I’m forever in search of a good foundation/base/concealer. Right now I’m using Physicians Formula InstaReady Super BB foundation, their concealer, and Ulta Double Duty Wet & Dry Pressed Powder. I was just thinking how badly I need help picking a new one when this runs out as it’s almost done. I’m hearing good things about Hard Candy concealer, but as far as foundation and powder-lost. I’m happy with the combo I’m using now, but I want to be THRILLED.
What’s your routine? Do you put on your foundation/base then powder?
Talk soon, Lovelies
-Allie
✨The Goss and Gloss Diaries✨ 
I’ve always been into powder foundation (prefer matte.) I dove into the liquid game recently and I still can’t seem to find one I’m in love with. I was a Bare Minerals Matte devotee for years (acne/oil prone skin sucks) but the compact Pro was awful. Also watched the liquid serum foundation look nice for about an hour before it slid off my face (if I didn’t set with a powder, often. And use a good primer/setting spray) Unless I have a matte foundation, I always set with a powder. I hate shine/dewy look.
Right now, I’m using Tarte Amazonian Clay, with Smashbox primer and UD De-slick. The latter two are awesome, the foundation? Not super impressed. Normally I like to distribute a liquid and then blend around the face- I can only do small sections at a time because it immediately starts to thicken and dry (like Clay, go figure 😉 ) It’s easy to make it look mask-ish if you don’t blend before it begins to dry.
I’ve been using Smashbox Studio Skin concealer and I LOVE it. I want to try the foundation, but after the amount of $ I’ve blown the past few months looking for a solution, I’m hesitant.
I’ve read every review for Studio Skin, Urban Decay All-nighter/Naked Skin, Too Faced Born This Way, and Kat Von D Lock it. Anyone tried these?! I just wish someone could say HERE, USE THIS. IT’S PERFECT! I’d gladly spend the money 😦
LikeLiked by 3 people
I prefer a dewy looking for myself, only because I find that a super matter finish tends to make me look older. Having said that, I do switch it up from day to day! For a matte look I’ve really been liking estee lauder double wear. It seems to have a cult following! A friend of mine uses the Kat von d lock it and swears by it.
LikeLiked by 2 people
I know a lot of people who feel the same way. My friends swear by Bare minerals matte powder base. I can’t use it because of my chronic dry skin. Mine is dryest on the dry scale. I have no choice but to use liquid base, and even the liquid base has to be luminous because my skin is so dry.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I fear I’ll be back to BM Matte sooner than later… I really wanted to make a liquid foundation work. It seems to give that flawless look, and better coverage. I just can’t seem to get it right. If my next purchase doesn’t work out, I’ll be switching back. At least it keeps my skin clear.
Have you tried a Foundation Serum PlainSanta? I know Dior and Anthropologie are supposed to have amazing ones, a bit expensive for me. But they would probably be great for your skin. I tried the Bare Minerals Serum, some spots were WAY too oily and some spots were too dry. I’d stay away from that one.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I have and use all of these:
Avon, yes!!! I still have an Avon lady, they have some things that are my ride or die. I have 2 shades of their loose Mineral Powder Foundation. I’ve been using them for years. Love ’em.
Physicians Formula Nude Wear, it feel’s sheer, but it gives good color – and it has a touch of sparkle. No need for Illuminator
Laura Geller Balance and Brighten Baked Foundation. It took a minute for me to get enough on the brush, but one I used it a few times, it loads up on the brush just fine.
I also bought an Avon Ideal Flawless Liquid on a whim cause it was on sale. I’m a sucker for a good deal. It’s a perfectly fine product, I just don’t use it that often. It’s more for full glam.
I did have an Estee’ Lauder liquid I used back in the day, I forget the formula. There again, it was a perfectly fine product for full coverage/full glam.
I like the powder foundations, they feel light on my face and they are much easier to blend.
My search is for the perfect primer. I’ve been using Avon’s Magix face perfector, I have the colorless and the tinted. It’s a pore perfecting formula. This has been great for me. I decided to start trying other one’s, and I’m not having any luck finding one that I like. I’ve tried 4 different ones so far, they make my face feel weird – like it’s sweating or something. I thought I was allergic, but to 4 different ones? I so want to try Laura Geller’s Spackle. But the thought of paying $30 some bucks for me to not like it is holding me back. Any suggestions?
