Favorite Drugstore Foundations!

After last week's review of a high-end foundation, I thought it would be appropriate to post about my favorite drugstore foundations.  The quality of makeup at the drugstore in general has improved greatly over the last 10 years or so, and foundation is no exception.  The three I'm about to mention are all well-loved and currently in my collection.  In fact, they are the only liquid foundations (not counting one high-end CC cream) I currently own.

Covergirl Outlast Stay Fabulous
This is a great choice for anyone with normal to oily skin.  It really does last all day--I always wear this foundation when I know I'm going to have a long day and/or if I know I'm going to be sweating and need my makeup to hold up through that.  I would call the coverage medium to full.  If I want to get full coverage out of it, I use a brush to buff it in.  If I'm looking for good staying power but want a more natural finish, I use a damp Beauty Blender or Real Techniques sponge.  It leaves a satin finish on the skin (matte but not too flat).  I don't feel the need to set this with a powder, but you might want to if you're more oily.  Depending on what I'm doing on any given day, I can sometimes get a bit shiny around 2-3 PM with this foundation, but the product doesn't break down on me at all.  I actually like the way it looks once a little of my natural oils have broken through, but if I get too shiny, I like to use oil blotting sheets to touch up.  I love this foundation so much that I have it in two shades--845 Warm Beige for the winter and 857 Golden Tan for the summer, and I mix the two if I'm in between.  It comes in 13 shades, which can be viewed on Ulta's website here: http://www.ulta.com/ulta/browse/productDetail.jsp?productId=xlsImpprod4930113.  The price on here is $11.99.  It also contains SPF 20.  This foundation gets bonus points for having a pump!  Overall, this is a fantastic foundation that looks beautiful and doesn't feel heavy like Revlon ColorStay, which I mentioned in my last post.

L'Oreal True Match and True Match Lumi

I'll talk about the original True Match first.  I think any skin type could wear this, and it leaves a nice satin finish.  I would call this a medium coverage foundation, although I have heard that you can build it up to full coverage.  Just like with the Covergirl foundation, I like to apply it with a brush (for more coverage) or a damp sponge.  The staying power is good but not as good as Covergirl Outlast.  It seems to wear well both with or without setting powder, and I always have blotting sheets with me just in case.  This foundation is known for its wide shade range and claims to carry a perfect match for everyone.  The shades are grouped into three categories of undertones: cool, warm, and neutral.  Within each undertone category are eight shades (C1 means cool 1, W1 means warm 1, etc).  I can wear both the warm and neutral shades in both this and True Match Lumi.  In original True Match, I have the color N4 Buff Beige, which is a perfect winter shade for me.  It contains SPF 17 (weird number, not sure why they didn't just go for 15 or 20).  Unfortunately, the packaging on this foundation does not include a pump.  The shade range can be seen here: http://www.ulta.com/ulta/browse/productDetail.jsp?productId=fs1017872.  The price on Ulta's website is $9.99.  Of all three of the foundations I'm mentioning, I think this is the most universal.  If you're not sure what to get, I would pick this one!  It is beautiful, basic, and it works.

Now onto my last favorite: L'Oreal True Match Lumi.  This is best suited for normal to dry skin.  If you have oily skin, beware--I think you might hate this.  Just like its name implies, it's  luminous and gives a nice, healthy glow.  It applies well with a brush, a damp sponge, or even your fingers.  I'd consider it medium coverage but slightly more sheer than original True Match.   I love this in the summer when I'm craving glowy, dewy, Jessie James Decker-like skin.  I usually do set it with a powder in the morning and have to blot once later in the day.  I only have my summer shade (W6 Sun Beige), but I think this would also be a good winter foundation to add some hydration and perk up the skin in the drab winter months.  Shade-wise, it's the same concept as original True Match but has about 13 shades instead of 24.  The shade range can be found here: http://www.ulta.com/ulta/browse/productDetail.jsp?productId=xlsImpprod4480167.  It's also a bit more expensive than original True Match at $12.99 on Ulta's website vs. $9.99.  It has SPF 20 and--bonus--it comes with a pump!

I think anybody would be happy with at least one of these three foundations.  If you have normal skin, I think you could rock all of them depending on what you're looking for.  I used the link to Ulta for all of these because it had the best color selection, but they are usually $1-$3 less at Target or Walmart.  If you do get them at Ulta, make sure you use a $3.50 off $10 coupon.  They are also usually buy one, get one 50% off, so if you see them and they're not on sale, it might be a good idea to wait until they do go on sale.  All three products are sold on drugstore.com, and I just noticed that Covergirl Outlast is on sale at drugstore.com right now for $7.83!!  Here's a link to the site: http://www.drugstore.com/search/search_results.asp?N=0&Ntx=mode%2Bmatchallpartial&Ntk=All&srchtree=5&Ntt=covergirl+outlast+foundation&Go.x=0&Go.y=0&CSRFToken=ebUUKcXdUXE8%2Bjz7OlaxyC7TBRnO6KSb36LVl4i63NY%3D.  If you order online from drugstore.com, Ulta, Target, or Walmart, be sure to use Ebates!

