Tell me everything! And please also mention your skin type and skin shade.
I’m partially writing this post because I’m trying to talk myself out of ALL. THE. FOUNDATIONS. on my Sephora VIB sale wish list right now. Overall, though, I’m happy with my current base makeup sitch, but you know how it is when you’re a makeup junkie… I’m always hoping to find something new to love right around the corner.
I’m also partially writing this post because I’m hella nosy, haha. 🙂 And this is the closest I can get to actually peeking inside your makeup bag. #truth
Here are my current go-to face/base makeup products. I have combo skin, and my shade in MAC-speak is NC42.
Foundation
- MAC Face & Body in C4 and C5 (I mix the two)
- NARS Velvet Matte Skin Tint in St. Moritz and Cuba (mixed)
- MAC Studio Fix Fluid (NC42; I usually mix this with a few drops of MAC Strobe Cream)
- Neutrogena Hydro Boost (super sheer coverage; I wear Honey 85)
- Hourglass Vanish Seamless Foundation Stick (Beige)
Concealer
- Make Up For Ever Ultra HD Concealers (Y33 and Y41 mixed in the under-eye area; Y41 for the rest of my face)
- MAC Matchmaster Concealer (I wear shades 4.0 and 5.0; sadly, this appears to have been discontinued)
Powder
- MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural (Medium Golden)
- NARS Light Reflecting Setting Powder (Translucent Crystal)
Those are my current skin/base makeup loves. What are yours?
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
I’ve tried so many department store and drug store brands and I always go back to Revlon Colorstay in Sand Beige. It has the best coverage and stays all day.
I have recently fallen in love with Urban Decay’s Naked Skin foundation…it melts right into my skin!!
Been thinking about trying the One and Done just for the heck of it…hey, a sale is a sale!!! ?
Combo NC40/42 here, and for warmer months I’ve moved to a thin layer of FAB ultra repair cream as a base to prevent flakiness. It finishes matte but hydrates. I then mix a pump or two of Hourglass veil primer with a pump of IT cosmetics Your Skin But Better CC cream in tan for medium coverage + spf 50 mineral sunscreen. I mix on my hand, apply with fingers, then finish with a dusting of Bareminerals hydrating mineral veil powder. It’s a balancing act — controlling oil while preventing flaky patches!
When I don’t need SPF I really like Fenty in 300, with either the more hydrating Fenty primer or the more mattifying Hourglass primer depending on how my skin is acting that day, mixed together then applied with a damp sponge.
I love L’oreal True Match foundation in W3. As far as cosmetic counter foundations, I love Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua in 10 beige.
Powder is MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural in Medium (thanks to you, Karen, for recommending this powder – I love it!
Concealer – I have horrible hereditary dark circles which no concealer can truly cover, and I have tried a TON of concealers over the years but right now my two favorites are The Balm Time Balm in light, and MAC Studio waterweight concealer in nc20.
I just started using Macs prep and prime natural radiance primer this year and there’s a difference if I don’t wear it! I forgot one day and was not impressed with the appearance of my face, lol! I’m lame so I just use Macs studio powder foundation (I’m terrified of trying a new foundation, my skin is so b*tchy) and Mac mineralized concealer. So lames. But it works! I want to try a liquid foundation but it’s a lot of work for me to test so I don’t break out or have a serious reaction. It’s borderline stressful!
I have extremely fair skin with cool/neutral undertones, so most (read: all) drugstore liquid foundations don’t match me. But thank goodness for powder foundation! L’Oreal True Match Mineral Foundation in the shade Soft Ivory is the perfect match for me. I tried the liquid foundation in the cool tone, same line, but it was MUCH too orange somehow. Anyway, I do this routine to make it last the whole day with my oily/ sometimes combo skin:
ELF Poreless Primer
L’Oreal True Match Mineral Foundation in Soft Ivory N1 (light to medium coverage)
ELF Mist and Set Setting Spray
That combination of products gives me the coverage I want but still looks very natural, which is great. I’m in my mid teens, but I only have some minor breakouts and otherwise my skin is pretty good.
Maybelline has a ton of shades in their Fit Me Matte + Poreless line, so I plan to try them out soon. 🙂 I hope this helped my fellow oily/ combo ghosts!
I’m very fair with neutral undertones (N13). I have oily skin.
Foundation:
*E.l.f. Flawless Finish Foundation in Light Ivory
*BH Cosmetics Natural Flawless Foundation in 201 Ivory
*BareMinerals bareSkin Pure Brightening Serum Foundation in Bare Porcelain 01.
