In the many conversations I’ve had with different makeup-loving ladies and gents, one thing I’ve come to realize is that when it comes to foundation, most people, when they find one they really like, stick to it like glue. They’re ride-or-die loyal, and I totally understand this, because finding a foundation that actually works well for you on every level is like finding a chupacabra unicorn (i.e., it’s pretty freaking hard!).
I mean, it’s not as hard as getting a spacecraft piloted solely by cats into orbit around Mars, but it’s hard! In fact, finding a foundation that works with your skin type, delivers the coverage you want and matches your skin tone (and undertones) is probably HARDER than sending astronaut cats into space.
So when I find a foundation that works for me, I’m loyal to it…for about three seconds, LOL! 🙂 OK, more like a few months, but I’m kind of a foundation junkie (you know this) and, depending on what kind of makeup I’m obsessed with at the moment, I’ll stick to something only until the next best thing comes along.
Right now, I’m all about minimal coverage and coverage that looks like real skin, so foundations along the line of compact cushion and tinted moisturizers are my jam. I’m really loving NARS Velvet Matte Skin Tint at the moment (I wear the shade called St. Moritz), but a few months ago I was all about fuller coverage and wore Dior’s Nudeskin almost every single day. Before that, it was Laura Mercier’s Flawless Fluide.
So, let’s talk foundation loyalty. What’s your take on it? Do you stick to one foundation when you’ve found one to love, or do you bounce around just because?
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
That is a good question. I have been loyal to a brand, more than a product. For years I used Bobbi Brown Tinted Moisturizer on most days and Moisture Rich Foundation for more coverage. I have tried the Skin Serum Foundation and liked it, but at $62 it is a little pricey. I have recently started to use a Tinted/CC Cream with SPF 50 from Lune & Aster (a brand sold at Blue Mercury) because I wanted a higher SPF and more hydration and coverage than Bobbi’s products. So far, I am really liking it. I don’t need concealer on my face , it covers really well. I have also been minimal in my makeup lately. Just not feeling it every day. As everything, I blame it on post-menopause and the dry heat ay home and work. Getting through the storm back East. Be well.
I’ll use anything that works and is light enough. Being hella pale options are limited.
I had super, super perma-oily face until I hit my early 40s, so I was very loyal to BareMinerals Original Foundation for many, many years. In the days before primer, it was the only thing that matched my skin and wouldn’t oxidize.
As I get older, hormones are making my facial skin change on a weekly, or even daily, basis. One day I’m oily (though not like when I was younger), then I’ll be more combination, then normal, and some days my cheeks are dry. So now I have a little wardrobe of foundations. I still use BareMinerals quite a bit though. I just finished a jar.
I can’t stick to just one foundation because my skin changes depending on the weather. During the winter, I prefer a more moisturizing foundation and during the summer, I prefer a more matte foundation because it controls my oils and greasy t-zone better. Also, so many new foundations come out every year and are made using “better technology” and “hocus pocus” formula. It just makes you curious and want to try them out, though I always go back to my Dior Forever, MUFE HD and L’oreal True Match. =)
Yup I’m totally the ride or die kind of gal when it comes to face product – actually…come to think of it, I’m a ride or die kinda gal for all my cosmetics hehe! When I find something I like, I stick to it like glue. Promise I’m adventurous when it comes to other things though 😉
I’m loyal to results!
If my skin changes (age, hormones, sun exposure, etc.) or if a formula changes so that it no longer provides the desired results, then I have to adjust.
To a reasonable extent, I am also wary of a company’s ethical stance on such things as animal testing and inclusion of harmful or sensitizing ingredients, so I will adjust my selections (or loyalties) based on that as well.
With the “boring” makeup products like foundation and concealer, I stick to the product that’s open and only buy 1 at a time.
With colorful products – that’s another talk altogether 🙂
Aww, am I the only person in the world who thinks foundation can be exciting sometimes? LOL
What foundation and concealer are you currently using and loving, Ditte?
I think the formulas recently have made foundation super exciting, light, looking like skin, lit from within glow. They’ve been great!
I am not loyal, I just have a favorite for the season, because my preferences regarding coverage seem to change with the weather. But I try not to have more than two open at the same time.
That’s cool that you try to have only two open at the same time. Which ones are you using at the moment?
MAC Studio Waterweight and Catrice All Matte 18h+. Which I figured would be more matte, judging by the name. But as I discovered, it is pretty similar to the MAC one.