I’m setting my face with the Avon Mineral Transparent Glow, I’m such a creature of habit, I’m trying to change that. When I get the gumption, I’m going to go to Sephora and get either Laura Mercier or NARS powder. And a new concealer, I’ll let them color match me. Sephora is such a pain in the ass to get to, there is one in a Penny’s about 25 minutes away, and one in the middle of a huge shopping center about 40 minutes away. Ulta is easy, it’s in a strip mall so you enter right into the store – but they don’t carry everything Sephora does.
I think it’s fivecats that uses the Coty Airspun Powder, I actually just saw a drug store haul from on of the YouTuber’s and it got good reviews. I have to be careful of the scented things though, allergies.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Get Out- I like Too Faced Primed and Poreless, any foundation I put it over it looks great. I’ve found that Primer Water works great if the liquid types feel too heavy (I also get the sweat feeling, and a lot of them make me break out) Smashbox Primer Water is awesome, super light, like you’re wearing nothing. You can also use it as a setting spray. I’ve had good luck with all the Smashbox Primers- they sell a sample/starter kit for around $30 if I remember correctly. Including the Primer water, under-eye primer, photo finish primer, and shadow primer. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh, thanks – I’ll try the Too Faced. I don’t know what that sweaty feeling is, I give it time to dry, it just seems like it doesn’t want to.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Allie, I’ve noticed that the Tarte shape tape concealer is getting amazing reviews, but unfortunately it is not available in Canada. I prime with Becca back light primer.
My undereye concealer routine is a little excessive, BUT I have really dark circles. I color correct with Becca color corrector and then use a touch of MUFE full cover concealer….then after I apply my foundation (I seriously have a few I rotate through…I have a makeup problem) I go in with Nars radiant creamy concealer to highlight/brighten underneath and set with Laura Mercier under eye brightening powder. I use a VERY light hand and it isn’t cakey, I swear!
My name is Ruby, and I’m addicted to cosmetics. 😂
LikeLiked by 3 people
I’ll send you the tarte shape tape, if you’d like-I’ve heard good things about Becca. My daughter loves the highlighter.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Ah so sweet of you! I actually just looked at their website and it looks like I can purchase direct from Tarte…so, I will take your offer of shipping me desired goods, and keep it in my back pocket! LOL
LikeLiked by 3 people
Sounds good-let me know if anything changes!
LikeLiked by 2 people
I have the damned rosacea so I need to be heavily armed so use Esteé Lauder and a new find (thanks Youtube) is Milani Conceal and perfect; its OK but a bit claggy.
Most of the time I work from home so I don’t need to put the slap on so I am usually bathed in Nivea or Elizabeth Arden 8 hour cream and a Benefit Benebalm on my lips.
LikeLiked by 2 people
It all starts with Hourglass Veil Primer.
Liquid silk. Try it—you will not be sorry.
LikeLiked by 3 people
I love that stuff as well! MAC also has a nice primer for dry skin called moisture infusion. Sometimes I use that during the cold winter months when I tend to dry out.
LikeLiked by 3 people
I use Mary Kay everything and I love the base Timewise. You can get the base in several different colors and each color has two types. Matte or Luminous. I use Luminous for my exceptionally dry skin. If you have oily skin, you opt for the Matte which has no oil in it. BUT BUT BUT! A friend bought a new base for my birthday called Bye-bye foundation and it is out of this world. Miracle in a tube. There are infomercials for Bye Bye foundation. It really is everything they say it is. You have to order it online.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Oooo I’ve seen the ads for bye bye-it works?
LikeLiked by 2 people
I was eyeing Bye Bye up too – I got pulled in on the infomercial. I researched it to see if I could just order the bye bye, they market it as a tinted moisturizer, hence saying “bye bye” to foundation.