I hope this was helpful, and please let me know what your favorite drugstore foundation is!

Estee Lauder Double Wear Foundation: Worth The Hype?

I love drugstore foundations.  Every once in a while, though, I have an urge to try out a higher end foundation just to see if it's really that much better than my favorite drugstore picks.  I recently got a sample of Estee Lauder Double Wear Foundation at Macy's (I definitely recommend getting a sample of a high-end foundation before you invest the money to see if it's worth it).  At $38, this is a pricey foundation known for its full coverage yet natural finish.  It has a selection of 30 shades broken down into warm, cool, and neutral undertones.  The color I got matched to is 3N1 Ivory Beige, and it is a perfect match for my current summer tan.

This foundation is pretty hyped up on YouTube, so part of me wanted to love it, while the other part of me (the budget-conscious part of me) did not want to love it.  Read on to see which side won.

I tried this two ways: with a brush and with a beauty blender.  For brush application, I dabbed the foundation all over my face and blended it in with my favorite foundation brush, the Sigma F80.  I buffed it in using circular motions all over my face.  Where I needed more coverage, I stippled it in with my brush first before lightly buffing it in.  I would say it lives up to its claims coverage-wise; it is very full coverage.  It made my skin look very porcelain-like and flawless.  This is way more coverage than I like or need on a day to day basis, but it really does look beautiful and satin-like (not too matte or too luminous).  It's not cakey, yet it is very evident that you have makeup on with this stuff.  The foundation still felt slightly tacky after a couple hours of wear, which I really didn't like.  It also felt VERY heavy, which I think is the worst part about it.  I've read many reviews attesting to the "lightweight feel" of this foundation, and unfortunately, I have to disagree.  It felt very plastered on and uncomfortable.

The second day, I tried applying it with a damp Real Techniques sponge to see that would make it look any more natural.  I honestly didn't notice any big difference, and it still made me look like I was wearing a ton of face makeup (again, not cakey, just very made up).  I also wanted to try setting it with a powder, so I lightly dusted on some MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural (I am in the color Medium Golden).  I found that using a little bit of powder took away the annoying lingering tackiness I experienced the day before.  I think it held up well all day both with and without powder.

This foundation actually reminds me a lot of Revlon ColorStay, which I wore on my wedding day.  Just like Double Wear, Revlon ColorStay is a full coverage foundation with a beautiful finish (for reference, I think my shade was 320 True Beige.  I used the one for normal/dry skin because my skin was more dry at that time.  I also remember it having the same heavy feel as Double Wear; as a result, I pretty much stopped wearing it after my wedding day.  I think the biggest difference between the two (other than the price) is that Revlon ColorStay dried very quickly and didn't have the lingering tacky feel without having to be set with powder.

Estee Lauder Double Wear Foundation in Ivory Beige applied with a Real Techniques sponge and lightly set with powder

Estee Lauder Double Wear Foundation in Ivory Beige applied with a brush and no powder

Shot from my wedding day wearing Revlon ColorStay for Normal to Dry Skin in True Beige

So, is this foundation worth the hype?  My answer is no.  I think it leaves a beautiful finish, and I love that for as full coverage as it is, it's  not cakey.  It's just way too much coverage for my liking on a day to day basis, and I hate the heavy feel.  I would only wear this foundation for special occasions, so to me, it's not worth paying $38 for something I wouldn't wear all the time.  I think this foundation would be suitable for all skin types, but if you're oily, you'll definitely want to set it with powder and carry some oil blotting sheets for touch-ups throughout the day.  If you like full coverage every day, or if you're looking for a foundation for a wedding or special event that photographs well and lasts all day, I would recommend getting a sample and trying it out.  If you want full coverage every day but are looking for a more budget-friendly option, I would recommend Revlon ColorStay.  I think it's worth mentioning that the Double Wear doesn't come with a pump; it's a bummer that for how expensive it is, it doesn't have one.  I have heard, however, that you can buy this foundation pump from MAC and cut the straw to size.  Since Estee Lauder owns MAC, it makes sense that the pump would fit.  It's another $10 that you'd be spending on top of an already pricey foundation, but you could re-use the same pump if you continued to purchase the foundation.