I’ll stick with one for a while and repurchase a few times and then I want to try something different. For day-to-day at the office stuff, I usually do a drugstore brand since it’ll be one I use the most. Right now, it’s True Match Lumi and I love it so much. I don’t see that one changing anytime soon. For all the other times I do a full face, I like MAC Matchmaster and use a damp Beauty Blender to apply. It looks so pretty and natural, especially set with Mineralize SkinFinish Natural. When I finish that bottle, I don’t know if I’ll repurchase or try something else!
Can’t get more loyal than me haha been wearing nars sheer glow for years! When I find something that works I stick to it. I’m still all over the place with bb creams for lighter no makeup days. Right now I’m back and forth with the taste bb cream, cliniques bb cream and it cosmetics cc cream.
I am definitely a foundation junkie. I have so many open right now and I just go back and forth depending on how I feel that day. Although, now I want to try the NARS Velvet Matte Skin Tint…
I’m a bit of a foundation junkee, so although I have some favourites, I am always trying new things. I currently have three foundations on the go- MUFE hd, Urban Decay naked skin and Cover fx oil free foundation for days that I want fuller coverage. BB creams/tinted moisturizers are a whole different beast, and although my favourite has to be the IT cosmetics one, I am always buying new ones to try out. I think I have Laura Mercier, Smashbox, Guerlain and Nars right now. I do find it hard to find foundations but love the hunt for a new great foundation and find my base needs to match my mood on the daily. Variety is the spice of life. 🙂
I will try new things but always end up coming back to nars tinted moisturizer and/or sephora microsmooth baked powder foundation. The and/or depends on the weather and desired coverage. Those 2 products just match my skin perfetly and look so natural. nothing else ever comes close.
I always think I’m going to find my one true foundation, but by the time I get to the end of a bottle, there’s something new to try that seems promising. I have kept a bottle of MAC face and body around for years which I put on when I want something super subtle but in that time I’ve tried Maybeline Fit Me, Urban Decay Revolution, a couple bb creamss (one stila, one by a korean brand), and most recently MAC waterweight. Waterweight has certainly made me happiest but I don’t love the packaging. I think next is the nars velvet matte skin tint.
Oh, no .. I must try .. everything. Ok, not everything .. but I find that I start trying things when I don’t like what I have. That said, I have about three foundations that I love: EL Double wear lite, Makeup Forever, and Revlon Color Stay. Will I try more foundations .. sure, but right now I’m fairly happy with my holy grain trio.
Monica.
I rotate a few good ones, and add to them when I find another that fits a niche need. Living in the tropips, not only is the condition of my skin a factor, the activity that I will be engaged in as well. If I will be attending a function indoors all day, I use a heavier creme foundation as we over-cool with the AC here in Asia. If I will be moving around from one meeting to the next, a long-lasting one. And so on.
At the heart of it though, I am a foundation junkie too.
Loyal to foundation? Is that possible? I’m loyal to buying it! My current faves are MAC Studio Wateweight foundation; YSL Touche Eclate and Makeup Forever HD. I am however very loyal to MAC Studio fix Powder foundation. If I ever ran out, there would be a catastrophe in my house! Want to try the NARS Velvet Matte Skin Tint super bad though…oh heck, gong to buy it tomorrow!
I have so much trouble finding foundation! I’m quite fair with neutral undertones and lots of freckles. Medium coverage foundations can make me look greyish if they are light because of the darker freckles, and so many fair foundations just have weird undertones – a lot of weird salmony colors!
I’m really into natural coverage right now. I’d been using Glossier Perfecting Skin Tint because the color and undertone match was really great, but the wear time leaves a bit to be desired. I just ordered MAC Face and Body in N1 because the wear time and finish sound exactly like what I’m looking for, but I’m a little worried about the color and whether or not I’ll need to buy the white Face and Body to mix it a little lighter. I do usually like to go a hair darker with foundation and sheer to avoid the greying of my freckles.
I also break out really easily, especially from sunscreens, and since every foundation seems to like to add SPF (Why?? Unless you are cake facing, you are not getting enough protection to matter), that is a problem. Finally, I’ve got really dry skin.
I love Gabriel foundation mixed with YSL. I’m rose beige medium and YSL has one of the only really good color matches for me. It also has a lovely finish but doesn’t stick well on me. The Gabriel is all natural, which is great, and it sticks like glue without being cakey. Combining them gives me great color, texture, and longevity. I often put a squirt of Becca illuminator in the mix, too, which gives a glowy finish!
