It’s time for a foundation update now that we are transitioning to fall weather. I’ve been testing some new base formulas over the past few months. I have an assortment of foundations to share today by coverage type which I’ve found suitable for my normal combination skin. These days my skin is slightly oily in the T-zone with a few dry patches around the chin area as I’m working to clear up my skin. I still have super sensitive skin that reacts to a lot of foundations so if you’re like me, I this roundup helps you find something new to try.
In case you have completely different skin type and foundation preferences, I highly recommend you give Nordstrom’s online foundation search tool to help you find the right foundation for you. There is a quick and easy form for you to fill out where you select skin type, coverage and finish preference. This filters brands and formulas for you to check out. I highly recommend you give it a try.
Above: Tory Burch Clutch, Chanel 2-in-1 Foundation Brush, Chanel Fall 2015 Stylo Yeux in Pomme de Pin, MAC Viva Glam Miley Cyrus II Lipglass, Tom Ford Foundation Brush, Charlotte Tilbury K.I.S.S.I.N.G Lipstick in Penelope Pink
I’ve split my fall foundation edit into three categories: Natural Coverage, Medium-to-Full Coverage and Powder Foundations. My personal foundation preference is for something that is natural looking and lightweight but also has decent coverage to even out the skin and create a flawless base. Many have asked me if it’s necessary for add-ons like primers and powder. I don’t think all foundations need a primer, but I’m a firm believer in setting with powder. Many times I set with a powder foundation by dusting the face with a brush. Some think it’s too much to layer powder foundation on top of liquid foundation but if you layer it right, it’s not too much. (More on primers and powders in a separate post.)
Up first are three new powder foundations I’ve been testing. If you’ve read The Beauty Look Book for a long time you will know that my holy grail powder foundation is the Dolce & Gabbana Perfect Matte Powder Foundation. My color is usually Warm 100 and has worked for me even though I’ve gotten darker over the summer. I decided to try a few new formulas.
Urban Decay Naked Skin Ultra Definition Powder Foundation is indeed a high-def kind of product. It’s a super pigmented and super velvety kind of powder foundation that has medium to full coverage. You can use this one wet or dry, I prefer dry with a sponge or dusted with a brush. For me trying powder foundation is tricky – as the skin warms up, powders often darken or oxidize in color. The Urban Decay Naked Skin Powder Foundation does warm up to the skin but doesn’t darken. It holds up really well with minor touch ups needed on the nose for me. I use Medium Light Warm. There are a number of shade options with different undertones.
The Tom Ford Flawless Powder Foundation launched a few months ago. This is extremely pricey at $80 but the formula is amazing. With a simple base of moisturizer the sponge applies this on the skin and makes all your pores disappear. Skin appears smooth and truly flawless. It’s easy to build – the texture in the compact looks and feels powdery but there is no fall out on the face and it doesn’t cake. The downside (aside from the steep price tag) is the limited color selection. I’m in between Fawn and Sable. It was suggested I opt for Fawn as the closest match. I’m about 1.5 shades darker now compared to what I am most of the year. For right now I can get by with Fawn but it’s a tad bit too pale. It will be perfect for winter. That being said I do hope they expand the color selection to match the liquids because this formula is incredible.
Giorgio Armani also launched a new foundation called the Luminous Silk Compact. Color selection jumps around in this one as well. I am normally anywhere from a 6, 6.5 to 7 in the Luminous Silk and Lasting Silk. The powders I saw seemed to run on the dark side. I was matched to 4 and I was super skeptical about the counter rep’s matching skills because I expected to be 5.5 or 6.5. She was right. It warms up on the skin. I would say this is one of the sheerer powder foundations I’ve tried. If you like a super natural look this is a good one. It is very smooth and finely milled. I prefer more coverage but it’s great as a setting powder or layered over a sheer foundation.
Swatches next to Chanel Double Perfection Lumiere Powder Foundation (right now I use 40 Beige) and Dolce & Gabbana Perfect Matte in Warm 100
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Next up are some natural medium coverage foundations. Some of these are more on the sheer side but each of these will offer enough coverage to even the skin and cover minor imperfections. I have a few tried and true mixed in with a new to me formula.
Amore Pacific Color Control Cushion Compact was featured a few weeks ago. This is the first cushion compact I’ve tried and my color match is Tan Gold 204. Several of you mentioned you hoped shade 102 would launch in the US and the good news is that I just noticed that it’s now online at Nordstrom! The Amore Pacific Cushion Compact is the most natural looking foundation I’ve tried that still gives medium coverage. It melts into your face to look like skin but as you press it into your face you will see it transform into what I call your skin but better. Color selection is limited so I’m thrilled that Tan Gold is my perfect match (it warms up and adjusts within the first 2-5 minutes but doesn’t darken further after it sets).
