundations I’ve tried (It’s almost impossible to rid this), and powders down to a matte finish nicely if needed. And generally speaking, the shade match is great and the foundation is buildable and long lasting.

Kal Nicole Avatar

My ALL time favorite foundation for photography would be the now defunct Chanel Pro Lumiere.
It was THE foundation that would made my skin glow and made me look fresh no matter how tired I felt.

I dabbled with the dewy-er Vitalumiere (which I love tons as well) but nothing can compare to Pro! I’ve been using Dior Star foundation which does the trick and leaves my skin as if “bathed-in-light” kind of thing which works beautifully so far!

So my round up: favorite photography foundations!

Dior Star foundation
Chanel Vitalumiere
Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua- lighter in texture but very nice in natural lighting
Chanel Pro Lumiere-special mention
YSL Teint Touche Eclat Illuminating foundation

Nicole Avatar

WWendy, are you talking about the Koh Gen Do Maifanshi Aqua foundation? I have had my eye on that at Beautylish while stalking around for something for spring. So hard to order foundation online. I like a light to lightly medium coverage. The consultant from Beautylish sent me ByTerry densilis foundation which is nice. But, I think it’s going to be too matte for me( plus the price is crazy!) Where did you get yours from? Id prefer a place where i can actually see the foundation in person. Thank you! 🙂

Wednesday Avatar

Hi Nicole: I ordered mine sight unseen on-line from Nordstroms. This is a very lightweight foundation with tons of pigment.. so similar to Armani Maestro, YSL Ink, the new NARS. All have different textures, but pack a big pigment punch so coverage is easily medium and more if you want it. I think this is a really great foundation if you are fair running through light and only a few shades that fall into medium skintones. The brand covers asian skin very well. I have neutral skin leaning a bit warm between NC20 and NC25 in MAC terms. I am not asian, but my skintone has been compared as such many times. I can use either colour 123 which is a bit dark and more peachy, but it blends quite seamlessly given it’s not a spot on match or colour 213 which is the right level for me, but a bit too yellow/green I mix the two, but often get lazy and just grab #123 because it works.. never looks like it does not match well as the technology has the foundation ‘melding’ with the skin beautifully. I would say this runs towards a Satin finish with a bit of a glow after a number of hours of wear. I have normal skin, more dry in winter and I’m in my 50’s, probably older than you. I do not have many wrinkles, but it does not seem to emphasize faint lines, does not dry out the skin or show dry spots similar to Armani Maestro (which I can wear in summer, but not winter). Hope this helps a bit. I think it is a superb product.. so you should check it out for yourself at Nordstroms. Also, Sephora carries this on-line, so I would check to see if this is a brand available at one of their stores closest to you. 😀

Nicole Avatar

Thanks for the info WWendy! I have been looking at it online and did notice the lack of shades..espescially as you go into medium and dark. Unfortunately, there are no counters that sell this in person near me. I was guessing #213 for me(light-medium with yellow undertones) and then probably having to get the #143 too to mix in. Does that sound feasible to you? I cant do Maestro either in the winter and like you, I can in the summer. I am going to be 39 Monday. But, the way you describe and from what I have read elsewhere this sounds like it may be good for me. i finally received an email back form the beauty consultant from Beautylish yesterday. She said she would mail me some samples if I wanted.But continues to push the By Terry Densilis foundation and primer,concealer. It is nice,but seems really dry on me and for a $115 foundation, I don’t think I should have to mix and the shades are lacking in that line as well. I do prefer more natural and luminous. So, I am hoping she will send me samples or I will buy online from Nordstrom or Sephora where it is an easier return/exchange process. Thanks again!

Nicole Avatar

WWendy, i forgot to ask if you had tried any of the primers ,the color-correcting ones from Koh Gen Doh? Just wanting your opinion on them if so..thanks. You have been of great help!

Wednesday Avatar

Hi Nicole: I think your yellow undertones would definitely work with 213. It does run a touch olive or at least it does on me. You could absolutely darken it up with #143. Suggestion for you: Why not start with #213 and see how it works. The technology is fabulous and about a half an hour after you have applied, the foundation just seems to meld with the skin and work with your own undertones. I find Maestro similar in this respect. Perhaps you really only need #213 so I would postpone buying the darker shade until you determine this. Unfortunately in my giant stash, I do not have By Terry Densiless foundation to give you any comparative feedback. In general, I think By Terry has good products, but I’m not wildly enthused about any foundations I have purchased in the past under this label. I do have the Densiless concealer and it’s a decent product, but I’m more enthused with Armani for my concealer needs.

I’m glad you asked about the colour primers. I have two; the green and the yellow. I use a very aggressive anti-aging skincare line and with autoimmune illness, I am very prone to facial redness. I use the green on my nose, chin, and cheeks..areas where I tend to get ‘rosacea type redness’. My redness is fairly significant and this cancels it out nicely. I use the yellow on my forehead and sometimes on my cheeks in lieu of the green. It works just as well to be honest and the yellow is supposed to be brightening. I’m not sure if it actually brightens, but I do love this primer. I’m casual about the application too. It’s in a tube and I just splotch a bit on my finger and spread in a thin layer where I need it. I do not apply all over the face. The results are terrific and of course it works perfectly with the foundation. As a base junkie, I have purchased a number of foundations since the KGD, but I still keep coming back to this one as a favourite. Hope you find a product your really enjoy~

Nicole Avatar

WWendy, I will absolutely start with the #213 first. If I can avoid or postpone the darker shade, that would be terrific.I found some swatches online and have waivering between the #213 and #123. But, your comment about the “peachy” tone makes me think that #123 likely will not work on me. I am hoping the consultant from Beautylish will send some samples. If not, I will just start with #213. I really appreciated your feedback on both the foundation and primers. You have been incredibly helpful! Thank you!

Sarah Avatar

I loved Revlon Colour Stay for oily skin. It was absolutely lovely and photographed so well. Unfortunately they discontinued the darker shades, and my foundation life has never been the same 🙁

Sana Nurani Avatar

I have to say that I actually find that the powder I put ON TOP of the foundation is what makes more of a diff in photography.
I still use MAC Studio Fix powder (gasp – I know it’s sooo 90’s but it looks so good)
I use a big fluffy brush to apply it lightly and it just gives the face an overall finish that I can’t beat. And then I go over my contours and highlights with the appropriate colors from my Anastasia Contour book.

Nicole Avatar

I really don’t have one. I wear mostly light to medium coverage.. most have some spf. Isn’t it certain ingredients that are in the SPF, titanium dioxide that is the one to avoid? Good question. Maybe I will find one here just in case!

Rose Avatar

I’m a model with combination skin. My favorite by far is Kat Von D Lock It Tattoo Foundation. I have to be really well moisturized because it looks bad on dry parts. I love Kevyn Aucoin Sensual Skin Enhancer when I’m more dry from retinols or winter.

Dustin Avatar

Absolutely always MAC Studio Fix Fluid. Perfect smooth finish, may look a little “full coverage” in person but in photographs its beautiful. Of course if you REALLY want my opinion I think that application is also something to consider. You’ve got to be comfortable working with a product to apply it correctly. Lots of people find Studio Fix Fluid too heavy. I never have but I’m just comfy working with it and know my way around it well 🙂

Jade Avatar

I really like MAC Studio Fix Fluid for photography, and even for general wear I am a fan, though I no longer use it. This is an opportune time for this question to be asked, as I’m going home next week to attend my friends wedding and hens night and I know there will be photos GALORE! I really like my current BB cream but it gives full on proper flashback with flash photography.

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