I'm a huge fan of drugstore foundations! While I feel like some products on the drugstore market are lacking when compared to their higher-end counterparts, I don't find that to be the case for foundations. However, because the range of products out there is so amazing, writing a blog about the best drugstore foundations is tough; it really is a matter of taste. For instance, some people prefer very light coverage while others tend to go for something heavier. Likewise, one person might prefer a dewy finish while another opts for a matte finish (with some people going for something in between). Lastly, there are powder-lovers and then those who prefer cream. While there are literally hundreds of variations out there, I've tried my best to narrow it down to the best in the biz, as well as highlighting those products that are the most accessible. So, without further ado, here are my drugstore foundation superstars!
Liquid Foundations
Liquid foundations are the most popular type of foundation. When used well, they can mimic flawless, airbrushed skin, but when used improperly, they can tend to look cakey and fake. Although they are typically recommended for people with dry to normal skin, which doesn't describe me, it's my favorite type of foundation.
Light Coverage: Maybelline Fit Me Foundation ($7.99)
Like the majority of liquid foundations on this list, there are two different formulas for this foundation:
Matte + Poreless (geared towards people with normal to oily skin) and
Dewy + Smooth (geared towards people with dry to normal skin). This product has a nice range of colors (sixteen shades), so it shouldn't be too hard to find something to match your skin tone. I find that, even though it's advertised as a medium coverage foundation, it's quite sheer. Of course, that contributes to it feeling very natural and lightweight on the skin, but it doesn't do too well with concealing blemishes, which is why I tend to favor other products over it. However, if you don't have anything major to conceal and would just like to even out your skin and fix some light discoloration, this is the perfect fit for you! (Haha... no pun intended!) On a regular day, I find that it will give me a good 4-5 hours' worth of wear before I have to touch up (keep in mind that my skin is oily and breaks down makeup faster than people with drier skin).
Medium Coverage: L'Oreal True Match ($10.95-$12.95)
Well, hello there, holy grail item! There's a reason why this foundation has won tons of beauty awards - it's that good!
L'Oreal True Match Super Blendable Makeup has been a part of my life since I was a teenager buying makeup at the grocery store. It was amazing to me then, and it has stood the test of time because I still still think it's amazing. The color range is fantastic (thirty-three shades!) and is divided into three categories: cool, neutral, and warm undertones. It has a satin finish, which means that it is somewhere in between matte and dewy, so it looks very natural on the skin. Bottom line, while it's not exactly weightless, it doesn't feel heavy on your skin. As y'all know, I have oily skin, so I do feel like I need to set this one with powder to keep my oiliness at bay, or else blot throughout the day. In an effort to expand the line,
True Match Lumi has been added to the True Match family, and fans with dry skin rejoiced! While there aren't as many options with this one (twelve shades), it's still just as blendable as the original, but this time, with a beautiful dewy finish. True Match has medium coverage, but I find that it builds pretty well to cover problem areas. I can get a good 6 hours' worth of wear with it until I have to touch up.
Full Coverage: Revlon Colorstay Makeup ($10.39)
I'm a big fan of Revlon's Colorstay collection (as you'll see when I continue on in this series), and the foundation is no exception. Like the others, it has a formula for
Combination/Oily Skin, as well as one for
Normal/Dry Skin. The shade range is pretty great, with twenty shades for the Combination/Oily and twelve shades for the Normal/Dry. What I love most about this foundation is the coverage. It provides the fullest coverage of any foundation on this list, without feeling super heavy on the skin. I've never tested the 24 hour wear guarantee of this product (mainly because I don't feel like it's good for your skin to keep makeup on for 24 hours), but I can attest that it is very long-wearing; this is the one that keeps me matte the longest.
BB Cream: Maybelline Dream Fresh BB Cream ($7.44)
For the days that you don't want to put on a full face of makeup, there's BB Cream. Since being introduced into the market a few years ago,
Maybelline Dream Fresh BB Cream has been my ultimate go-to in the summer, when I feel like eyeliner and lip gloss is all that my face can keep on in the Texas heat. It has sheer coverage, so I definitely need to use a concealer with it when I have blemishes, but it's the only BB Cream on the drugstore market with enough coverage that I feel comfortable wearing it on its own. It's light, comfortable and hydrating while providing some coverage, as well as, best of all, SPF 30. There aren't very many colors in this line (only five shades), but that's the name of the game with BB Creams. I find that it's blendable enough, however, so that most people will be able to make it work.
