What would be the first five base/complexion products you'd buy if you had to start your collection over?

Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Flawless Filter, Laura Mercier Loose Setting Powder, Tarte Rainforest of the Sea Foundation, Too Faced Hangover RX Primer, Too Faced Born This Way Concealer.

— Christine

48 Comments

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Rachel R. Avatar

1) E.l.f. Hydrating Face Primer and Original Mist & Set. I have to have both for my makeup not to oxidize and melt off my oily skin, so I’m counting them as one product.

2) RCMA No Color Powder: Oily skin requires setting all foundations. This is great stuff, you get a ton of it, and it’s very inexpensive.

3) NYX HD Photogenic Concealer Wands in Alabaster and Pastel Green. Sometimes my nose and cheek area get red, so I need the CC shade, as well as a skin tone match for spot concealing.

4) Either BH Cosmetics Naturally Flawless Foundation in Ivory or e.l.f. Flawless Finish Foundation in Light Ivory: Both are great, everyday budget foundations that have color matches for me and don’t oxidize.

5) Lancome Teint Idole 24H Long Lasting Foundation in Ivoire N 090: It covers even the worst cystic acne attacks, and stands up to really hot temperatures.

kjh Avatar

FAB eye duty triple remedy, Paula super light daily wrinkle defense, KGD aqua, Jouer TM in the non-matte formula…think it, or the shade, has been d/c’d…and MUR/revolution beauty concealer. Funny how on any given day, you forget the exact names of stuff you use all the time, but can remember specifics on color cosmetics used only occasionally.

Ana Maria Avatar

I love the PC Super Light Daily Wrinkle Defense as an SPF, but that tint works so strange on me… it doesn’t actually add any tint/coverage on it’s own (not even the lightest), but somehow makes foundation on top look slightly pink.

Alecto Avatar

I think the tint is just designed to make it non-ashy on darker skin tones (since it’s a mineral sunscreen) rather than actually change the appearance of the skin.

Alecto Avatar

Love the PC Wrinkle Defense, and never want to be without it, but I personally don’t count sunscreen as a base product as it seems more in the lotion/lip balm/hair product category (pre-base?); i.e. it’s something I’d wear even without makeup (especially as the tint doesn’t actually change the look of my skin).

Denise Avatar

Mary Kay Love Lash Mascara, Estee Lauder Double-Wear foundation, Mary Kay Subtly You Lipstick, MAC Cinderella Eye Pallet, MAC Setting Mist

Katja Avatar

Another tough one!

1. MAC Strobe Cream Goldlite
2. Cover FX Natural Finish Foundation
3. Too faced Born This Way Super Coverage Concealer
4. Tarte Rainforest of the Sea Foundation
5. Nars Translucent Velvet Loose Setting Powder

Wednesday Avatar

Two of my top picks are d/c’d : La Mer Original powder in Creme and Sunday Riley The Influencer

1. L’oreal Infallible Fresh Wear foundation
2. Giorgio Armani Power Fabric High Coverage Stretchable concealer
3. NARS soft matte concealer
4. IT cosmetics CC (illumin8ing?) My puppy, Henry, actually typed the 8 and I went with it
5. Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow Ultra fine mist

Erica Avatar

I’m including bronzer here bc I wear it under foundation…
*Chanel Soleil Tan Bronzer
*Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Neutralizer Concealer
*MAC Blot Powder in Medium
*I’d say Loreal Fresh Wear now but I’d also say MAC Pro Longwear Nourishing or Bare Minerals Matte Mineral Foundation. It depends on what I’m feeling at the moment. I really like out lightweight, natural looking and stay put the Loreal foundation is.
*Maybelline Fit Me. It covers enough and stays put. I am not into high coverage anything. It just feels uncomfortable, looks heavyand is too much imo . I prefer medium and buildable w everything so Fit Me is perfect for covering blemishes etc

Kuávsui Avatar

What a great question! If we’re not counting sunscreen, I would go for Hourglass Mineral Veil Primer and Immaculate Liquid to Powder foundation (love that it comes in a squeeze tube now!); NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer, NYX Stay Matte But Not Flat powder foundation, and MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural.

eshum Avatar

NARS radiant tinted moisturizer
MAC studio finish spf 35 concealer
Hourglass dim light ambient lighting powder
Charlotte Tilbury magic setting powder
MAC Face and Body foundation