Buyer Beware, lot’s and lot’s of very unhappy people. As far as I know, you cannot just buy this product anywhere. It’s one of those bait and switch deals. You think you’re getting a kit for either $39.95, or $49.95. It’s a subscription service, and you have to pay that per month. I’ve read horrible stories of how hard it is to cancel the service, it takes many phone calls where you get the run around. IT Cosmetics places the blame on the company that does the commercial, but aren’t they ultimately responsible for who they choose to market their product? I’ve seen it on Ebay, but I don’t trust that those are authentic, and if it is, they price gouge you big time.
I can’t believe with the amount of business that Jaime from IT does on QVC, that she wouldn’t just offer this as a single buy item. It’s really an underhanded business tactic to pull people in on those damn over inflated subscription deals.
LikeLiked by 2 people
It works. Not only is it a base, it does wonders for the skin.
LikeLiked by 1 person
@Get Out you are probably right on target. I never purchased it. My friend gets it every month so she has so much of it , she gave me the foundation for my birthday to try. I never bought it. If its that hard to cancel, then DON’T do it. I liked the base but i ever got caught up in the purchasing issues.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Well well well..wouldn’t you know the sucker of the group (me) tried Bye Bye Foundation from their infomercial late at night.. I like it. I don’t love it. But it is not so easy to cancel. 😞 So I have three boxes unopened. (They send a new shipment every three months but faithfully charge your credit card every month…) If you want to try it, I would bet someone is selling it on eBay for probably less money than even their “trial offer” is.
My old favorite is Merle Norman used to have this cake-like stuff in a compact container that you could add water too and it lasted a long time. But I think Merle Norman’s are closed now?
When powder foundation came into style I did like Bare Essentials but now that I am ten years older, I need more coverage.
Now I rarely leave the house so I don’t really care that much.
Aging sucks.
LikeLike
What do they send you every month? Just foundation? I hate those monthly subscription things-it feels like a scam.
LikeLike
According to the invoice:
Plain white tissue (lol)
No Tug waterproof eyeliner (black)
Bye-bye Concealer – Medium
Bye-Bye Pores -Medium
Bye-Bye Foubdation – Medium
Vitality Lip Flush
Hello Lashes Mascara
Brow Power Brow Pencil
Entry Catalog
— all for the low price of $149.95 plus $11.97 s/h or $53.94/month
Worth it? Nah.
I would rather have my Merle Norman!!! 😁😁😁😁
LikeLike
They didn’t charge you for the white tissue paper???! How kind-haha
LikeLike
Yeah that sucks girl. My friend gave me the foundation for my Bday and I do like it, but if i couldnt cancel, I’d be crazed!
LikeLike
I use Bare Minerals tinted mineral veil over top of Smashbox HD Foundation. I have oily skin. Clinique makes a nice pore perfecter. I’m excited to see what works for others and will try them all. Thank you!
LikeLiked by 1 person
My skin gets oily with liquid foundation, so it’s hard to find one that lasts. What do you think of the Smashbox? I want to try their studio skin because I like the concealer, but I need it to last!
And if you’re oily, I highly suggest Smashbox Primer Water. Sometimes my foundation just slides around on a regular primer when I get oily, but the water never seems to. You can use it to set as well!
LikeLike
Thank you for the suggestion. I’m going to try that 🙂 I think the Smashbox works well, it does last, even on my oily skin.
LikeLike
Marc Jacob’s remarcable foundation might be a good one for you. It’s definitely pricey, but you really only need the smallest amount (like a drop or two). It is super pigmented and you buff it out. It can look cakey very easily if not applied properly, so my understanding is that it might be best for skin the tends to be more towards the oily side. Like I mentioned, it is costly…but it could be worth trying a sample. ☺
Another trick that Wayne Gosse suggests is using a loose setting powder *before* foundation to help with makeup longevity. It should be a finely milled powder and not a pressed powder. Who would have thought! Not sure if you’ve checked out his YouTube channel, but he is awesome!
