The Sephora Savings Event starts soon with first access for Rouge Members! I’ve rounded up my favorites by category and today’s roundup highlights my Top 5 for Base Products including primers, foundations, concealers, setting products and more. Sale info, use code SAVENOW at checkout. Code is multi-use in store or online. Some exclusions apply.
- 4/14-4/17: Rouge Early Access: 20% off
- 4/18-4/24: VIB Preferred Access: 15% off
- 4/18-4/24: All Tiers: 10% off
- 30% off Sephora Collection for everyone
BEST PRIMERS
I’m not really a primer kind of person but these are the best ones I’ve tried. I usually prefer a moisturizer that will also double as a good base layer.
- Bobbi Brown Vitamin Enriched Face Base – my most-used primer + moisturizer in one
- Charlotte Tilbury Invisible UV Flawless Primer SPF 50 – love this to protect the skin with SPF
- Dior Forever Glow Veil Makeup Primer – best glowy hydrating primer that adds a subtle glow
- Tatcha The Liquid Silk Canvas – best long-wear primer, it is on the thicker side but helps extend wear
- Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Flawless Filter – the best multi-tasking primer or highlighter in one
BEST FOUNDATIONS
There are so many great foundation formulas with a wide range of coverage. I’ve split the foundations into sheer, medium and full:
Best Sheer-Medium Finish
- Rare Beauty Positive Light Tinted Moisturizer Broad Spectrum SPF 20 Sunscreen (my shade is 32N)- nice lightweight finish
- Saie Slip Tint Dewy Tinted Moisturizer SPF 35 (I wear 4 or 4.5) – nice classic tinted moisturizer with a dewy look
- Tower 28 SunnyDays SPF 30 Tinted Sunscreen (demo here with 35 Point Dume) – another great tinted sunscreen
- Caliray Freedreaming Clean Blurring Skin Tint (I wear Shade 6) – my favorite fluid lightweight skin tint
- Fenty Eaze Drop Blurring Skin Tint (Shade 10 here, I also wear Shade 9)- nice classic medium coverage face tint that isn’t too dewy
Medium Coverage
- Armani Luminous Silk Foundation (review here, I wear 6.5 or 7) – my favorite medium coverage glowy foundation
- Tom Ford Traceless Soft Matte Foundation (I wear 6.0 Natural, review here) – best soft matte finish with a lightweight texture
- Make Up For Ever HD Skin Undetectable Longwear Foundation – a great flattering fluid finish foundation
- Charlotte Tilbury Beautiful Skin Foundation (Shade 6N worn in this post) – love this for medium-buildable coverage
- Patrick Ta Major Skin Crème Foundation + Powder Duo (review of Light Medium 2 here) – my most-used foundation last year for a skin-but-better look
Full Coverage
- Westman Atelier Vital Skin Foundation Stick (Shade VI on the skin here) – full coverage but blends out nicely, easy to control finish whether you want medium or full coverage
- Tom Ford Traceless Foundation Stick (I wear 6 Natural or 6.5 Sable) – best full coverage foundation stick, can feel heavy so I only apply on areas that need more coverage
- Make Up For Ever HD Skin Matte Velvet Powder Foundation (Shade 2Y20 here) – gives the best airbrushed full coverage look
BEST CONCEALERS
For concealers, I like one that is creamy, brightens and doesn’t crease. I’ll only use a full coverage concealer to spot treat.
- YSL Touche Eclat (I wear Shade 3, demo here) – best brightening concealer for under eyes or anywhere you need more brightness
- Charlotte Tilbury Beautiful Skin Concealer (I wear Shade 7, swatches here) – best medium-full coverage concealer, I like this under eyes
- Dior Forever Skin Correct Concealer (I like 2.5N) – a longtime favorite, loved the original, also love the new one which is slightly more pigmented and not quite as radiant as the original
- NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer (I wear Ginger) – the OG of all creamy concealers for brightening
- Urban Decay Quickie 24H Concealer (My shade is 50NN, on the face here) – another great concealer find this year, has full coverage and a nice applicator
- Givenchy Prisme Libre Skin Caring Concealer (I wear N250) – adding a 6th because this is new and so good I have to share, love this for under the eye and brightening, similar finish to the original Dior Forever Skin Correct Concealer
BEST POWDERS & SETTING PRODUCTS
I’m usually a pressed powder kind of person and use the Charlotte Tilbury or NARS the most. Also found a new holy grail powder find in the loose powder category:
- Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Finish Powder (I wear Medium) – my all time favorite pressed powder (also refillable)
- NARS Light Reflecting Pressed Powder – best light weight blurring powder
- Givenchy Prisme Libre Loose Setting Powder – best lightweight loose powder that doesn’t cake and sets like magic!
- Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder – classic OG loose everyone should own
- Urban Decay All Nighter Setting Spray – hands down the best setting spray
FAVORITE TOOLS
For brushes I own a wide range of tools from a number of different brands. The brushes I use the most are from Hourglass. I splurged on their Face and Eye Travel Brush Set during the last sale and love it. If you’re only looking to add a few tools I swear by the Vanish Foundation and Vanish Concealer Brushes. The Bobbi Brown Full Coverage Face Brush is another favorite. The beautyblender is also one I use all the time, no other sponge compares.
For powder I reach for Chanel and Laura Mercier the most – both of which aren’t available at Sephora, but I really like the Rare Beauty Always an Optimist Powder Brush and the Charlotte Tilbury Retractable Air Brush.
If you’re my skin twin I have a roundup of all the Foundation and Concealer shades I have worn in this FOUNDATION AND CONCEALER REFERENCE Guide.
Sale info, use code SAVENOW at checkout. Code is multi-use in store or online. Some exclusions apply.
- 4/14-4/17: Rouge Early Access: 20% off
- 4/18-4/24: VIB Preferred Access: 15% off
- 4/18-4/24: All Tiers: 10% off
- 30% off Sephora Collection for everyone
I’m hosting a few giveaways starting with an eGift Card Giveaway to Sephora (US site only). Open internationally but you must be 18 years or older. Five different readers will be selected at random to win a $100 eGift Card to Sephora.com (US site). Simply enter via the widget below and complete ALL THE STEPS. Partial entries will be disqualified. Giveaway will run through 4/14 10:00 AM EST. I’ll pick a winner same day and email them. Winners must respond to my email to confirm entry within 72 hours or another winner will be selected in their place.