*Lancome Teint Idole 24H Long Wear Foundation in 140 Ivoire N (summer shade; I mix it with some Manic Panic White the rest of the year). I wear this on days I need full coverage. I don’t wear full coverage enough to bother getting a separate bottle in my winter shade.
Concealer:
*Sephora Collection Bright Future Gel Serum Concealer in Bavarian Cream
*Nyx Photogenic Concealer Wand in Alabaster
Powder:
*E.l.f. HD Powder in Sheer
*Wet n Wild CoverAll Pressed Powder in Fair/Light (for matte looks)
*Tony Moly Cats Wink (for my purse)
IT CC
and IT in the compact
color ?? just started my morning coffee too early
chanel concealer
KenGohDo Aqua foundation 002 (weirdly not the lightest cool….012 is)
Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua 22 Beige Rose
It cosmetics CC cream in light.
Plus a few other…..lol. I tend to have trouble matching my undertones and end up thinking something is perfect when it’s not.
My skin is combination with a pretty oily t-zone and quite e bit hyper pigmentation after breakouts, so I want a semi-matte medium coverage foundation that lasts through a ten hour work day without the need to touch up. Oh and I am a MAC NC 20
My favorite one right now is the L´Oréal Perfect Match Foundation, even though it needs a lot of powder throughout the day.
Hi Karen!
If I want less coverage, Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua. To me it has the prettiest finish I’ve seen thus far of a foundation. I also have been using the Ordinary.’s serum foundation which is an awesome foundation for the price! I think it’s $7 or something crazy like that!
If I want a little more coverage, Guerlain Tenue de Perfection Long-Lasting. I like it because I think it does a pretty good job of blurring pores.
If I am going super full glam & want a full coverage foundation, I use Fenty Pro but I feel like my pores show up a little with this one.
Concealer: Nars creamy. Sometimes I use Nars matte concealer but lately my fine lines have been creeping up with this one. I practically use no concealer under my eyes however because I have raccoon dark circles in which too much concealer makes it look worse.
Powder: Chanel pressed powder which looks to be discontinued :(. Guerlain meteorites for finishing
Primer: Chanel Le Blanc De Chanel, wow this is my secret to faking good skin
Sephora High Coverage Concealer (on my dark spots) set with Laura Mercier Translucent Powder
Also like to use MUFE Full Cover concealer as a “spot foundation”
Found my way back to MUFE Ultra HD Foundation
I’ve thought about trying new foundation but I’ve used MAC for so long, I’m loathe to leave it. I’m not unhappy with MAC but I often wonder if there is a better foundation out there that could make my skin look better–less dull, at least maybe? (Then again, I don’t like a heavily made up look so I stick with what I know works.) I don’t have the confidence to choose a color on my own and can’t always find a helpful associate. I use Face and Body (C3) sometimes alternating with Studio Fix Fluid (NC35) depending on how I feel and the kind of coverage I want. I have Prolong wear concealer in NW30 which I use on occasion but I was having trouble with it sinking into the fine lines around my eyes. I’ve since remedied it by using an emollient eye cream but I often skip this anyway out of sheer laziness.
I have to add that your skin always looks so gorgeous. Whatever you’re doing/using works!
Combination skin (which only hit in my 20s).
Primer: either origins pore perfecting cooling or neutrogena shine control and MUFE mattifying on the forehead
Foundation: MUFE Mat velvet in 30
Tinted Moisturizer: Renewed Hope in a jar skin tint (beige). This thing is amazing and I love it so so so so much
Concealer: currently using Benefit erase paste but it is discontinued so thinking I’ll try shape tape next
Powder: tarte smooth operator
Oh gurl, don’t even get me started on the VIB sale. I went to the mothership yesterday and loaded up but I still have things in my cart—all must haves–on the website.
I’m fair and currently wearing MAKE UP FOR EVER
Ultra HD Invisible Cover Foundation in soft sand, I think. If I’m remembering correctly. However, I recently sampled Giorgio Armani’s Luminous Silk Foundation and I Was Blown Away by how amazing my skin looked All Day Long.
I looked in the mirror that night and didn’t want to wash my face. That’s how great it still looked. My color IQ match is supposed to be 5.25. However, I think that’s a shade or two too dark for me. I’ve stopped getting sun since I had my last color match.
Then for concealer, I use Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer, which I’m in love with. I’m using Cannelle. That was a suggestion from one of the guys doing makeup at the store who is an artist when he’s not selling makeup at the store, so he really had a good eye.