Pearl Avatar

Estee Lauder Double Wear foundation
MAC Mineralize Concealer
Tom Ford Waterproof Foundation/Concealer OR MAC Pro Longwear Nourishing Waterproof Foundation
RCMA No Color Powder
Guerlain Meteorites Perles

mpark Avatar

Fun question!
1. Chanel Les Beige Eau de Teint
2. Charlotte Tilbury Flawless Filter Shade
3. Tom Ford Concealing Pen
4. La Mer loose powder
5. NARS soft matte concealer

Nancy T Avatar

1.) MAC Pro Longwear Nourishing Waterproof Foundation NC41 (because it’s summer, although I do believe that it will still work through winter, too! Not as dark as Studio Fix NC40, for reference.)
2.) Undereye concealer. Currently using a sample of Benefit Boi-ing Airbrush Concealer in Light (thankfully, it melds nicely with my current foundation and doesn’t look as ridiculous as it must sound). It doesn’t emphasize the aging undereye skin too badly, but I’d like to find something even better. Suggestions welcome!
3.) RCMA No Color Powder
4.) Primer. I’m really not 100% thrilled with any of mine presently. My pores are the issue. I’m so sick of having white “freckles” on my nose! (No, my foundation is dark enough, but my nose is reddish from rosecea). Haaalp!
5.) Marc Jacobs Dew You Dew Drops!

Okay, so I DO still love my Lancome Teint Idole 24H Foundation formula, but I believe it is too dull a tone for my actual undertones, and makes me look ill.

Seraphine Avatar

I’m here to second the request for suggestions on aging undereye concealers. I recently started using Lancôme Effacernes and like it better than Shape Tape, which I’ve been using for a couple years. It doesn’t cover as well as Shape Tape, but it also doesn’t look as cakey.

xamyx Avatar

Have you considered a mixing pigment? LA Girl has an “orange” one to add warmth, as does NYX. Also, The Body Shop has “darkening” foundation mixing drops that really don’t seem to deepen a shade, but does a good job of adding warmth; it’s a bit pricey, but you can get a sample.

Nancy T Avatar

Amy, thanks for that too! I knew about white drops people used to lighten foundation, but had no idea that there were warming drops until just now. My skin is just plain weird, and very difficult to match. Olive undertoned, but peach overtones. And someplace between medium and slightly med.-tan? Oh, and in bright lighting, especially blue lighting, it is freakishly TRANSLUCENT!

DVa Avatar

Have you tried Charlotte Tilbury’s Magic Away, Nancy? I’ve been using Shape Tape for years and needed a different concealer for summer and bought this one. I love the soft foam applicator, it’s very easy to use and I feel it smooths away fine undereye lines better than many others I’ve tried. It feels moisturizing and kind of luminous–I’m 50 BTW (still getting used to saying that).

Ana Maria Avatar

*Primer: Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer Oil Free SPF 15 (simply the best I have ever yet tried)
*Foundation: Estee Lauder Double Wear / MAC Prolongwear Waterproof / Becca Ultimate Coverage (either of the 3 works the same for me, it would be just a mater of availability)
*Concealer: Too Faced Born This Way Concealer (good coverage and minimal creasing, can double as foundation if needed)
*Powder: Double Wear Stay-in-Place Matte Powder Foundation (for me it works great as a setting powder, I don’t like lose powder)

I personally don’t feel the need of another product, I can sheer out the foundation or concealer to get lighter coverage (or the effect of a CC/BB cream); and I don’t feel the need of an extra primer, `dewy` is not in my looks.

But, I would probably add in summer a SPF powder for retouches on the go, TARTE Tarteguard Mineral Powder Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 30. I tried the Supergoop! and the Paula’s Choice similar products, but Tarteguard is the only one that actually dispenses efficiently powder for retouches.

Liza Avatar

Yes! I love Tarte Rainforest of the Sea foundation! I wore it as a bridesmaid in my cousin’s wedding and it photographed beautifully. Lately I have been loving the Jeffree Star Cosmetics Magic Star concealer & setting powder. However, I am concerned about being able to repurchase since they are always out of stock. I love the Hourglass No 28 Serum Primer and for my fifth item I would have to go with the Charlotte Tilbury Wonderglow.