LikeLike
Touch in Sol Feel like honeymoon skin base is my favorite primer. It goes on sticky and has a unhelpful little paddle for application. Let it dry and your skin is soft and supple. If I need a heavier foundation I use ELF in the lightest shade they have. It comes in a glass pump bottle and looks very upscale on my vanity for a low price. Usually I stick to Burts Bees BB cream or the L’Oreal Lumi-cushion. I do use a beauty blender instead of their little sponge. The Lumi-cushion comes in a pretty rose gold compact. Maybelline’s fit me concealer. Allure does daily email that talks about new products, treatments, and techniques. I don’t like matte foundation, prefer dewey, but I
LikeLiked by 1 person
If you have oily skin, you should go with powder foundation according to my dermatologist. She advised me to use liquid because I’m the opposite.
LikeLike
I have dry skin.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m pretty fortunate, I rarely rarely break out.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I hit the send too early. I just hate heavy makeup on my face. My mother used Covergirl base in creamy natural. It smelled like Noxema.
LikeLiked by 1 person
While we’re on the subject… Since I want to try so many different foundations, I’ve been looking around online a bit to find higher-end cosmetic companies that offer samples. Most have expired or require a purchase. I know some department store counters will offer samples. Any score suggestions? Kills me to buy $50+ foundations and hate them 😦
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think if you go to a high end department store that has specific counters for brands, they will hook you up with some kind of sample. Some just do in-store samples, other’s will give a little “goodie bag” type deal. It’s been a minute since I’ve done that, so I don’t know if they still do it or not.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Usually Lançome or Clinique will. I quit doing the super expensive foundation when I found out that L’Oreal and Lançome were the same company.
LikeLiked by 1 person
They are?! Now I’ve been inspired to look into foundation dupes..
I feel like drugstore foundation always makes me breakout, or doesn’t last, and by the time I end up trying a few/buying acne fixes I always feel I should’ve just dished out on the expensive stuff.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Yes the L’Oréal True Lumi is pretty much a dupe for one Lancôme
And Armani Silk (my fave). 👍🏻
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sephora will give you a sample of *any* product. 🙂 and they won’t push you to purchase usually. I’ve never had one pressure me for a sale.
LikeLike
Good to know! Speaking of samples, Ulta forgot mine in my last shipment so I cried about it and they sent me some. They came today.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Agreed. I get samples ALL the time and they only ever seem more than happy to help. No pressure ever. Also, they have a great return policy, you can pretty much return anything within 30 days for a full refund regardless of if it is used or not.
It is one of my designated happy places.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You may want to check out So Choix. They have all the high end samples as a subscription monthly you get 5 of your choice plus points to buy full size you can also buy individual samples. I just got my first box definitely worth $10! If you subscribe to the email I believe theres a discount but go check it out because you knowI have the brain injury and all lol! I know this is OT but does anyone else watch Poldark? This site is wonderful waving hello to all of you while freezing my tuckus off here!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Poldark is the best. Season 3 just finished a few weeks ago here.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hands down the best I’ve found is Nars Sheer Glow Foundation. It’s a little pricey but a little goes a long way so I think it’s def worth the higher price. Another face product I can’t live without is Urban Decay All Nighter. It’s like hair spray for your face. My make up looks just as perfect eight hours later even in the summer with it. I’m so glad you’re blogging makeup. It’s one of my weaknesses.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Betty a good size mini of the Urban Decay all nighter was in Sephora’s play box this month. That’s enough for me — I LOVE that product too!
LikeLike
I was a long time user of Lancôme absolute full coverage in a jar,very hydrating.but…didn’t like it settling into my fine lines..enter it cosmetics bye bye foundation. I can’t express how wonderful this foundation is!!it works just like the infomercial.i recommend it to all who seeks hydration and full coverage.you can buy just the foundation on their website for $65. I promise it is worth it!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I try not to wear any makeup when I can but if I have to, my routine is split between summer and winter. For winter, as a base I use Chanel’s Illuminating Base topped with their Vitalumiere Aqua and for summer, as a base I use Giorgio Armani Master Primer followed by Chanel’s Perfection Lumiere Velvet. I’m pretty much all things Chanel when it comes to makeup. I’m fortunate enough to work for a high end department store here in Sydney so I get staff discount on most products which is great.
LikeLiked by 1 person