Sharing an updated foundation today with my go-to favorites! I love experimenting with new foundations, strengths and concealers and lately I’ve been into highlighters and complexion enhancers.
This is what I loved. If you’re like me and find that your go-to foundations sometimes feel clunky, heavy or just don’t fit well I have some tricks and tips for you to try!
The foundation
I like my foundation to look like skin but better, but I still need some coverage. I have a lot of sun spots and my skin is prone to redness so I look for medium pore formulas to lighten the skin.
Dior Forever Skin Perfect Foundation ($57, Nordstrom) is the best stick foundation I’ve tried. It blends easily, looks natural, doesn’t feel harsh on the skin and I love the way it looks. The coverage is easy to control. I tried the trick of mixing this with Rhode Glazing milk and it’s worth a try 10/10. I mix the shades as I am usually between Dior shades, I have tried 2.5N, 2W and 3N. I am currently combining one of 2 and 3 to get the best match. In action here.
Chanel Les Beiges Healthy Glow Foundation ($69, Chanel) has been a go-to for so many years I’ve lost count of how many bottles I’ve repurchased. My best match is BD41 and this golden undertone match is the best skin match I’ve ever tried. Love that they have a good shade range and different undertone options. Recently they started adding a more olive BO and they are nice tones without being too green/yellow if that makes sense. This has a natural brightening effect, hydrates, is long wearing and easy to blend.
Armani Luminous Silk Foundation ($69, Nordstrom and Sephora) in a new formula combined with Chanel. Comparing the two I think the new Armani formula feels a little lighter (thinner) and the coverage is less but still medium and radiant. I wear Shade 6.5 in this formula. In action here.
It Cosmetics CC+ Nude Glow ($47, Sephora and Ulta) is the best CC cream I’ve tried. Most CC creams tend to be too thick and this one is the thinnest I’ve tried which makes it easier for my skin to breathe in humid weather. It’s still creamy and thick compared to other foundations, but it’s like a skin tint version of a CC cream. Love that it has SPF 40. Perfect for every day, beach, biking, just about any occasion.
To hide
I’ve been skipping concealer most days, but I still reach for it when I’m going to an event or a special night out. I love testing new formulas and I know most of you don’t like to wear a lot of face makeup but just a little mask on tinted moisturizer.
Classics like NARS, Hourglass and Tarte are still incredible formulas, but these days I’ve been reaching for YSL, Chanel or Natasha Denona.
YSL Touche Eclat ($40, Sephora) is still the best light underarm concealer. This works for me as I don’t have a lot of dark under eye circles. Sometimes I want a little light and I like the consistency of this. I wear shade 3.
Chanel launched a new concealer formula recently called Ultra Le Teint Correcteur Concealer ($53, Chanel) and this is the first Chanel concealer that worked for me. I love their foundations but I’ve never really liked their concealers. This one is small but easy to put together. I’ve tried a few different shades and I like B40 or BD41 the best. For concealers I usually like them to be peachy or neutral on the eyes. This is very similar to the Prada formula but I like the Chanel one a bit because of the color match on me. You can see it in action here.
Natasha Denona Hy-Glam ($32, Sephora) is the best full cream concealer that I can wear under the eyes or for subtle vision. It’s creamy, blends well, doesn’t smudge and is long wearing. 10/10 love this.
Complexion Enhancers/Glow Boosters
I used to think that mixing light products was unnecessary for me. These days sometimes the foundation may feel too heavy or thick. Or sometimes my skin gets too dry and the foundation doesn’t blend as well as it should but at the same time I don’t want a heavy moisturizer underneath. I found amazing color mixers or blow boosters.
Armani Fluid Sheer ($43, Nordstrom) is a classic. I don’t really use these as a highlighter as they are more sheer when blended. I prefer to mix them with foundation and I love itShade 10because it is gold but pure. It adds a really nice glow to the skin. The only downside is that it is very expensive to mix with foundation every time.
One/Size Base Thinner ($36, Sephora) is the latest find in theBronze Pearlshade and I am 100% concerned. I love the shade and how it adds the perfect amount of glow to the skin. It blends well with the foundations and the light is perfect. Not too shimmery, not too shimmery, not too shiny – just perfect. I really want to try the Pink Pearl formula. Skin looks fresh and radiant without being overdone.
L’Oreal True Match Lumi Glotion ($17.99, Ulta) is classic and budget-friendly. Love that they have different shades. I have tried many times and I love them. It’s a really good multitasking. You can wear it as a primer under foundation, mix it with your foundation or use it on top to add a little glow.
Saie Glowy Super Gel ($29, Sephora) is another great multi-purpose glow. I have tried this many ways but my favorite way to wear this is to mix it with foundation. I really like this mixed with Armani Luminous Silk Foundation. I have tried all the shades and Roseglow is my favorite. I think this is the best for dry but not heavy skin. It has a slightly transparent quality to it with a gel formula which I like.
Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Flawless Filter ($50, Sephora) is an OG glow booster. There are many dupes of this, some very good, but I have to give a shout out to the original creator. I love this and still think it’s worth the splurge. If you think this is too glowy for you and I really like the Unreal Skin Sheer Glow Tint Foundation Stick as an alternative.
Sarah Creal Today’s Highlights Peptide Balm Luminizer ($55, Sephora and Sarah Creal) is my favorite cream highlighter at the moment. I know many of you love dewy highlighters like those from Westman Atelier, Chanel and Merit etc. I like the look of most of these but because I’ve always lived in a warm place – few hours of wear = greasy mess. The Sarah Cereal one looks natural but the formula is top notch! It gives that glow from within the light.
Rhode Glazing Milk ($20-32, Sephora and Rhode) is a 10/10 for dry skin. I don’t think you need very dry skin to use it. I love this mixed with foundations to help them blend better into the skin whenever they look or feel too heavy.
Contour/Bronzer
After all these years of experimenting with makeup I have to admit that I have yet to start contouring. I prefer a subtle cream bronze with a bit of warmth as cool tones tend to clash with my skin tone. These are the most natural looking ones I’ve tried on.
Mario Makeup SoftSculpt Transforming Skin Enhancer ($34, Sephora) is my favorite cream bronzer with an emollient texture and a beautiful finish. I think it’s too light a cream to wear alone so I usually set with a green powder or bronzer, but I love this to add warmth to the skin. I’ve tried both Medium and Medium Dark. Swatches here.
Merit Bronze Balm Sheer Sculpting Bronzer ($32, Sephora) is best for very dry skin or if you’re looking for something dewy or dewy. It’s very absorbent once blended but I love the warmth and natural beauty it gives the skin.
Dior Forever Skin Bronze Bronzing Stick Balm ($52, Nordstrom) is another beautiful skin-like bronzer. This is probably my favorite bronzing stick that still looks very natural on the skin. I can wear 02, 03 or 04 – I think they are the easiest shades to wear. It has a skin-like texture. I really like that this is a non-dewy option that isn’t too matte. Swatches here.
Powder
Finally, a quick shout out that I’m going to setting powder right now. I used to be a pressed powder person, but a few years ago I almost used Laura Mercier Loose Setting Powders ($26-$48, Nordstrom) for a puff. The lasting power is the best with powder and I think theirs is the best for a natural look.
Tools
A quick shout out to my favorite foundation brushes. I love the ones from It Cosmetics, Hourglass, Fenty, Laura Mercier. For concealers I swear by the ones from Hourglass and Real Techniques.
That rounds out my favorites right now! What are your go-to favorites?