Drugstore Foundations

[Desirée {PL Team}]

"Foundation is a girl’s best friend. It can hide all your blemishes and instantly polish up your look. Once you’ve got your foundation on, you feel confident and ready to take on the world. But some women are going at it all wrong, shelling out way too much cash. These hard economic times call for the recessionista in you to come out. You don’t have to go to a special store in the mall and pay big bucks to make your face flawless. You can find great foundations at your local drugstore! Here are the top drugstore foundations that our staffers have tested and approved:

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Best Foundation with SPF: Nuetrogena Glow Sheers

It has a tinted-moisturizer like finish and an SPF of 30 for ultimate sun protection. We were weary when we read on the packaging that it has shimmer, but it only provides a light and flattering sheen to your face. It’s lighter than a lot of foundations we’ve found.

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Longest-Lasting Coverage: Revlon Colorstay with Softflex

This is great if you want long-lasting coverage that stays put. It’s also got SPF 15 so it’s perfect to wear for those sunny summer days. A little dab with your finger will go a long way with this one, although it does take some more effort to take off than some other foundations we’ve come across.

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Best Mineral Foundation: L’Oreal Bare Naturale Mineral Foundation

This is another mineral foundation that provides a smooth and light finish, as opposed to the cakey look that most mineral foundations leave on your face. It makes your face look natural and silky. One thing to be aware of: it can get rather messy so try to apply it over the sink.

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Best Matte Foundation: Maybelline Dream Matte Mousse

One of our staffers has used this one for years and prefers it to all of the higher-end brands she’s tried. It goes on light, doesn’t clog pores, and makes skin look flawless. A matte foundation works best with skin tones that are normal to oily. For dry and flaky skin, avoid matte foundations.
courtesy of: http://www.modernmom.com/

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I recently went on a hunt to try a few myself. The first I got was L'Oreal's True Match foundation.

I read somewhere that this is the only foundation Dita uses. So hey, if it's good enough for Dita, it's good enough for me! I really like it so far. I feel like it matches my skin color really well. It's light and not oily.

Next up on my list is the new Revlon PhotoReady

I found a makeup blogger's review somewhere that this was identical to Makeup Forever's HD Foundation, which I've been using for over a year now. I'm all for cutting my spending by two-thirds, so I'm gonna grab this as well on my next trip to Target!

So we've all used cheap, drugstore foundations. What's your favorite??

[Louisa Margarita]

I am so cheap- I have pretty good skin already, so all I need is a sheer foundation and then a bit of powder to set it and take away the shine on my T-zone. So I use Covergirl! CG Smoothers liquid foundation, and also their translucent face powder. It's also easier for me than it is for others to shop for foundation, though- I'm blindingly white, so chances are the palest shade is going to be the right one for me no matter what the brand. Except for Almay, which doesn't MAKE a foundation pale enough for me. Oi.

 

My usual routine- I put on a thin coat of a basic lotion first (and because it's SUPER cheap, not oily, and very effective, I use Equate Daily Moisturizer, which is also SPF 15), and then mix a dab of the lotion with a small amount of liquid foundation and smooth that on. It makes it very easy to get a sheer, even coat of makeup. If I'm having a blotchy day I skip mixing the lotion into the makeup and use a little more foundation- putting on your lotion immediately before you put on foundation still makes it easier to spread and blend the makeup. Then I use a big, soft powder brush and apply a light dusting over my whole face, but especially on my nose, chin, and forehead.

[Rosalind Friday]

As far as drugstore brands, I do like the Maybelline Dream Matte Mousse as well-- I carry three shades in my kit and whenever I have had to do another model's makeup on the spot, it has never failed me.  Easy to apply and glides on smooth, no caking or catching and doesn't run off with high humidity or even a bit of perspiration.  Their Dream Matte Powder is fantastic as well.  I still prefer MUFE's HD foundation for most shoots but this is a great plan B or product to have in your kit if you need a more cost effective alternative.

[Betty Maraschino {Madam}]

Because I am so pale I usually find that most drugstore foundations are too dark for me. So what I do is but a regular foundation for £2 (natural collection, in their lightest shade) and mix it with a small amount of illamasqua's pink white foundation. The pink white foundation is basically pure white but a little warmer toned.

Illamasqua's foundation costs £21, but i've had it around 6 or 7 months and it's barely touched. Plus it gives the cheap foundation that little extra coverage that I like.

 

I also use talcum powder as my setting powder. I <3 being this pale. My powder costs £2 for a massive tub, and lasts ages. When I say ages I mean I buy it once a year if that! Soaks up oil and everything, never have to reapply or touch up :)

[Miss Nikki Sin{★}]

I feel like we've had this conversation before. lol. as of now I'm using the Dream matte Mousse. I really like it! it's soo super silky

[Roxie Roulette {★}]

Usually I only wear powder because my skin is pretty good, but if I'm going out on a night out or having a shoot, I like Maxfactor foundations; at the moment I'm using 'Xperience Foundation' which has a nice pink tone rather than the yellow tint that most have.

[Inga]

I have Revlon Colorstay in my makeup bag and Covergirl Clean makeup. It just depends on what my skin wants to do before I know what foundation to use.

[Desirée {PL Team}]

UPDATE:

After using TrueMatch for awhile, I decided I didn't like it. It just wasn't as light as I originally thought, and ended up being too much for me after a bit of wearing. Plus, I didn't like the way it just poured out of the bottle. I think I ended up using way more product than was necessary.

 

I'm currently about to empty my Revlon PhotoReady, and while I like it okay - it does give a similar look to Makeup Forever's HD Foundation - I think it's drying out my skin. I'm pregnant, so that definitely doesn't help but lately I've been thinking more and more that this foundation is a big part of the cause as well. 

 

So now I'm back on the hunt. I'm thinking of finally trying out just a tinted moisturizer - looking for one with decent cover-up ability and one that's (obviously) moisturizing. I figure it can't hurt to have a little extra moisture going on. I've heard good things about Laura Mercier's tinted moisturizer. Anyone here tried it? I just posted about it (that brand specifically) HERE - looking forward to hearing your thoughts.

[HellenBlack]

What I use isn't actually from a drugstore, but it's cheap and I love, love, love it so I thought I'd throw it in here. The Palladio line at Sally Beauty Supply is by far my favorite. I've used expensive foundations and I just can't justify spending the money anymore. I use the Natural Rice Wet/Dry Dual foundation compact and their concealer. My skin shows it's 38 years and I'm a smoker (I know, shame on me) but when I wear this makeup I get lots of compliments on my skin. I like it because it's so natural looking wet or dry. For heavy coverage it looks great over a liquid foundation as a powder. I have a spider vein on my leg that I despise and that's what I use to cover it up during skirt weather.