If you had to wear only one foundation forever, what would it be?

La Mer The Soft Fluid… love it despite the price. It has looked good on my skin when it has been in various stages of distress.

— Christine

26 Comments

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Pearl Avatar

It would have been Giorgio Armani Lasting Silk (discontinued) because of the beautiful natural finish and sheer to medium coverage. One pump and it was perfect, still looked just as good at the end of the day.

I get close to the same effect with MAC Pro Longwear Concealer or PMG foundation. I have mixed GA Power Fabric + NeoNude and it’s come close as well.

Mariele Storm Avatar

Physician’s Formula The Healthy Foundation. It just looks so absolutely amazing and is easy to apply, wears well… can’t say enough good things about it. Then they went and discontinued it. 🙁

Jo Avatar

I’m still learning what works for me, so I’m interested to see people’s responses! I have used the OG BareMinerals mineral foundation for most of my adult life, and now it doesn’t work as well on my drier skin. I wish I didn’t need any foundation to look great, but as I get older, I know I do. I What I wouldn’t give to go back and tell my 20 year old self to start prescription retinol. (And then I’d tell my 30 year old self to get Botox in the area between my eyes, so those deep 11 creases never formed! Haha).
If it still worked for me, (meaning, if I had my 20-36 age face), I think I’d continue to use BareMinerals forever.

Lori Avatar

I used Bare Minerals original for over 15 years. My 53 year old, now dry skin loves the Jane Iredale loose powder formula. If I’m a little dry, the Pomist spray adds great hydration. Thought I would share. 🙂

Jo Avatar

Ooooo, good to know. Thank you! I feel like I know how to apply mineral makeup fairly expertly, but I’m really a beginner when it comes to liquid or cream foundations.

Lori Avatar

Me too! I’m still struggling to find the perfect liquid foundation. Dry skin and being rosacea prone makes that difficult. The JI loose powder is as easy as BM and looks natural.

ShariP Avatar

I forgot to answer the question. Right now I’m hunting a new foundation that will work with my aging skin which has gotten so much drier. I don’t really have any wrinkles, thanks to my Native American grandmother’s genes….love you granny, but based on my past it would be Lancome Teint Idole 24 hr foundation. Im currently trying a YSL, Giorgio Armani, Tom Ford, and Charlotte Tilbury. Of those I like the YSL best. Its more dewy than the Lancome which I’m finding is better for my skin.

Fatma Alici Avatar

I’d have to say pur love your selfie 4 in 1. It lasts a long time on my combo without being overly drying. I can sheer it out to different coverages, or really build it up to cover trouble spots.

Mariella Avatar

Clarins has discontinued SO many of its BEST products. That foundation, the wonderful concealer they used to have, the cleansing and neck creams I loved so much. They also used to have a great eye product – Eye Revive Beauty Flash – that was the “eye” version of their Beauty Flash Balm. It wasn’t meant as an every day eye cream but as something to use when you needed a “pick-me-up”, eye brightening treatment (like going out after a long day at work or for days when you’d not had enough sleep, etc.). It was so great but I think a lot of people didn’t realize what it was meant for and didn’t use it appropriately and so were disappointed. They also used to have an eye specific sun screen which I loved. Now it’s getting hard to find products from the line that I actually want to buy.

Susan Nevling Avatar

I tried LaMer based on some comments you made about it this Spring. I have to say I completely agree with you. The finish and application is amazing even on 71 yr old skin. My prior favs were Armani Silk and Tarte Water of the Sea (I think)

Nikki Avatar

Fenty Pro Filt’r Soft Matte, of course!
I also have a tip for anyone whose current foundation dries up in specific areas-I’ve had good results with applying a dab of moisturizer over my foundation on an occasional dry patch on my nose.

Christie Avatar

In the last year I’ve simplified my routine and have fallen in love all over again with Mac F&B. I’ve just turned 45 and this may be the one for me for the rest of my life. It doesn’t settle into the fine lines that I’m finally embracing, I like the natural skin-like finish and I prefer less coverage (although I can build it up a bit where I want to, when I want to). Wears well over all sunscreens. I think it’s a tried and true keeper at this stage in the game.

DVa Avatar

There’s no way I can commit to one, because I’m still trying them and I suspect I’ll fall in love with something else, someday. For now: IT Cosmetics Your Skin But Better CC+ Illumination.
I just bought a backup from the friends and family sale.

Lori Testy Avatar

It would be La Prairie. I thought I was crazy for spending so much on a foundation, but it is the best I have ever used! My face looked sooo much better than it actually is. It made my skin look so smooth and just wonderful. Every time I wear it I am just amazed how much better I look. I was looking for a good foundation after trying so many drug store and high end brands. This is it. Finally found my HOLY GRAIL foundation.

Z Avatar

i had to think about this one. After digging it out yesterday I decided Milk Makeup’s Blurr foundation would work for me forever. The shade I have is nice and yellow to cancel out my redness, it’s capable of full coverage (that I NEVER wear, but who doesn’t want the option?), sheers out well with moisturizer, can be used to spot conceal, and it’s silicone-free. Honorable mention to Kevin Aucoin’s Sensual Skin Enhancer – I think if I’d purchased the right shade, yellow-based light, then I’d love this more than I do. My approach to base makeup is all about color-correcting and a pink-based foundation highlights all the redness I want to cancel, neutral-based is ok, but not great (ends up being kind of orangey), and yellow is perfect. I own the lightest shade and it’s pink-based…so…yeah, my rosacea shines like a beacon through even that heavy coverage.

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