Kendrick Avatar

Too Faced Born This Way Concealer, Nars Natural Radiant Longwear Foundation, Maybelline FitMe Loose Setting Powder, Sephora Microsmooth Powder, elf Poreless Putty Primer

If this includes bronzers/highlight then I’d sub out the last two for the Maybelline Pressed Fit Me Powder In Coconut (bronzer) and Milani Strobelight Instant Glow Powder

Eileen Avatar

Clé de Peau Radiant Fluid Foundation
La Mer The Soft Fluid Long Wear
Guerlain Météorites (the pearls)
Clé de Peau Refining Pressed Powder
YSL Touche Éclat

Christy Avatar

1. MUFE hydrating primer (under eyes)
2. Hourglass Veil primer (rest of face)
3. MUFE Ultra HD Invisible Cover Foundation (R230/Ivory)
4. MUFE Full Cover concealer (for spots)
5. Lancome Effernaces concealer (under eyes)
6. Hourglass trio that includes Dim Light and Radiant Light
7. Urban Decay Chill setting spray
I really use all of these, so I have no idea how to pick only five.

Nicole D Avatar

1. REN Perfect Canvas Skin Finishing Serum – my HG silicone-free primer for summer
2. YSL Touche Éclat Blur Primer or FAB Smoothie Priming Moisturizer – my HG primers for fall/winter
3. Clinique Perfectly Real Makeup Foundation – sadly it was discontinued
4. Bare Minerals Original Powder Foundation – I use this as a foundation in summer and as a setting powder over a liquid foundation
5. Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Flawless Filter or Algenist Luminizing Drops

Ilene Avatar

Light skin, dark brown hair, dark brown eyes
Chanel eau de teint- love the little brush
Tarte foundcealer
Givenchy poudre libre translucent
Becca backlit primer
Trish Mcevoy Primer/Moisturizer, sorry it’s downstairs and I can’t recall name.

Blue Avatar

MUFE Full Cover Concealer (everyday face concealer, my all time MVP base product)
Tarte Shape Tape or Fenty Pro Filtr (undereyes)
Kevyn Aucoin concealer (acne, scars)
Fenty foundation (rare full face looks or concealing greener areas of my complexion such as near the mouth or on the neck)
Any good translucent powder, LM has been fine

xamyx Avatar

1. NYX Microbrow Pencil in Black; because I have extremely skimpy brows, I consider this an absolute necessity, and therefore a “base” product for my needs.

2. LA Girl Pro Color Foundation Mixing Pigment in Blue & White; I use both together at the moment, so I’m counting this as one. This product is HG status for me, and I have 2 backups of each, as I never want to be without them…

3. RCMA No Color Powder, or Wet n Wild Take On The Day Mattifying Powder (although I wouldn’t say this is a “mattifying” product…); I use both interchangeably, so it would come down to accessibility.

4. Milani Conceal + Perfect Foundation; there are several shades I can make work, given the aforementioned LA Girl pigments, but I’d probably go with 00BB Nude.

5. NYX Jumbo Pencil in Milk; again, I consider this a “base” product, and since I don’t wear concealer regularly, I have an opening here, and can open a space for an additional eyeshadow palette.

Dawn Avatar

1. RMS ‘Un’ Cover-up (shades 11 or 22)
2. Hynt Beauty Duet Perfecting Concealer (This stuff is the ‘clean beauty’ Kevyn Aucoin SSE)
3. MUFE Waterblend Y225/MAC Face and Body C1 (cheating here, but it depends on the season because their shades don’t work for me all year round)
4. MAC Full Coverage Foundation (used as spot concealer)
4. Hourglass Veil Translucent Setting Powder
5. MAC Fix+

Genevieve Avatar

Nude by Nature Airbrush Primer
Rimmel Stay Matte Translucent Setting Powder – a really good budget setting powder that I find just as good as Laura Mercier’s.
L’Oreal’s True Match Foundation – available in 40 shades, including Rose Porcelain, which has the pink undertones. Often on sale and it really lasts all day.
La Roche Posay’s Ultra Light Sunscreen 50+ – it can double as a primer too.
A high end foundation – currently I am using up the Clarin’s Everlasting foundation in linen. Apparently the brand now has a newer version in a lighter shade.