I would love to hear your thoughts if you've tried this foundation or if you know of a way to make it feel less heavy.  Thanks for reading!

Beauty Blender vs. Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge

The original Beauty Blender is a cult favorite; it's also become a favorite of mine.  I have used, loved, and repurchased it--I'm now on my third sponge.  If you aren't familiar with what this is, it's basically magic in a sponge.  The idea behind this is that when you use it damp, the moisture in the sponge prevents it from soaking up all the product (like the wedge-shaped sponges sold at drugstores do), allowing it to beautifully and seamlessly blend your makeup into your skin.  You can use it to apply any liquid or cream products to your face (I even love using it for loose powder), and it provides a more sheer, natural application than a brush.  This is a fantastic tool to ensure that your makeup doesn't look cakey (one of my biggest pet peeves).  Basically, it lives up to its claim to provide "impeccable, streak-free application."  The one negative of this product--possibly the only negative to me--is the $20 price tag.  Many companies have tried to knock off the original Beauty Blender (here's a good example: http://www.target.com/p/sonia-kashuk-blending-sponge/-/A-16945013#prodSlot=medium_1_1&term=makeup+sponge), but I've never found anything that even came close to the softness and magic of the original.  The cheaper alternatives simply don't work well.

Enter, Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge.  I was super excited when I heard about this product because I love Real Techniques brushes--and it's only $5.99!  Some YouTubers have called it a true dupe of the Beauty Blender, and while others have said it's still not the same.  I decided I had to compare them for myself.

Right off the bat, one thing I like better about the Beauty Blender is the packaging.  It comes in a little case that I like to keep to store the Beauty Blender in when it's dry.  When it's wet, it expands and doesn't fit inside the container, but I like to use the lid to the case as a stand to house it when it's wet (a trick I learned from a girl working at Sephora).  The Real Techniques sponge, on the other hand, comes in disposable packaging that is not practical to keep for storage.

The original Beauty Blender dry inside its container

Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge in its packaging

Packaging aside, the first obvious difference is in the shape.  They are both pointed on one end, but while the Beauty Blender is shaped like an egg, the Real Techniques sponge has a flat edge on the bottom.  They are made out of the same material and feel almost identical when dry.  I think the Real Techniques one was just slightly more dense, but they're both very soft.

Dry sponges (my Beauty Blender has foundation on it from previous use)

Damp sponges--might be hard to tell from the picture, but they expand when wet

I got both sponges completely saturated with tap water, then I squeezed them out a couple times with my hand and a couple more times with a paper towel to get rid of all the excess moisture (there are plenty of videos on YouTube if this is new to you).  They feel identical when damp.  When I use these sponges with foundation, I like to dot the foundation all over my face, then press and roll the sponges onto my face to blend them in (reference the YouTube videos for this part too).  I found the sponges work equally well at blending in the product and giving my skin a nice, natural, slightly dewy finish.  I like the shape on the Real Techniques one a little better; I like to use the flat edge around my eyes, nose, and forehead.  I like using these for concealer too.  The pointed edge on both works well under the eyes, and the flat edge on the Real Techniques one is also good on this area.  The only difficult part with both sponges is blending the concealer in the tear duct area (they are a little big to get into that small area), so I normally just use my ring finger for that.  They are both great for sheering out product if you accidentally use too much foundation or concealer.  Sometimes I like to take the sponge and dab it all over my face after all my face makeup is complete--it just blends everything together so nicely and makes your skin look more glowy and perfected. 

These sponges need to be washed every 3-4 uses, and there is no difference between the two in how they wash.  I love the Beauty Blender Solid Cleanser.  At $16 (they've raised the price!), it's expensive for a bar of soap, but it works so well.  I usually wait until November when Sephora has their BI/VIB sale so I can get 20% off, then I stock up on these.  However, I just saw someone on Pinterest who mentioned they like using Dr. Bronner's Pure-Castile Bar Soap to clean her Beauty Blender, which is much cheaper ($4.69 for 5 oz. vs. $16 for 1 oz.) and can be found at Target.  I think I'll be giving this a try once I run out of my stock pile.  

Final thoughts: I love the Real Techniques sponge!  I don't think it's an exact duplicate of the original Beauty Blender, but it's very, very close.  I've heard the Real Techniques sponge starts to show wear more quickly than the original (I haven't had mine long enough to find out), but even if it only lasts two months instead of three, it's still a more economical choice.  You could spend $80/year if you replaced your Beauty Blender every three months and $36/year if you replaced your Real Techniques sponge every two months.  To me, it's a no-brainer: Real Techniques for the win!