I have a fall foundation roundup today on new formulas I’ve put to the test recently! I’ve already reviewed a few new base formulas from Chanel, Pat McGrath and Laura Mercier but I have three new ones in today’s post for Fenty, Natasha Denona and Charlotte Tilbury. I thought I’d round them all up and do a comparison to help you decide which one might be the best for you.
First here’s a look at my bare skin vs. foundation applied all over, more details on each formula below:
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Fenty Beauty Pro Filt’r Hydrating Longwear Foundation
The foundation I was most excited about was the Fenty Beauty Pro Filt’r Hydrating Longwear Foundation. It’s described as a hydrating formula but I did not find it hydrating or smooth in application. I’ve tested it with a number of moisturizers and primers (including the Pro Filt’r Instant Retouch Primer). On my face it sits on my skin and doesn’t sink in like I’d expect a moisturizing base to. It doesn’t blend easily, it feels thick even with a sponge or sheer application. The pros are that it does have good coverage that looks natural and it photographs well. I also love the packaging. With a lot of blending I can make it work. My match is 235 in this one and it’s pretty close to the regular matte formula. The hydrating formula doesn’t oxidize as much as the matte one does. The main reason why I don’t love this is that it feels thick on my skin and it’s not thick in a hydrating way, just thick.
Lasting power is good, I think the color range is great, packaging is gorgeous and functional.
Pro Filt’r Hydrating Longwear Foundation in 235 applied all over the Pro Filt’r Instant Retouch Primer, no powder or concealer:
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Natasha Denona Foundation X+
Natasha Denona improved her foundation into the Foundation X+ ($45 for 30 ml/1.01 fl oz). I actually liked the original but found it a little on the thick side, it didn’t feel too thick on the skin but the new one is more lightweight. The newer version is medium to full coverage and has skincare ingredients infused. The Foundation X+ is more lightweight with good coverage and looks like second skin. You can easily control coverage and it’s long-wearing on my skin. It comes in 20 shades, I’m the 42WY right now. I personally wouldn’t really call it full coverage, but it’s more medium to full. I can still see some sun spots and a little redness on my skin through the base.
Wearing 42 WY below ( warm yellow undertone)
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Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Longwear Foundation
The Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Longwear Foundation was another base formula I was really excited about because I’m obsessed with the pressed powder (it’s my holy grail!). The foundation is a full coverage base that has a velvety matte finish. On the skin it does give it an airbrushed look and it’s very opaque. The texture is fluid and blends easily. It is lightweight in feel although I don’t really agree with the product description as being weightless – I can still feel it on my skin although it’s not heavy.
It is the best foundation formula in her line although I do think finding the right shade can be tricky. Colors oxidize quite a bit once they set. I think the online stock swatches do a good job at showing how much colors darken which they call “optimized.” Even at the counter the sales associate struggled to recommend the right shade for me. We settled on 7 Neutral and 8 Warm as the best possible matches. I highly recommend you try the colors in person because the number sequence jumps around especially with the different undertones. Right now 7 Neutral works the best for me. I also had a sample of 7.5 Neutral which is lighter than 7 Neutral.
As far as matte finish foundations go I still prefer the Laura Mercier Flawless Fusion the best for a natural looking matte that gives medium to full coverage and lasts all day.
Wearing 7 Neutral below all over, no concealer or powder. It covered all of my red pimples and sun spots completely. It has a velvety matte finish that isn’t too matte or dry looking, I definitely still recommend setting with powder.
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Chanel Ultra Le Teint Velvet Foundation
I reviewed the new Chanel Ultra Le Teint Velvet Foundation here. This is a lightweight velvet foundation with medium coverage. My match is either 40 or 50. This has the most lightweight feel out of the medium velvety coverage bases I’ve tried.
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Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer (new formula)
The cult classic Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer has been reformulated into a new and improved version. I think it’s definitely improved and gives the look of fresh natural hydrated skin. Even though I prefer coverage, I like using this all over and then layering full coverage foundation or concealer on spots I need more. Layering prevents the face and skin from looking too flat. Review on the regular and illuminating formulas here.
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Pat McGrath Skin Fetish Sublime Perfection
Another base I reviewed recently is the Pat McGrath Skin Fetish Sublime Perfection here. Full details in the review. This is a nice medium to full coverage foundation that blurs and smooths the skin. It’s not weightless and has a satin finish so you will feel it on the skin, but it worked really well for me.
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A few side by side swatches which were hard to capture. Some of the formulas dried quickly and oxidized. Also please take note that how they blend and adjust on the face once it sets is different than what you’ll see in the arm swatch. Still I hope this can provide some kind of reference for you:
Overall out of all the bases I tried, I still find my top 2 go-to’s are the Armani Luminous Silk (best luminous foundation) and Laura Mercier Flawless Fusion (longest lasting). For the new launches there’s a tie between the new Chanel and Pat McGrath for medium to full coverage. The Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer is good for good-skin days but I still prefer coverage so I don’t reach for it as much. The Charlotte Tilbury is nice but fact that colors oxidize so much makes it tricky to wear. Since it’s so opaque it’s not forgiving if you don’t have an exact match.
If you’re looking for a new base I hope this roundup of some new formulas help you! I was planning on reviewing a couple more but am having a hard time with color matching. If I end up finding one you’ll see a few more reviews soon.
