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What do you look for in a new foundation?
What do you look for in a new foundation? What would be your perfect formula?
I like light-medium coverage that’s buildable to medium, so I can easily get lighter coverage on a day-to-day basis but can layer for more coverage as-needed. The finish should be natural–a little dewiness that makes skin look like skin but not actually shiny or glowy. It should wear reasonably well for eight to ten hours and play well with other products (primers, blush, cream blush, bronzer, etc.).
Thanks to reader Johnna for today’s question idea Do you have a question idea? Submit yours here.
Oil-free, medium coverage, moisturizing, long wearing.
I like something that stays the same color throughout the day and is friendly to dry skin with flaky patches. Full coverage is the way to go for me because I like skipping foundation. If lighter coverage is called for, I can always mix it with a bit of moisturizer.
The main thing is that it stays on my oily skin and doesn’t oxidise. I prefer a more matte finish with medium coverage, but I don’t like to look powdery, so finding the perfect finish can be a pain. I also need a light neutral colour with an olive undertone which isn’t always easy to find. I also want something that is packaged hygienically, so not a tub I have to dunk my brush in every time I use it, or a bottle without a pump.
Great question. As I’m currently on the lookout for a new foundation, this question is very relevant. I’m looking for a demi matte/velvet foundation with light coverage that can build up to full when necessary. I want it to show some of my “flaws”, but still look flawless if that makes sense. I want it to look like my skin, but better basically. I want something I can set with powder, and that won’t emphasize my dry spots, and won’t make me get too oily throughout the day.
Most of all, I want my foundation to look like skin, not caked-on make-up. Second, it should be long-wearing and not oxidize.
Other than that, I expect the same from my other face/skincare products, namely it shouldn’t cause my skin to freak out or cause my eyes to water. This usually means no overwhelming fragrance, if at all.
I look for a new-to-me foundation to be able to blend out evenly on my face without excessive amounts of effort. I also prefer them not to be too thick because often those will just cake on me, no matter what application method I use.
I also look for foundations that have a natural to matte finish. Dewy finishes just look greasy on me.
I like a light-medium to medium coverage foundation that feels lightweight, not at all sticky, and doesn’t transfer. I like foundations that don’t need a powder to set them. I prefer natural to glowy/dewy finishes. The #1 thing I look for, though, is something that doesn’t cling to my dry patches and make me look like a scaly monster. Aside from my weight, my skin is one of those major things that negatively affect my confidence. When my skin is looking flaky, red, and raw, I feel like I’m not fit for public viewing. Oh, and important thing #2 (which is equally as important as the previous one), I neeeeeeeed a light/light-medium shade with a yellow undertone that isn’t too strong, but is still warm toned. Where are my fellow fair/light/light-medium, awkward shade of yellow girls? Raise your virtual hand for me, lol! I know y’all know my pain. I know darker girls can feel me on this, too. Oh, the foundation shade woes. Too light, too dark, too yellow, not yellow, too this, that, or the other. Or when you grab a shade labeled light, but it’s more medium, or when you grab the dark shade, and it turns out it’s really not all that dark.
I got off on a tangent, whoops! Poor base shade range just drives me crazy.
I have combination-oily skin ,to find the one that suits me it’s not eazy. Full coverage often too dry for my face so I like medium coverage foundation with more of a matte finish with shine control because they’re not heavy and dry spots on my face a good primers can help
You pretty much described the “perfect foundation” Christine! I definitely appreciate a weightless formula which feels more like a moisturiser and sets in that ways too! without any sort of a residue.. I guess I am more of a tinted moisturiser person.. but two foundations in particular, the Bourjois Happy Light as well as MAC Face and Body have been favorites!
A medium-full coverage foundation that can double as concealer in a pinch. It should be a velvet/semi-matte finish that looks like skin once it fully melts into the skin and wear for a long time (8-12 hrs). Most importantly, it should NOT transfer after setting.
that’s my go to formula for picking up a foundation as well…ditto 🙂
It has to be non-comedogenic, or at least oil-free; easily blendable, mat finish.
Long wearing, full coverage, fast setting time, doesn’t oxidize, more of a satin/matte finish. Currently,, EL Double Wear does this for me, but always on the lookout for something new/better.
A good color match, first of all, and then that it’s long-wearing but still looks as natural as possible. Oh, and I prefer oil-free matte formulas.
Medium-heavy coverage that helps my skin stay matte throughout the day. A FOUNDATION THAT MATCHES MY OLIVE SKINTONE. Blendability and staying power. My favorite right now is a combination of Hourglass Immaculate Foundation (excellent matte foundation with great coverage, but not so blendable and lighter than my skintone, but a shade darker is TOO dark) and Clinique Anti Blemish Foundation (can’t stop my face from shining, and a little too dark for my skintone, but a shade lighter it TOO light, yet has excellent blendability and masks the redness).