Then I top it with an Kat Von D Lock-It Brightening Powder in Petal. I’m a makeup junkie but when I heard about a specific powder for the under eye I was doing a major eye roll. Then I tried it. OMG, this is my ride or die product. I look more than years younger, even if I haven’t put any concealer on first. I’m worried however because this product has been on sale at sephora and the petal isn’t listed as one of the colors anymore. Kat don’t discontinue this!
Also, I forgot primer. Right now I’ve been using Becca First Light Priming Filter Face Primer. I’m nearing the bottom of the jar and need to repurpose. Sometime I use this before foundation and sometimes I put it on after, just depends on my mood.
Also, if I want to channel my inner 13 year old and have just a tiny bit of sparkle, I apply Tarte Brighter Days Highlighting Moisturizer. It’s not sturdy enough of a moisturizer for me at 48 but it has a bit of sparkle so its a fun layer.
Then I spray on Urban Decay All Nighter Long-Lasting Makeup Setting Spray. I got a big bottle in one of those skin kits at Sephora. I was skeptical but I love it and can’t imagine finishing my face without it. It makes my makeup last longer and stay looking fresh longer.
I’m a very pink, fair skinned person and have tried various things. The best one ever was Prescriptives compact foundation, powder and concealer all in one, in Cool Rose, but they’ve gone bust.
I now use Lancōme Teint Idole in their fairest shade plus their concealer. Underneath I use Smashbox, colour correcting primer and over the top I use Laura Mercier translucent face powder.
I really miss Prescriptives. They had a really great lipstick too
What is it about foundation that makes us (or me, at least) think there is always something better out there?
Lately I’ve been using It’s Celebration Foundation with SPF. It gives me good coverage and I like the SPF. Sometimes I use It’s cc cream, but it’s so easy in the morning to just put on the powder Celebration that I’ve been reaching for it most days.
I have some Eve Pearl, Josie Maran and Edward Best foundation that I used up, but I have spares so I’ll be rotating them in eventually.
Hi Karen and everyone! My go to base products (NC42) combos are
– HG MAC F&B C5 – The best more natural foundation ever. I always reach for this even though I like the other ones just so-so compared to this Gem. This photographs amazingly. Thanks Karen for introducing this one to me!!
– MAC MSFN- Medium dark all over with medium deep as a soft contour (my everyday work skin base)
– NARS sheer glow in – syracuse with NARS soft matte concealer in Ginger (night time looks)
– Giorgio Armani Luminous silk – 7.5 (when I’m feeling a bit bougie)
– Becca backlight primer + Loreal infallible pro matte 108 (when I want to have a more matte base but not too matte)
As I’m a big fan of NARS, I usually use Nars tinted moisturiser in shades Alaska and St.Moritz mix. That’s my wintertime routine. For summertime I use NARS All Day luminous weightless foundation in shades Fiji and Punjab mix. Recently I decided that I want to have something in between of those two and I discovered Borujois Healthy Mix foundation. Seriously, it’s sooo great!!! I’m literally using only that now and don’t feel like returning back to NARS. 😀
I have almost Every. Single. Foundation. Known. No joke it’s an on going issue and I’m not afraid to admit I have a problem. But I always seem to grab Nars sheer glow or my trusty Tom Ford foundation stick they just seem to do well. And for concealer under eyes It cosmetics bye bye under eye and face Kevyn Aucoin sensual skin enhancer, and I use Laura mercier to set. I usually go back and forth between urban decay setting spray or MAC but I’m so curious to try Morphe brushes setting spray I hear it’s in a can like hairspray and has a smoother dispense
right now i’ve been loving the IT cosmetics cc cream but there are so many bases I want to try! Have you tried the new lancome skin feels good foundation?
Hi Jenna,
I haven’t yet! I saw a Lancome Tint at Sephora last Friday but ended up getting one from YSL instead. Have you tried it yet?
My three absolute faves are Make Up Forever Ultra HD liquid foundation, NARS Tinted Moisturizer, and MAC Studio Fix Fluid! With those three, I’ve got something for all coverage levels and finishes. The L’Oreal True Match Lumi is a very close fourth.
For concealer, I like the Maybelline Age Rewind for fuller coverage and Maybelline Fit Me for lighter coverage. MAC Pro Longwear is great but I hate how much the pump dispenses so it’s not a go-to.
For powder, I really only use the RCMA No-Color Powder to set and Hourglass Ambient Lighting palette to finish! I have normal skin, dry under the eyes, and the RCMA is the best I’ve found for that. The Sephora Microsmooth powder is a nice light-medium coverage powder foundation that I often recommend, I just don’t use it a ton.