I’m a foundation junkie like you! Although I have HG ones I still keep on buying new foundations to try. So little face, so many foundations to try! ?
I am also a foundation junkie! I have yet to find one that I love 100% and use for more than a few months lol. I am always wanting to try new things!
-Emily
http://simply-emily.net
I’m usually loyal to a foundation until I find something better, until it gets discontinued, or until my needs change.
Until recently I didn’t wear much foundation, just a bit of powder foundation most days and YSL Touche Eclat when I wanted a more polished look, but I’ve started to look for more coverage because the redness in my cheeks is getting worse. So I’ve tried a bunch of new ones, and I can’t say I’ve found one I really love. I bought Smashbox Studio Skin and some days I like it, while others I can’t stop it from getting cakey.
My HG foundation would still be YSL Touche Eclat, but it was just reformulated and I haven’t tried the new version yet!
Yes! I love Smashbox Studio Skin foundation. I always try others, but end up going back to that one.
For the last year or so, I’ve been loyal to Jouer’s tinted moisturizer, both the matte and luminizing formulas. They’re more like foundation. I thin out the matte version with a beauty blender. The shade Pearl (luminizing) and Porcelain (matte) are a good match for my NW20 skin. Jouer is an underrated brand. I also use the anti-aging primer and face oil! Oh, I also add the Bobbi Brown foundation stick to my rotation, especially on weekends and lazy days.
I tried the Loreal Lumi foundation, but I didn’t have the right shade. I might have to mix two shades–but unfortunately that’s a deal-breaker for moi.
I wish I could be loyal, but as soon as something new comes out, I have to try it. I like to mix things, too. Right now it’s Mac Face and Body mixed with Chanel CC cream, or Glossier Skin Tint mixed with some Nars Luminous. I also love love Bare Minerals tinted gel stuff, and D&G powder foundation. And Burberry BB. See… I just can’t stop.
If I found a holy-grail, checks every box does everything I need foundation I’d probably stick with it but for now I’m using whatever works and keeping on the hunt for something better.
I’ll usually use up a bottle before buying another though!
Makeup Forever HD. Year round it’s my ride or die foundation. I mix it with the full cover concealer in the area that need more coverage. I have fair skin with a red undertone, and finding a shade that looks natural and like my own skin was like winning the lottery. I literally did a happy dance jig in Sephora.
I have four foundations right now but the Clinique one it’s the best match I have because the L’Orèal and Yves Rocher ones are tad darker and the Revlon lighter. Most of the time I mixed them or in the case of the Yves Rocher when I want a bronzy look.
So if I had all of them in my exact skin tone I’d rotate.
Which shade are you in L’Orèal?
I was using YSL Fusion Ink and really liked and like it. The I got hold of Charlotte Tilbury Magic Foundation. I’m in love. I don’t put it all over my face. I just put it where I need it. For such amazing coverage it doesn’t feel heavy. It’s a non flat matte. It just melds so beautifully with my skin. It will take something REALLY amazing to make me switch. Oh, I don’t have to use a setting powder. I’m in my happy place!!!
Foundation is a moving target for me and i am hooked on all these new formulas like MAC Waterweight…or MUF’s “revival” of the most boring stick foundation. There are days when i need something light and days i need to have a full face on…days when i am out for groceries or work-to-bar…and let’s not forget winter vs summer foundation.
My best foundations of all time for now are
NARS Tinted Moisturizer
YSL Touche Eclat foundation
Estee Lauder Double Wear
MAC Waterweight
Lancome Miracle Air De Tent
Ufff
And honorable mention – the only one i am super loyal to is Erborian BB Cream in Light (i think they changed the name to Clair). It is an awesome BB cream, but what is best: it is completely neutral – not pink and not yellow. I am neutral myself and it is mission impossible to find something in that range of shades. I mix this bb cream with every foundation i use to get best tone
How can anyone be loyal to foundation! There’s so many to try! jk, but really though I think foundation is fun too. I’m using my newly found dry skin to try new ones at the moment.
Foundation is one of the few makeup items that I tend to finish up before buying a new one. At the moment I’m using Chanel Perfection Lumière Velvet and, even though I really like it, I’m pretty sure that when I’m done with it, I’ll want to try something new. You know, just because I like trying different products.
I am not exclusively loyal to just one foundation, but I don’t have many on rotation either. I usually alternate between two or three depending on what kind of skin day I’m having. Right now I really like the Bobbi Brown Skin Serum Foundation, the MAC Studio Waterweight Foundation and – for really bad skin days – the MAC Pro Longwear Nourishing Waterproof Foundation.