Light coverage, but buildable
Light weight, I don’t want to feel it on
Won’t oxidize, a huge issue for me
Won’t emphasize dry patches when I get them, usually in winter
A semi-matte finish
Can keep the oil from shining through, at least for a few hours
I’m going through this right now. For more years than I care to admit I’ve used Studio Fix and want a change. I always think of liquid foundation as time consuming, heavy, and a lot of work. I was at MAC on the weekend and told the MUA that I wanted one that requires the least possible amount of work – no finishing powder required and a matte finish/oil control. My T-zone has been producing oil like crazy and I think I can go through a pack of blotting films a day. So anyway, she tried Matchmaster on me and I like it very much. Christine I read your review on it from a while back and know it wasn’t for you, but I think it might be a good one for me for now anyway. So for me it must be oil control, matte (not the matte of past that looked dry and cakey though), easy to work with and one step.
OH and for coverage I’m def medium. My skin is in very good condition, but I am prone to a little redness so I wanted a foundation that would cover that, but I don’t actually need full coverage.
Matchmaster is one of my favourites. I think it’s really good at keeping the oil in my T-zone under a bit of controle.
Christine’s answer is concise and similar to my thoughts as I too am typically looking for medium coverage. Full coverage makes for flawless skin, but reads too unnatural IMO during the day, particularly in hot months. I save fuller coverage for special evening occasions and sometimes in the colder months when I can pull of a little heavier makeup.
I am usually looking for a very broad skintone representation in the formula. Most women’s have complex and nuanced skintones so the concept of fitting us into light, medium, and dark is a joke. I am a difficult match with olive and yellow toned light neutral skin.
Pet Peeve: I am also looking for makeup without a lot of slip. If it goes on super slippery, I know it is going to slide off my skin or sit on top of my skin feeling like a mask. I do not care for uber glow formulations for the same reason. Even though I am 50, I also do not care whatsoever for purported anti-aging foundations for exactly the same reason, they tend to have too much slip. I will rely on my skincare products to handle that task.
I like a satin finish, which gives off a bit of a glow with wear. Matte looks too dramatic, is too drying typically and therefore aging.
My favourite base will always be a good tinted moisturizer. It’s great for a fast look, and tends to look more like real skin You can always build on top of TM with foundation just in those areas where you need a little more help. Plus, for me, a TM is at the top of the list for skin match.
Coverage and longevity
I look for what you look for! Plus something that is not weird with dry skin. Having some issues finding something that will work well.
#1: medium coverage that isn’t too dewy or cakey. I don’t have a lot of imperfections in my skin that I need to cover up, but I do have some redness that needs adequate coverage.
#2: good color match. I have MAC Matchmaster, which matches perfectly, but it does tend to stick to my dry patches in the winter.
#3: doesn’t FEEL slippery or heavy. I’ve had a lot of samples from Sephora in my day, and I can’t STAND feeling the foundation on my face. I’m trying out MUFE HD Foundation right now, and this one does not meet that criteria.
#4: doesn’t separate on my face by the end of the day. My MAC foundations are amazing in this way as they stay put and look fairly good even after 10-12 hours. The UD Naked and MUFE HD foundations separate on my face and need blending to make it look good again throughout the day!
I usually look for Medium Coverage, Matte effect (as my skin is super oily) and makeup enhancement !
I like a light-medium to buildable coverage foundation, “natural” matte finish, which sets and wears without needing to be powdered – honestly texture is the absolute killer though.
-medium coverage
-semi-matte finish with a tiny bit of a natural glow
-liquid which is not too liquidy
-if possible, a pump package – or in case it is a squeeze tube, it should have a narrow “mouth” – had some problems with leaky foundation… never again.
I look for pretty much the same thing but it also can’t break me out or clog my pores.
I’m pretty much the same Christine. I like a really natural finish so anything that looks like foundation or is too heavy is out. And foundation tends to migrate on me during the day so something that lasts a bit is also always important. And if I can get my color without mixing it’s a big win. If I’m wearing it every day, I also try to avoid too many bad ingredients (parabens, etc.)
Oil free with some kind of shine control, long-wearing, medium to full coverage, blendable, matte/velvet finish, nice range of shades.
I would dance if I found something that doesn’t oxidize. What’s the point of matching it to the face if it’s not going to stay the same.
coverage, great texture, satin finish, and long wearing. Awesome color match is a given alone with easy blendability with whatever products I apply on top!
