Beauty Superlatives: Foundation Edition
In the makeup world, foundation is, without a doubt, the one product that can make or break an entire look. The right foundation can convey an appearance of healthy, flawless skin. And on the flip side, the wrong foundation can make you look older, sickly, or — the worse — dead. Even if you already have great skin, just a little foundation can amp up your look, taking you from meh to amazing. Simply put, the key to a flawless look, is a great foundation.
Despite benefits of wearing foundation, there are many people who resist using it. Some of the resistance is based on fear after seeing bad foundation on friends and family, and some is based on bad personal experiences with the wrong product. A few common complaints I’ve heard include: “It feels too heavy,” “It looks like I’m wearing a mask,” “It makes me break out,” or “I look orange (…red…yellow).” Any of those phrases sound familiar? If so, you. picked. the. wrong. one. If you’re willing to give it another try, I have a few tips to help you make the right choice.
- Know Your Undertone (yellow, red, blue, gold, etc). This will help you choose the right color.
- Identify Your Skin Type (oily, dry, combination, acne-prone). This will help you choose the right formula.
- Pick The Right Applicator (Beauty Blender, stipple brush, kabuki brush, buffer brush). This will help you apply the foundation properly.
There are a plethora of foundations to chose from with a wide range of prices, but here are a few of my favorites for your consideration.
Peppers Johnson Beauty Superlatives: Foundation Edition
Best Drugstore Foundation – Maybelline, Fit Me Matte + Powerless l $5.99. With a price tag under $10, this foundation is a great one to try if you rarely wear foundation or are new to the makeup world. Fit Me provides a medium coverage and is best for oily to normal skin. I like that it keeps my T-zone from becoming a slick hazard zone.
Best For The Gram Foundation – MAKE UP FOR EVER, Ultra HD l $43.00. This one is my jam. It was developed to create a flawless complexion on HD film and television, but it works equally well off camera. With 40 shades to choose from, it’s hard not to find your perfect match. The foundation offers a lightweight, medium-to-buildable coverage and is good for all skin types. The finish is natural to dewy. Because is doesn’t offer any mattifying benefits, finishing with a little powder is a must if you have oily skin. And when you use this foundation, you don’t have to worry about the dreaded flashback (or ghost face) while you’re taking pics. You’ll be absolutely picture perfect.
Best Team Natural Coverage – MAKE UP FOR EVER, Water Blend l $43.00. Another great product from Make Up For Ever. This foundation is a lightweight, water-gel that provides sheer to buildable coverage with a natural-looking, dewy glow and flawless finish. It’s perfect for creating a faux Team Natural look. Water Blend is long-lasting and good for all skin types.
Best Full Coverage Foundation – MAC, Studio Fix Fluid l $29.00. This is what you want if you are looking to amp it up or if you just prefer a full coverage that effectively covers blemishes and evens skin tone. Studio Fix foundation is an oil-controlling formula that offers a matte finish. What I love the most, it’s a full coverage foundation that feels like you have nothing on your skin — a hard combination to find.
Rookie of the Year – Fenty Beauty, Pro Filt’r l $34.00. Fresh on the screen and racing to the top. I immediately fell in love with this soft matte, long-wear foundation. Fenty Beauty offers 40 shades of buildable, medium-to-full coverage. It’s lightweight and virtually undetectable. It also keeps my shine at bay.