I tend to stick to the same things (in all my makeup) but will try new foundations if I get samples. I am definitely a sheerer coverage fan (BB or tinted moisturizers) and prefer a slick, siliconey feel to the formula. In recent years, I haven’t found anything that I like better than Tarte’s BB Tinted Moisturizer.
I’m not loyal, but only because I have yet to find one that is just right all on its own. What I am loyal to is mixing two together!
Well a big NO.. I am not loyal to any foundation whatsoever! Even though I love any particular foundation, I look forward to try a new one ??
Foundation: aka my November thru April Cover the skin so folks don’t think I’m sick.. May thru Oct I usually sport a fairly decent ‘tan’, I like the sun and the sun likes me, SPF lathered on and I still get a good tan… but come November, I fade out fast and Look sick.
During my ‘tan’ months I don’t use foundation, ever. Normally when I am in need of Foundation, I’ve used Bare Essentials Powder, mixing two shades. Last year I tried their liquid foundation. There was no love affair. This year, I tried a new product line to Me, only availabe thru a sales rep called ‘Younique’. Their foundations come in Liquid, Cream or Powder. I Bought the Liquid in Taffeta, a mere 5 drops of this liquid on a powder brush provides coverage all over, from a liquid to a powder finish. I do luv it. Last night, I ordered the Cream Foundation in Scarlett, a paler level. Wanted to test out the color level & a cream foundation. If you haven’t looked into Younique, you should if avail in USA. I have their face & eye primer which makes your face like satin, coverup & foundations. Rose water which is awesome and can take pigment to wet for eyeshadows to a new level of awesome. Eyeshadows, lipstick & lipliner are really great too.
I use 3 foundations: KVD’s Lock-It Tattoo for fancy occasions where nothing can be seen, Bobbi Brown’s stick foundation for ultra lazy days, and my regular, MUFE HD. It’s finally become my daily holy grail since I figured out how to use it! Before those, I was loyal to my Teint Miracle onto the very last drop. So to answer your question…I’m loyal once we reach a compromise 😀
I try different foundations from time to time (in search of my HG), but I always have Revlon ColorStay in rotation. My current favorite is NARS Velvet Matte Skin Tint.
I have worn Bare Minerals and Bare Minerals only for the past twelve years – until two months ago. My skin has always been so sensitive and I was always scared to try anything else.
However, I am now using the Bobbi Brown foundation stick – and I love it! I still use Bare Minerals powder to set it occasionally. I just got to a point where I wanted a 5 minute routine most mornings. No regrets!
I’m rotating Koh Gen Do’s aqua foundation and cushion compacts – Amore Pacific runs a little pink on me and Sulwhasoo. The all run a little light on me, but it’s winter and I tend to put on bronzer and the works. But…I am totally tempted to pick up the reformatted MUFE HD – which was my HG until my skin got ultra dry. Since my last bottle was of the old version, I am eager to try out the new stuff. I may pick some up next month now that I’ve managed to get my skin back on the right track.
I’ve banned myself for buying any more foundation before I actually finish a bottle up. My forever holy grail would be the Lancome Teint Idole but I have fell in love with the Too Faced Born This Way foundation. I always feel like I just NEED to have a new one when they come out but since I’m running out of makeup storage I am cutting back to shop my stash and use the stuff I have already. Low buy til IMATS NYC, wish me luck!
I would say I’m fairly loyal to a foundation (right now it’s the Loreal true match) I’ve gone through around 9-10 bottles of it. Before I discovered it through youtube however, I was ride or die for this old discontinued lancome one (I can’t remember the name)
I’m a foundation junkie! I love trying new ones and how good they can make my skin look. I always seem to have MUFE HD around, Clinique pressed powder and I’ve gone back to Lancôme teint idole a few times too. Right now I’m enjoying too faced born this way, Laneiege cushion powder and Sonia kaschuk’ tinted moisturizer. I also have liked smashbox’s studio skin long wear foundation.
I am currently on the hunt for a foundation that I love! I am currently using Lancôme Teint Idole Ultra 24H Long Wear. It’s a great foundation but I can’t say I am in love with it though 🙁
I feel as though my search may continue forever!
I’m not even loyal to a brand, so I’m definitely not loyal to a foundation…any more. In college & for a while thereafter, all I wore was Revlon ColorStay until I discovered Iman…& then MAC & so many other wonderful brands. I do have a few foundations that I like, but I often feel compelled to try new ones as they launch, provided they complement my skin type & tone.