Something that transforms a tired, dull, and sometimes blemished skin into my own self of 20…… and keeps it for about 6 hours and can I say I sort of have found it at a very reasonable price?. It is the new Maybelline Better Skin foundation. ( Well.. I think is new) I bought number 21 Nude and also Ivory 10 in one of those great offers and honestly I don’t know which one suits me best. The shading and numbering is a bit puzzling. Today I have found out that there is another shade, Cameo, in between the two and after swatching it I think is the ONE. I have to use the other two first. Usually I finish it with a super light ( less than half pump) of my True Match l’oreal instead of powder as I like its velvety finish. I would like to test some other foundations ( Ellis Faas? the Atelier “something£, and the Kat van… and of course Suqqu) but I am done with what I have until at least Christmas!
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My ideal foundation would have buildable medium coverage, be long lasting on oily skin, and look like real skin. Not emphasize dry patches or flaky skin, and not oxidize and change color through the day. But most importantly, it should be the right color. Those of us who are extremely pale (MAC 05) have a very limited range of foundations to choose from, especially in yellow undertones.
I have about the same requirements as you do Christine, but I would also like some antiaging ingredients included.
Has to be easy to blend. It has to be bulidable. Can’t settle into lines or pores. It has to be long wearing and as transfer resistant as possible. And, I like a natural finish.
I really want to find a MAC Face & Body Foundation for oily skin (just not that much dewy as Face & Body can be).
Have you tried the Maybelline Liquid Powder Foundation? I have heard oily girls on YT compare that to F&B, but for oily skins. Also, there’s the MUFE Face and Body, too. Don’t know if you’ve ever tried that one.
I look for a foundation that offers really good coverage, is easy to apply and stays the same shade for the whole day. I hate it when foundation does not last the day. Importantly, my foundation should match my skin tone.
I prefer light coverage with a lightweight texture and natural finish. It has to be a little moisturizing because my skin gets a little dry. I also want it to be long wearing and play well with other products. I think that’s it!
I look for texture. I like a more creamy texture.
Medium to full coverage without a heavy feel.
Satin finish, staying power, good color range.
It has to melt into the skin without looking mask
Like or cakey. That doesn’t settle in fine lines.
I love Shu Uemura lightbulb foundation in med./light
sand. Cover fx cream compact in P40& N 40.
Coverfx oil free foundation in N40 & P40.
Nars sheer glow in Sante fa. Laura mercier
Silk creamfoundation i bamboo.
I primarily use a light foundation. As my skin is dry, I look for something that can stand up to my heavier moisturizers and has a dewy finish to it. As I’m biracial, the hardest but most important part is finding something that fits my more unusual combination of color/undertone.
When I’m buying foundation, I look for the following:
1) light-medium buildable coverage
2) natural finish
3) long-wearing
4) no adverse side affects to my skin
GREAT coverage without a lot of layers needing to be applied. Waterproof and Transfer-resistant. My fave’s are Estee Lauder Double Wear (or is it Dual Wear?) liquid, and Revlon Colorstay (liquid).
First of all lightness… And also light to medium buildable coverage, long lasting power, not oxidizing product!!!!
A light weight foundation that is fairly hydrating and has a luminous finish with medium coverage.
It needs to cover redness and acne well. Be buildable. Be long wearing, but able to be “patched” if some gets smeared off or something. Control oil (though I always set with a powder). Doesn’t get cakey or oxidize. Matches my very fair skin (most lines don’t have one light enough).
The closest I’ve found is Covergirl Outlast Stay Fabulous 3-in-1 Foundation.
This one seems like me too.
1. Something that makes my skin look dewy (not to be confused with looking overly shiny or oily… just as long as it’s not matte.
2. Super easy to apply.
3. Won’t fade throughout the day.
4. A good match for my olive skin tone.
I will say that NARS Radiant Cream Compact Foundation (that’s a mouthful) in the shade Stromboli matches all of these perfectly. I haven’t bought it cause I’m waiting to finish my Bobbi Brown stuff first, but whenever I try it on when I’m at a Sephora, it always manages to look great!
I would like a foundation that is first of all light enough for my pale skin, or easily mixed with MAC Face and Body in white. I would like a medium weighted dewy finish that is long wearing.
Seamless coverage with a dewy finish, my skin is on the drier side and craves a little glow more often. I try to steer clear of anything that has ‘matte’ and “oil control’ when in my case there is no oil to control LOL. I prefer to set with translucent powder so the foundation must have little silicone ( hard to find these days) having noticed that silicone and powder doesn’t make a good match always it pills around my face ( lancome la base primer and photo lumesscence foundation, bummer!).