Favorite Foundations

Rating Scale:

5/5 Excellent (something that is part of my makeup arsenal . . . I use daily and can't live without it!)

4/5 Very Good (something I use regularly, would repurchase)

3/5 Good (something I enjoyed but don't use often, probably would not repurchase)

2/5 OK (Will use if I have no other options)

1/5 Bad (Does not work well. Doesn't do what it is supposed to)

0/5 An abomination . . . . a waste of money.

***Anything below 3/5 is in troubled water. . . . don't waste your time or money!

HIGH END:

Makeup Forever HD Foundation: Rating 5/5

This foundation provides medium to full coverage. It is buildable, meaning you can add more layers until you are satisfied with the coverage. The formulation is liquidy, but not quit as liquidy as the Revlon Colorstay Foundation. It has a creamy and luxurious texture! It blends effortlessly into the skin, providing a flawless appearance that looks completely natural. Not heavy on the face and is long wearing. Oil free.

Makeup Forever HD Foundation is $4o for 1.00 fl. oz.. This foundation is a little pricey, but it is worth the investment. And remember the average person uses between 1-2 pumps per application. It would take a minimum of several months to work through the product. The packaging is simple and very easy to use. The bottle has a cap that easily stays attached and there is a squirt top dispenser which makes using this foundation very easy.

It is available at Sephora in 25 different shades, amazing right! While the shade range is very good for accommodating most skin tones, I can't stress how important it is to get color matched. Make sure that you have NO residual tanning products or any other type of product that can alter the natural shade of your skin. I also recommend going online before getting color matched, to check out the range and read the descriptions on Sephora.com. They provide a brief but useful description (ex. for fair skin tones with pink undertones). It is important to be an educated consumer. The shades are named with numbers 107, 110, 115, 117 . . . . they are not all sequential . . .

LORAC Natural Performance Foundation: Rating 5/5

Lorac Natural Performance Foundation is a medium to full coverage foundation. This foundation has a creamy consistency, and is very easy to blend into the skin. It feels very light on the skin. The foundation gives the appearance of no makeup at all and lasts amazingly all day long!

So, what makes this foundation special? Well there is a long list. First, this foundation is formulated without parabens, sulfates, synthetic fragrances, synthetic dyes, and phthalates. Parabens have been shown to be absorbed into the bloodstream within a few minutes of application and there is some evidence that this chemical is associated with cancer. This foundation is also oil free, which makes it the perfect foundation for those of us with oily skin. The foundation also contains active ingredients such as: xyleine, olive leaf extract, and vitamin A.

This foundation can be purchased at a variety of stores including Sephora and Ulta. It comes in a range of 10 shades, which are distinguished by a number (NP1-NP10). This foundation is a little pricey, $36 for 1.00 fl. oz.. However, I always like to remind people that the average person uses between 1-2 pumps per application. At that rate is takes several months or longer to use an entire bottle. The bottle is all one piece, no cap. The lid rotates to bring up the squirt top dispenser. Very easy to use!

LOW END (meaning more affordable)

Maybelline Super Stay 24HR Makeup: Rating 5/5

Super Stay 24HR Makeup is a medium coverage foundation, however it is buildable. The formulation is a thick liquid, very viscous. Be careful, it takes a little patience to get it out of the bottle . . . if you are too forceful it will end up all over the place. It is smooth in texture and easy to blend into the skin. Provides a very natural looking coverage. Oil free. Apparently transfer free, but there is always a little transfer . . . especially in heat, or moist situations.

This product is available anywhere drugstore makeup is sold (CVS, Walgreens, Target, Walmart, Ulta, Grocery Stores, etc). The cost varies between $7.99-9.99. Look for sales, especially at CVS, Walgreens, and Ulta. You get 1.00 fl. oz. per bottle. It does not have a squirt top dispenser, which makes it a little more work to use. This product comes in 15 shades. These shades are classified as Light, Medium, and Dark. Each specific shade is also given a name and a number.

Revlon Colorstay Foundation: Rating 4/5

The Revlon Colorstay Foundation is a full coverage foundation. It can be applied lighter for a more sheer coverage, but it is generally intended for full coverage use. The formulation is very liquidy, be careful . . . you might end up with it all over your hand! It has a pleasant smell. I really like it for some reason, but I have also heard people liken it to a paint smell. I don't get that comparison, but everyone is different. It has a smooth texture. Takes a little bit of work to blend into the skin and can dry very quickly. It is helpful to work in sections. The finish is flawless. It can look a little heavy . . . so use a light hand. Even if you have skin issues . . . it doesn't help to cake it on all over! Looks great all day long! Oil free! Non-transfer . . . one of the best!

This foundation is available wherever drugstore products are sold. The product is between $9-13 (look for sales). This foundation comes in two formulations: combination/oily and normal/dry. The normal/dry comes in 12 shades and provides and SPF of 15. The combination/oily comes in 20 shades and provides and SPF of 6. There is no pump for this foundation . . . so use with caution!

Maybelline Mineral Power Natural Perfecting Foundation: Rating 4/5

This is a lightweight foundation. It provides a natural looking coverage, but is also buildable for pesky discoloration or problem areas. The formulation is not quite a liquid and not quite a cream . . . somewhere in the middle. It has nice staying power throughout the day. Feels natural, not cakey. This foundation is oil free, talc free, and fragrance free. It has been clinically proven to improve the texture and appearance of skin. Will not clog pores! Contains an SPF of 18. Very easy to blend into the skin. Truly a no fuss foundation!

This product can be found wherever drugstore makeup is sold. It can be purchased for $7.00-$9.00. I always recommend trying to buy drugstore products when on sale! The bottle contains 1.00 fl. oz.. It does not have a dispenser, but it does have a narrow opening which allows for more controlled release of the product. This foundation has a nice color range: 14 shades ranging between light, medium, and dark tones.

Revlon Colorstay Active: Rating 4/5

This is a lightweight foundation that provides surprisingly good coverage. The formulation is liquidy. It is designed for the active person: sweat proof, heat proof, smudge proof, and long wearing. It is oil free, non-pore clogging, and non-irritating. Contains an SPF 25. Perfect for outside use. A very nice product!

This foundation can be found anywhere drugstore products are sold. The foundation can be purchased for $9.00-$12.00 for 1.00 fl. oz.. This product has a slightly restricted color range, only 8 shades. The container is also solid, so it is a little hard to get a feel for the exact color. The color of the packaging changes based on the color of the foundation, which I believe is supposed to mimic the actual color of the product. Nonetheless, it is still hard to get an idea of the tone.