Anisa Avatar

– Soap & Glory One Heck Of A Blot Primer
– Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Flawless Filter
– Kett Fixx Creme Olive Series Palette (I get foundation, concealer, contour, bronzer and cream eyeshadows all in one with this ?)
– Giorgio Armani Beauty Master Corrector
– Fenty Beauty Invisimatte Blotting Powder

Nikki Avatar

Fenty Pro Filt’r Soft Matte 110 foundation
Maybelline SuperStay Better Skin Ivory concealer
Fenty Amber Match Stick (like Erica with her bronzer, I’m counting it here as base instead of cheek because I wear my cheek contour under foundation)
UD Optical Illusion primer
CoverGirl Clean Normal Skin Creamy Natural pressed powder

bibi Avatar

Cle de Peau Silky Cream foundation – my ‘special occasion’ base
IT Cosmetics Your Skin But Better CC Cream with SPF 50 – my ‘everyday’ foundation
IT Cosmetics’ Bye Bye Under Eye Full Coverage Anti-Aging Waterproof Concealer
IT Cosmetics’ Bye Bye Pores Poreless Finish Airbrush Powder
e.l.f. Cosmetics Beauty Shield SPF 50 Skin Shielding Primer – amazing skin smoothing primer at an amazing price, with 50 spf too!

Violet Avatar

1)Lancome Teint Miracle foundation or Maybelline superstay foundation for higher coverage
2)Mac studio fix powder to set makeup or as powder foundation
3)Mario badescu facial spray as primer or after makeup
4)Maybelline age rewind concealer for undereyes
5)It cosmetics cc cream for sunscreen or daily use

WildDove Avatar

MAC Face & Body foundation.
MAC Mineralize liquid foundation.
Origins VitaZing (tinted moisturizer gives a sheer bronzed glow).
Neutrogena Hydro Boost concealer.
Bobbi Brown Stick foundation – used as concealer.

DVa Avatar

Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Flawless Filter
Beauty Blender Bounce Foundation (just started using and love it!)
Fenty Beauty Pro Filt’r Setting Powder in butter and lavender.
Tatcha Silk Canvas Primer
Shape Tape concealer (been using Charlotte Tilbury Magic Away the last few weeks and really love hers too)

Bonnie Avatar

1. Dior Forever Undercover foundation
2. Too Faced Born this Way concealer
3. Neutrogena Hydroboost Foundation Stick
4. Nars Laguna Bronzer
5. Wet n Wild Contour palette (the 2-pan one, although I think they might be discontinuing the shade I buy).

Lindsay Pitcher Avatar

Love this feature!
1. Drunk Elephant D-Bronzi Serum (liquid bronzer to mix with serum or primer, skincare too)
2. No Poreblem priming ESSENCE to mix with ☝️
3. Bobbi Brown correctors in Sand, Bisque, and Light Peach
4. DIOR backstage foundation
5. BECCA hydro powder

Nicole Avatar

Lancôme Teint Idole 24 (liquid)-460 Suede W
Sephora’s Microsmooth Powder-Mahogany
Mac Pro longwear concealer-NC45
Becca’s Chocolate Geode highlighter
No perfect setting spray yet, although I have a few :-/ Haven’t tried the Covergirl Outlast one yet, but it’s here LOL

Alecto Avatar

– Bye Bye Foundation in Fair

– Teint Idole Ultra Wear Camouflage Corrector in Yellow

– a powder concealer; I’m currently using 2 Abyssinian from Meow Cosmetics, but it wouldn’t have to be that one

– a setting powder; my current one is actually a blend of 4 or 5 other products — can I count that as one? it’d be nice to find a one-product setting powder that worked for me, but so far no luck

– a lighter-than-skin concealer to use for “anti-contouring”; I have two right now: a KvD Lock-It and CP’s Foundation stick in 05W — the latter isn’t light enough and doesn’t apply the way I need it to (though it’s fine as foundation), and the former isn’t the right formula for what I’m doing. think I might research powder concealers for this, though I’m going to have a hard time finding something light enough, I think.

Yen.Lin Avatar

1. Maybelline Age Rewind Concealer • Light & Neutralizer
2. Laura Mercier Loose Setting Powder • Translucent
3. Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation • 4
4. Burberry Fresh Glow Luminous Fluid Base • Nº1 Nude Radiance
5. Guerlain Les Voilettes Pressed Powder

Sara Avatar

1. YSL All In One Glow Foundation
2. Kat Von D Lock It Loose Setting Powder
3. Nars Soft Matte Complete Concealer
4. Chanel Soleil Tan de Chanel
5. Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector in Opal

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