I’m not loyal to one foundation. I have my favorites that I rotate. But I may only use a foundation for like 2 days in a row, then move on Hahah. Totally not loyal.
I tend to have to mix colors to get the right color. But honestly the best liquid foundation I have used has been physicians formula BB…
Well my foundation depends on what time of the year it is. Of course in the summer I try to find a great tint because I sweat a lot. In the winter I can go all out on my foundation because I’m cold of course. I have notice that powder in the winter is a no go for me because it almost makes your face look ashy. Maybe this is the reason that makeup artist spray finishing spray on their face. But, I like the natural look as well and think the powder over the foundation is too much. I am going to try the NARs velvet tint.
Right now I’m trying to stick with one until I finish up the whole bottle and then I move on to a new one. The only foundation I have repurchased is the Healthy Mix foundation from Bourjois. But I’m adapting the one in one out rule. And I like to keep my foundation collection to a maximum of 3.
Bare Minerals is my ride or die, but I’m constantly on the search for something better. I try different powder foundations because I love how much coverage I can get without feeling too gunky. Then I am on the search for a liquid foundation. I have a lot of redness and dry skin so I am ever searching for dewey full coverage. Dior star and the new MUFE HD are my 2 favorites. The Cover FX drops help turn anything too sheer into a beautiful full coverage. The Lumene BB cream has to be my favorite as far as tinted moisturizer goes. So I guess I’m not loyal to one particular brand/product when it comes to foundation, but I do have favorites that I’ll repurchase. I think foundation is fun.
Right now….I have a few favorites:
Summer-Skin changes to oily…
1) Guerlain lingerie de peau
2) Chanel lumiere perfection velvet
3) ysl fusion ink
Winter-bring on the glow!!
1) Mac water weight
2) Mac match master cushion
3) ysl touché éclat (old formula)
Primers also change with seasons…im a primer junkie!!!
Oh heck no! I have super-oily skin that tends to eat foundation. Seriously, the challenge is real: finding a foundation that doesn’t tend to break down when my sebaceous glands start pumping. So far, the best I’ve found in terms of color-matching and longevity is Estee Lauder Double Wear, but even after hearing from beauty bloggers galore about how great it was for oily skin, I resisted even trying it FOR YEARS because I kept telling myself that I didn’t want something so full-coverage. I tried Double Wear Light, but I’m actually in between Intensity 2 and 3 and didn’t want to purchase two of them to customize my shade. In the meantime, I tried L’Oreal Infallible Pro-Matte (not very oil-controlling at all), and Hourglass Immaculate (too powdery, dried very fast, and spendy). I even purchased the Ellis Faas Skin Veil, which will go down in history as one of the most expensive beauty mistakes I’ve ever made. Well, I finally broke down last month and purchased the Double Wear, and yes, it’s pretty fabulous. I found a way around sheering out the full coverage by using just what I need and applying it with a dampened BeautyBlender. BUT, another friend just told me about customized foundation from a new company called MatchCo, and before I knew it, I was downloading the app on my phone and ordered my own customized foundation. I haven’t received it yet, but I couldn’t resist the lure. So… I guess I’m a fickle one.
I’m only loyal until i finish the bottle, and then its on to the next one!
Loyal… to 3. Marc Jacobs Remarcable, Too Faced Born This Way, and Tarte Amazonian Clay full coverage. I actually use either the Marc Jacobs or the Tarte mixed with a couple of drops of the Too Faced. I own other foundations, like Urban Decay Naked and a Lancôme one, plus a couple of tinted moisturizers, but those three are the ones I usually reach for.
Hi Karen, I have many many foundations, I wish I could find just one that would work but alas, no. Mostly I have combo skin but I live in South Florida so it can get really oily in summer and dryer in winter. I have bare minerals, but I also really like Tarte and Josie Marin. I am constantly on the search for that perfect foundation – like the holy Grail, someday I may find it!!
I am not loyal to one foundation/brand anymore. Drier, Aging skin and more concern for ingredients that are in these products; I tend to be more careful of choosing products these days. When I think “this is one to try”, I read the ingredients list and it fails from there. My search is ongoing for the right foundation and tinted moisturizer. Thankfully, my skin is in good condition for 50+ but have dark circles that peek through anything. So, I have a drawer full of concealers and foundations…Oh what we have to go through!