I’m so behind on MBB! I like pretty minimal coverage, so my go-to’s right now are Glossier Skin Tint in light, the Glossier Stretch Concealer in light, and the classic Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer and Soft Matte Concealer (both in Chantilly). I’m using the Becca Hydra-Mist Set and Perfect powder (which is definitely not for oily skin, but I really like it and the packaging is amazing).
For primer I use either the Hourglass veil or one of the Becca’s ones as I bought a primer sampler from Sephora. For foundation, I use a Cover Girl CC cream in light and I just bought the Laura Mercier double concealer in SC-2. I used to use the Tinted moisturizer from Nars and then Laura Mercier– there seems to be no difference between the high end brand and Cover Girl.
I love the Cover Girl Clean Matte BB! It’s my go-to BB. I agree, CG BB’s are as good as (if not better) than high end! I’m a sucker for high end products, but I really have to admit that this stuff is just the best (for my super oily-dehydrated skin).
My top used currently:
NARS Skin Tint from the CG collection. I really wish this was perm. I’d rarely wear anything else!
Dr. Jart Tiger Grass Color Corrector. I know it’s not foundation but it honestly gives a ton of coverage and helps with texture. If you’re looking for a no fuss base that’s got skincare benefits, this is amazeballs if you’re in it’s color spectrum.
NARS TM! An oldie but a goodie that never lets me down.
MUFE Water Blend
Liking a few samples too, I think BarePro (?) from Bare Minerals is the winer.
I’m not using concealer much at all. NARS RCC, Armani retoucher, and Marc’s foundation concentrate. I have this small sample of that and usually use it instead of concealer. It’s perfect for pinpoint concealing and the texture is awesome.
As for powder I rarely use it these days. I’m using Armani, Fresh, and Gabriel Organics when I do cause that’s what I have!
You already know my go-to Tarte but I don’t think I told you about the Amore Pacific Cushion Compact I picked up in the bullpen at Sephora (where I am just the ultimate sucker/impulse shopper). It was $15 and came in 2 shades – yellow undertone and pink undertone. I chose the pink. It’s SPF 50, which appealed to me since I’m on the retinol and was going to the sunny south. I actually really like it. I use it when I know I’ll be outside (like this afternoon, watching the kids’ baseball game). It’s not the most pore-blurring but it’s not bad. Instead of the pad it came with, I use a beauty blender (press into the cushion and then pat and roll on my face). Not sure how long it will last but I’ve gotten 10 uses so far.
No concealer and no powder for me.
I’ve been consistently using L’Oreal pro matte foundation for my combination skin, mixed with some kind of highlighter. Lately it’s been L’Oreal Lumi Glotion, about a 50/50 mix since my skin has been a bit drier since I had the baby and I need all the brightness I can get! 🙂 I really like the formula and the price.
NC 44/45
MAC Studio Waterweight NC 44 (go to standby, my skin but better, and it feels like skin care)
NARS Radiant Tinted Moisturizer in Cuba (when I want something very light and dewy, almost too dewy, super hydrating and nourishing, makes my skin happy)
Hourglass Immaculate Liquid Powder foundation in Golden Amber (when I need something fancy that lasts and doesn’t require a lot of blotting)
Fenty in 350 (when I need something matte that lasts)
I just used the Sephora event to pick up It Cosmetics CC Cream in Rich for the summer (SPF 50, snail slime, antioxidants, decent coverage, hydrating)
I’ve been testing the new Cover FX matte foundation in N70 and may purchase when I run out of Fenty or Hourglass
Nc42ish- I’m a newly cover fx power play convert; I’ve used GA luminous silk; nars radiant tinted moisturizer mixed with EL double wear; urban decay one and done for minimal days; I LOVE the nars new radiant concealer shade sucrea(something like that) mixed with it cosmetics bye bye concealer (after prepping eyes with a dab of facial oil ) and finish t-zone with Laura Mercier translucent powder. That’s about all?
Karen- get yourself a sample of the cover fx foundation- I think you’ll love it
Yes, agree! I love these modern matte foundations, and Cover FX has a great shade range and they don’t run to orange or peachy. The G shades are more olive and the N shades are fairly golden
It took my until my mid-40’s to fiiiiinally find a foundation/powder combination that makes my pale skin look glowy instead of pasty. 🙂
Guerlain Lingerie de Peau foundation in 02C
Kevyn Aucoin Sensual Skin Enhancer in SX01 (concealer)
and
Givenchy Prisme Libre Loose Powder in Mousseline Pastel