Makeup on test: Foundation

Foundations tested for you

tested for you,beauty buys getty-woman-applying-foundation

 

They don\'t call it foundation for nothing, as far as makeup bag essentials go it\'s the base from which most of our looks start. If you are having trouble deciding between powder, cream or tinted moisturiser the allaboutyou team have tested out a selection of the best around to help you decide... 

Lighten up

tested for you,beauty buys,luxury beauty Guerlain Parure Aqua foundation

 
This foundation claims to be radiant, feel-good, moisturising and mineral enriched. The formula has a pleasant aroma with a silky consistency, and sits on top of the skin, rather than sinking in. A little goes a long way, and true to its word, the end result is a brighter complexion, which feels rich and non-drying on the skin. This looks and feels like a luxury product and while I would have liked the coverage to have been a little heavier, the light sheen makes this a lovely foundation for evening.

 

Guerlain Parure Aqua foundation, £31
01932 233 887  

Flawless complexion

tested for you,beauty buys,luxury beauty Bobbi Brown Luminous Moisturising foundation

 
I was expecting quite a lot from the Bobbi Brown foundation and for the most part this did what it said on the bottle. This foundation is great if you have near flawless skin to start with. If your skin is looking dull and tired then the illuminating formula really brightens skin but it also highlights any spots, so if your skin isn\'t great then steer well clear. It\'s quite expensive and I\'m not sure I would buy it for myself as I think a concealer and highlighter would work just as well. However if you like more coverage for special occasions then this is a great base/highlighting product all-in-one.

 

Bobbi Brown Luminous Moisturising foundation, £26
www.bobbibrown.co.uk  

Mousse foundation

tested for you,beauty buys,high street beauty Maybelline dream matt mousse

 
Mousse foundations are a fairly new concept, designed to give the same degree of coverage traditionally provided by a liquid foundation. The consistency of the mousse feels light to the touch, and is easy to apply, giving an even coverage. The depth of coverage is impressive, easily as good as a liquid, and the finished result appears identical to the more expensive brands. The matt formulation is ideal for those looking to minimize shine, and I found the foundation lasted all day.  I would definitely buy this again - at less than half price of the luxury brands it\'s a real beauty find.

Maybelline dream matt mousse, £6.99
Available nationwide 

A tint of moisture

tested for you,beauty buys,luxury beauty Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturiser

 
I think I used too much on my first application, as it felt a bit \'claggy\' on my skin. However, once I\'d worked out the dose to suit me, it did give reasonable coverage, with a slight light-reflecting sheen. For me, I\'d use it in summer - much better than sunscreen for the face, which is very heavy-feeling. But at £32, I\'m glad you only need to use a little!

 
Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturiser SPF20, £32
www.lauramercier.com 

Wet to dry

tested for you,beauty buys,luxury beauty Clarins Express Wet & Dry Compact Foundation

 
Am not a huge fan of powder but was intrigued by the wet-to-dry selling point of this. I used it as powder one side of my face - seemed okay, little bit flaky but that could be just my skin; and wet the sponge to create a creamy foundation for the other - nice result and good to be able to control the texture. This foundation is great if you like to mix and match your products - adding a powder or cream base gives you great flexibility and I could see myself using this with my normal liquid base too. Great compact - gorgeous Clarins-red with handy mirror.

 
Clarins Express Wet & Dry Compact Foundation, £25
www.clarins.co.uk  

Sleek and compact

tested for you,beauty buys,luxury beauty Estee Lauder Resilience Lift Extreme Ultra Firming Makeup

 

Promising even coverage and a luminous glow, I came to this foundation with great expectations and I have not been disappointed. The creamy texture, when applied with a foundation brush, covered the skin evenly without sitting in any of my lines. As a base I really think it can\'t be faulted as I never feel like I\'m wearing a lot of makeup with this on, despite using powder over the top. I consider this a great investment and as so little is needed, I\'ll definitely be buying this one again!

 

Estee Lauder Resilience Lift Extreme Ultra Firming Makeup, £25
www.esteelauder.co.uk 

Light as a feather

tested for you,beauty buys,luxury beauty Givenchy Mattisime powder foundation

 

Foundation is not high on my makeup wishlist but a flawless, matte complexion with none of those annoying shiney patches is, so I was more than happy to give this gorgeous powder a go. The texture is as light as a feather and covers evenly, all with a subtle scent and a refillable compact. For those who prefer a lot of coverage I would perhaps recommend another product but I have to say this was great at reducing shine and creating the matte finish I prefer. Despite the price tag, I would definitely recommend this one!

 

Givenchy Mattisime powder foundation, £27
01932 233 824  

 

 

Stick to the basics

tested for you,beauty buys,luxury beauty By Terry Stick Densiliss skin glow foundation

 

This cream foundation comes in an easy to apply retractable stick, and works as a makeup and a skincare product. The foundation is quite thick but easy to blend on the skin and I did find that the moisturising properties of the central section meant that the colour did not fade or flake during the day. While I liked the dual properties of this foundation the smell is quite strong and a little overwelming at times.

 

By Terry Stick Densiliss skin glow foundation, £44
www.spacenk.com  

Mineral magic

tested for you,beauty buys MAC Mineralize Satin Finish foundation
It\'s so refreshing to find a foundation that offers a strong colour and coverage while leaving my skin feeling soft and light at the same time. It blends really well and the promise of a luminous glow thanks to the mineral properties was a complete success for me. I would definitely recommend this product for those that want to venture into mineral makeup without loosing the reasurring comfort of a cream foundation.



MAC Mineralize Satin Finish SPF 15, £19
www.maccosmetics.co.uk

More makeup tested for you

tested for you,beauty buys Woman applying mascara

 

For more advice on finding the right makeup bag essentials why not have a look at

 

our selection of mascaras tested for you by the allaboutyou team

 
or

 
how the best blushers fared with our panel

 

   

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