The NARS Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturizer is one of my holy grail base products because it’s really not like a traditional tinted moisturizer. When my friends ask me for a recommendation on a foundation that’s natural this is the one I recommend first. It’s usually followed by a response along the lines of, “oh but I don’t like tinted moisturizers, they’re too sheer and greasy.” I agree that most are, but this one is very different. It’s more like a natural foundation with a super lightweight texture that makes the skin glow naturally. I’m usually Groenland year round but after getting a tan I’ve found the next shade up St. Moritz to be a better match. If you haven’t tried this formula I highly recommend you do. It has the perfect natural coverage and glows without feeling too glowy and doesn’t get greasy or too emollient throughout the day.
La Mer Reparative Skin Tint is something I featured over the summer. This is one of the few skincare + foundation in one kind of products that I actually like. The formula melds into the skin beautifully and offers natural medium coverage. Over time it improves the texture of the skin adding moisture without feeling heavy. The only downside is the color selection is limited and it’s also very expensive but if you can find a color match it’s well worth the splurge. It helps rebalance the skin and lasts all day long. If you have normal to dry skin this one is really good.
The Bare Minerals Complexion Rescue Tinted Hydrating Gel Cream was a pleasant surprise for me. I received a few press sample recently and gave it a try. I have to say it far exceeded my expectations – the concept of a gel cream didn’t sound appealing to me since most gel-like foundations feel sticky and often look too dewy on my skin. This formula has thoroughly impressed me, I like it just as much as the NARS Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturizer and the added bonus is the color selection seems better than most lines. This is a BB Cream, CC Cream and Tinted Moisturizer in one. I’m usually not a fan of BB or CC creams because I don’t like the way they feel on my face. The Bare Minerals Complexion Rescue feels weightless and blends into the skin beautifully.
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The final category for my fall foundation roundup is medium to full coverage formulas. This is my formula of choice since I prefer bases that cover my skin more to create an even base. All of these have been featured before on the blog, they are my tried and true.
Tom Ford makes excellent foundation. The Traceless Foundation Stick is hands down the best foundation stick I’ve ever tried. It’s super creamy and easy to blend on the skin. It covers imperfections without looking cakey. Since it’s super pigmented I recommend layering this on areas you need extra coverage instead of applying it all over the face. I love the formula but the pigment is too rich for the entire face everyday (at least for me). The Traceless Perfecting Foundation is something I use regularly. I am normally a match to Bisque 4 but right now Natural 5 is my perfect summer match.
The NARS All Day Luminous Weightless Foundation is another holy grail for full coverage foundations. This one gets mixed reviews – some love it, others hate it. It’s super concentrated and a little goes a long way. It lasts all day on my normal combination skin and covers the face really really well. If I were to compare this to a lipstick, I would say this is similar to Charlotte Tilbury Matte Revolution. Both are more matte in finish but have this luminous quality that makes it look natural and not flat. I do think you need to prep the skin properly with a good moisturizer and primer if you have any dryness or uneven texture on the skin (I like the Dolce & Gabbana Primer or any of the ones from NARS). My shades are Santa Fe and Punjab, both of which are too light for me now. Since a little goes a long way I still have a lot of both shades and didn’t want to purchase a third since I’ll be losing my tan soon.
Last but not least, Chanel Perfection Lumiere Velvet is a classic staple for me. I’ve repurchased it several times. I alternate between Beige 30 and Beige 40 depending on my skintone. It offers medium buildable coverage and feels lightweight. Even though the name “velvet” implies a matte finish, I find it’s a natural luminous matte. It doesn’t look or feel heavy. In terms of foundation recommendations this one usually is #2 on my list. Many often ask, “but what about the Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua? it sounds better and lighter.” Both are good formulas, the Perfection Lumiere Velvet is my favorite because it covers better and has a slightly matte finish. It also lasts all day and feels weightless. The Vitalumiere Aqua is also natural looking and I know many love it. On me it feels a bit too dewy, I would say it’s better suited for you if you like glowy makeup or have normal to dry skin.
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If you’re looking for a new foundation to try, I hope you found this roundup helpful. Finding the right foundation can take time. There are so many factors to consider from color matching, formula, finish and lasting power. As usual, I’d love to hear about your foundation favorites or new discoveries. Do you have anything that’s a go-to for fall?
Many thanks to Nordstrom for sponsoring this post. As always all opinions my own. Press samples include the items from Bare Minerals and Amore Pacific. All others purchased by me.
Wait until you get the new Charlotte Tilbury Magic foundation……I have just started to develop Melasma. I use Tom Ford Traceless Perfecting in Cream on my face and Charlotte Tilbury 1.5 Magic over the pigmented Melasma areas. I've cracked it and the CT is such a good price too.
I'm really eager to see the new foundation from Charlotte Tilbury. I really hope the color selection is better than her current foundation line. I adore the formula but the colors are all over the place!!