CC Cream: Covergirl + Olay CC Tone Rehab Foundation ($13.99)
While I may have neglected it when I was younger, proper skincare has become quite important to me.
Covergirl + Olay Tone Rehab Foundation's whipped consistency feels almost too thick for a CC Cream, but I was pleasantly surprised to find that it's incredibly lightweight on the skin and that, although it has light coverage, it's not nearly as sheer as a BB Cream. With fourteen shades, it has an incredibly large range of colors for a CC Cream. The only drawback is the scent... while not exactly unpleasant, I really try to stay away from products with perfumes as they irritate may people with sensitive skin.
Maybe it's because the tone and evenness I was used to seeing in my skin had started to fade, or because my skin is now rebelling with age (hooray adult acne!), but I've become obsessed with trying to restore my skin to its former glory. That's why I've been very intrigued by the idea of CC Cream. Somewhere between skincare and foundation, the main difference between CC and BB cream is that CC Cream not only hydrates and protects, but it is also supposed to correct discoloration and reduce the look of fine lines and wrinkles. The
Honorable Mention: L'Oreal Infallible Pro-Matte Foundation ($12.99)
Since this is my personal list of favorites, I feel like I would be amiss if I didn't mention my current favorite drugstore foundation. The
L'Oreal Infallible Pro-Matte hasn't been on the market for too long, but as soon as it went on sale, I snatched up a bottle for myself. It's almost weightless on the skin, and it's oil-free, which means that the wear doesn't change over the course of the day. It's a demi-matte finish, so even though I don't feel like I look shiny, it still looks like skin (something that matte formulations tend to ignore). The only reason why it didn't unseat the other foundations on this list, is because it has a limited shade range of only twelve colors. I find this somewhat frustrating because I'm between two shades, which I have to mix to get my perfect shade.
Powder Foundations
Powder foundation is the easiest type of foundation to apply, and it tends to stay put in hot weather, which makes it the perfect summer staple! Powder foundation is also very versatile; you can opt for sheerer coverage by applying it with a brush, or you can go for fuller coverage by applying with a sponge. Although not necessarily ideal for people with dry skin, as the powder tends to cling to dry patches, a good moisturizer should be able to correct that. I have two drugstore options.
Pressed Powder: L'Oreal True Match Super-Blendable Powder ($10.95)
L'Oreal's True Match Line is seriously the gold standard in drugstore face makeup. I've already mentioned their liquid foundation, and the
powder foundation is just as amazing! The formulation in this powder is so creamy and soft that it hardly feels like powder at all, and (like the name states) it blends onto your skin like an absolute dream. Like the liquid foundation, the color range for these powders is unparalleled, with thirty-three shades from which to choose. There's no doubt that you can find a shade that matches you!
Loose Powder: L'Oreal True Match Mineral ($15.25)
Remember what I said about the True Match line? The
L'Oreal True Match Mineral Powder can't be beat. Although they have a reputation as being messy, I find that loose powders usually provide the most natural looking finish to the skin, as blending is part of the application. It doesn't come in as many colors as the pressed foundation (twelve shades), but it has a wider selection than any of its competitors. Mineral makeup has become somewhat of a must-have for those with sensitive skin, as well as those who are looking for coverage but trying to avoid clogged pores. I love that this product has a brush attached to the lid, so it's easy to apply and pop into your purse to do touch-ups on the go (something that is usually pretty difficult to do with most loose powders).
So, there you have it: my drugstore foundation superstars! As with the primer post, below is a handy little chart to find out which foundation best suits your needs.
|
Oily Skin
|
Dry Skin
|
Light Coverage
|
Medium Coverage
|
Full Coverage
|
Skin Correcting
|
Fit Me (Matte)
|
X
|
|
X
|
|
|
|
Fit Me (Dewy)
|
|
X
|
X
|
|
|
|
True Match Lumi
|
|
X
|
|
X
|
|
|
True Match Liquid
|
X
|
|
|
X
|
|
|
Colorstay (Oily)
|
X
|
|
|
|
X
|
|
Colorstay (Dry)
|
|
X
|
|
|
X
|
|
Dream Fresh
|
X
|
X
|
X
|
|
|
|
Tone Rehab
|
X
|
X
|
|
X
|
|
X
|
Pro-Matte
|
X
|
|
|
|
X
|
|
True Match Pressed
|
X
|
X
|
|
X
|
|
|
Mineral
|
X
|
X
|
|
X
|
|
X
|
Glammie Love!
~Jaz
No comments:
Post a Comment