Have you tried any of these yet? What did you think? If not what foundations do you love right now?
Press samples include the Natasha Denona, Chanel and Pat McGrath foundations.
I got a mini sample of the Charlotte Tilbury from Sephora and it is probably byfar one of the worst foundations I’ve ever used. I have dry skin and not a lot of visible pores but this foundation managed to sink into and highlight every single one of them. I also hate how sometimes by the time I leave my house (if I’m in a rush), my foundation still looks like a pale mask on my face for a while until it oxidizes (“optimizes”). My pores stayed highlighted the entire time I had this foundation on. She does such great highlight products and powders but why are her foundations always such duds.
Wow! I had such a different experience, except for the oxidizing!
I’m obsessed with all things Laura Mercier and cannot wait to try this tinted mosturizer. Also, the buzz around the Armani Foundation definitely makes me want to try it.
The Laura Mercier is a nice one!
Love, love , love your foundation reviews! Thank you!
Thank you Karen!
Hi Sabrina,
Have you tried the Make Up For Ever powder foundation? It is so hyped online but I am waiting for your review on this, since I find yours are so thorough and honest.
Hi Gemma, I haven’t tried it but I do love their liquid foundations. I keep meaning to repurchase one of them. I will look into the powder foundation!
Thanks for the reply! Looking forward to your review. Your opinion affect my purchase decision a lot, really!
Sabrina, I loved this post! I’ve tried 3 of the foundations you mentioned in this review: Pat McGrath, Fenty, Charlotte Tilbury, and Laura Mercier. I think this was my order of preference as well, although the Laura Mercier may be in a category of it’s own due to how minimal the coverage is. I think I may eventually try the Chanel foundation as well but for some reason, I don’t really delve into Chanel foundations much. I vaguely recall the Vitalumiere Aqua was nice but….that’s actually the only one I have ever purchased. Haha, I’m surprsiing myself even as I write this.
I think Chanel has improved over the years!
There have been so many foundation launches this year. My favourite foundations are Dior Forever Skin Glow and YSL Touche Eclat All In One Glow.
http://shimmeringhighlights.blogspot.com/
It’s been such a long time since I’ve used/tried Dior and YSL, I may have to look into them again!
Sabrina. I love the new Chanel Foundation and the Shiseido Foundation is wonderful as well. I am very interested in the Pat McGrath’s foundation because you gave it a very good review. I cannot decide on a color and the Sephora here doesn’t have Pat’s products.. Please, Please review the new Sisley Foundation as I value your opinion very much. However, I agree with you completely, there have been so many new foundation released all at once that it takes time to sort which one is next. Great Post as always.
Hi Diane, I’ve tried the new Sisley Foundation but will not be reviewing it. I got a sample at my local counter and it looked nice on the skin but the colors turned pink on my skin and weren’t yellow enough. I did think it felt nice and had great coverage, but I couldn’t find a good color match. It is heavily fragranced but didn’t irritate my skin. Wish they had more colors to choose from!
Thank You Sabrina. That is good info to have. I have yellow undertones , no pink at all. I will move on.
The Fenty foundation looks lovely actually which is surprising I thought it would be super dewy. Your skin is amazing Sabrina, thank you for sharing. I have been eyeing up all of these foundations, really want to try the ND Transformatte I think it is called xxx
ALittleKiran | Bloglovin
I think after these reviews I will stick with my tried & true Chanel Velvet formula. I’ve had great results with this product in the past. Charlotte Tilbury’s foundations are too heavy for my skin. I have yet to try the Fenty line & was going to play with it on my next trip to Sephora as her line has so many shades and I am most appreciative to Ms Fenty for that. But per this review it may well be heavy of the skin as well. I have oily/combo skin and the weight of the foundation product is important to me. I would like to sample the Natasha Denona brand formula just because her eyeshadow palettes rock, lol. Pat McGrath looks to think for me as well but her line also is very good so may sample it if given the opportunity.
Chanel Velvet always felt right for me as far as blending and consistency. I love the Armani Luminous Silk formula ease of application as it feels quite lite, but still can’t avoid too much “glow” using LA due to my oily/combo skin so don’t use it.
Thanks for this review! There are certainly huge influxes of new foundations this year!
I believe the original Chanel Perfection Lumiere Velvet has been discontinued and replaced with the Ultra Le Teint Velvet. I would recommend buying a backup if you can still find the original one soon as they usually phase them out once the new formulas launch.
I love your vanity table with marble top. May I ask where it is from?
Thank you! It’s from Crate and Barrel.
Thanks Sabrina
You’re welcome!
Although an SA highly recommended the new Tilbury to me, and although I, too, love the powder (and many other items in the line), ultimately the Airbrushed was too matte/flat on me. Since Armani discontinued my favorite Lasting Silk, I’ve moved to the Power Fabric. The shades do not correlate within the line, however, so some blending is occasionally necessary.
I agree the Charlotte Tilbury one can look a little flat sometimes, I mix in the Wonderglow to tone it down a little. The Armani Power Fabric is just as matte/opaque on me but I do think it’s a nice one!
Have you seen the Sarratt Dew Drop foundations? If so, would you please find a color that match for me Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua in #30. Thank you so much.
Hi Gayle, I haven’t tried it – most likely will not be reviewing as I don’t have access to the line in person, but you might want to check Beautyprofessor – she probably has swatches!