Well there are 12 in this range so I do hope so. La Praiire have just reformulated their Caviar Foundation and they too have gone for 12 but I haven't been to counter for a match yet. Bar of Gold is being relaunched in a couple of weeks. I know I can be very critical of the more gimmicky Tilbury products but some of them are worth every penny and Bar of Gold whilst looking a bit cheesy in appearance terms, certainly delivers.
So sorry there are 15 not 12 shades in Magic and I am using No. 2. I originally bought No.1 from the website and then when I went to counter they matched me as a No.2 and took the No.1 back off me as a gesture of goodwill which they volunteered. CT are also advertising that you will receive the two nearest colour's either side of your chosen colour in samples when you buy from the website as well as a sample in your chosen shade so you can move up or down in shade and return for a different colour if needs be. This struck me as a simple but lovely touch. I don't know why more brands don't do that but then I very rarely buy foundation without a counter trip first for an exact match.
Oooh the Tom Ford powder looks so luxe! I've been loving the more affordable new Pixi powder foundation
makeupmusicbooks.com
I always hear such good things about Pixi, I need to get myself to Target soon 🙂
I know this is really shallow and I do use the Pixie Skin Tonic but I just hate the colour of the Pixie packaging so it puts me on the back foot straight away. But Cult Beauty (UK e -commerce site of more quirky brands) just rave about their products
LOL I love the Pixi eyeliners, but abhor the packaging. It takes me back to when I was about 14 (1958 and we were into pastel shadows with black liner) and shopping for makeup in the drugstore. 🙂 Flash forward several decades and I felt the same way when I first saw Tarina Tarantino's line at Sephora. With all the pink bedazzling, it was just too cutesy, but Wow! They were top of the line products. I was really sorry to see her line leave Sephora.
The UD Powder Foundation is definitely one i need to try! x
Emma | Emmys Beauty Cave
It's a really good one!
I really want to try the NARS luminous foundation, I've been afraid to use it because of the "luminous" part for my oily skin, but during the winter it gets a little less oily so maybe it'll be the perfect time to try this foundation.
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Hi Kelly – it's really not too luminous even though it has that in the name. It's more of a very natural glow, but on me it's more of a velvety dry down. I highly recommend giving it a try.
I've been using NARS Pure radiant tinted moisturizer and love it for everyday use. What powder would you recommend to use to set it? Thanks!
I'll have an updated setting powder post soon, I did a roundup back in the spring. I would say for pressed, my fav is Charlotte Tilbury's pressed powder. For loose three way tie between Koh Gen Do, Laura Mercier Translucent and NARS Light Reflecting Loose.
http://www.thebeautylookbook.com/2015/03/favorite-setting-powders-pressed-and.html
Awesome post! I would love to see photos of what they look like on the face side-by-side so you can see which one photographs better etc. Lovely foundations.
Kiran | http://www.alittlekiran.co.uk
I might have to try the Urban Decay! I normally prefer BM and NARS like you for a natural look.
Great post Sabrina! Tom Ford is one of my favorites too (the stick is amazing). But the absolute best medium/full coverage foundation is Ellis Faas, hands down. It has an amazing skin like finish and wears so well. I can't believe it isn't more popular!!
Thanks for putting together this informative post!! xo sj
Thanks!! The Ellis Faas must be incredible – I always forget to try when I'm at Space NK!
Have you tired any foundation from cle de peau? 🙂
Yes, I have! It's an amazing product – I'm just not currently using it in my foundation rotation.
My current fave is Clé de Peau's Radiant Fluid Foundation. Yes, I know, the price is enough to induce a heart attack ($125), but at this time in my life, it is absolute perfection on my dry, mature skin. Thanks to good genes and excellent skincare, my complexion is smooth and even and so I find that less is definitely more. The light diffusing, soft focus pigments in Radiant Fluid give me a lovely glow that looks natural and–dare I say it–radiant 🙂 Tthis is definitely a foundation better suited to dry skin types, though.
Thanks Eileen! The CdP Radiant Fluid is one I always overlook. I bought and adored the Cream but yes the price is insanely high! Formula was perfection but came in a tiny tube and I went through it faster than I hoped. I'll have to give the Radiant Fluid formula a look!
Great reviews Sabrina! I have sensitive skin too so I'm always interested in your foundation and skin care reviews. Unfortunately I'm quite dry so the ones that are called "radiant" or "luminous" aren't like that at all on my dry skin. Retinol really cleared up my skin and I have hardly any lines at 42, but the trade off is super sensitive dry skin! I'm going to try TF but I'm interested in CdP after seeing Eileen's post!
You are so fantastic, Sabrina! I can't begin to tell you how much I enjoy your blog and what wonderful taste I think you have. We are cosmetic kindred spirits. xoxo
Have you try Sulhwasoo compact yet? I want to know the comparison between that and Amore Pacific . Thank you for the review
I want it all! <3
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