Inexpensive foundation that's just as good as the posh stuff?

[hairymelons]

Does it exist?

I've just run out of some lovely Chanel foundation which I can't afford to replace.

I know I won't be able to find anything as good for my budget (£10-£15 max) but I was wondering if anyone could recommend a half decent foundation at this price?

I had a max factor foundation prior to the lovely Chanel stuff but it was really claggy. I have dry skin so need something a bit lighter.

I'm 39 weeks pregnant and hugely fat and lazy v tired so can't really face trawling round the make up counters which is why I'm asking you style ladies to help me out!

Thanks in advance.

I love maybelline dream Matt mousse

great l'oreal one here

Rimmel Photoready... It's a medium coverage, blends well with a foundation brush! Can be bought in Boots... I think it was £10.50. I'm quite impressed with it.

I wondered about that maybelline one.

My skin seems to be getting drier and wrinklier so I think I should go for something really lightweight with a decent concealer. I'm only 32 and on pg no. 2 so shouldn't be getting quite so decrepid already but I'm againg fast!

Any top concealer recommendations?

Oops, and thank you :)

Maybelline Dream Satin - liquid.
Not many shades, but if you find one - perfect.
I have skin that tends to get dehydrated.

rimmel recover is the best cheapo stuff if you can find a match to your skin colour.
about £7 and better than a lot of more expensive ones.

I love Vie at Home's tinted moisturiser. I find foundation too heavy and ageing and this moisturiser is perfect for my combination skin. It has pretty good coverage for a moisturiser, but is very light and looks good on my skin.

I love olay complete care tinted moisturizer, it's the first foundation I have ever been able to apply successfully, you can get it in boots.

Revlon is the best drugstore brand, in my opinion, although I do think you get what you pay for with foundation. I've never found a cheaper brand that is good as the more expensive ones.

I would second Virgin Vie ( or whatever it's called now ) tinted moisturiser.

I liked the Maybelline dream satin, but it only stays looking nice on me for a couple of hours before it slides off my face. Although I have that problem with most foundations, whatever the price. Although I have better luck with the pricier ones.

I have No7 perfect and Protect atm and I really like it. I have the serum too.

I also like Max Factor colour adjust, and the Loreal serum one.

I'd say the No7 is the best from those though. The Max Factor is a bit heavier, but good in winter as it feels quite mousturising, and the Loreal is very light, and does make my skin look younger.
I find the No7 gives just the right coverage and looks great on my skin.

I just can't get on at all with any Maybelline products.
Every time I buy one I hate it and buy something else a week later.

I have never used expensive foundation, so I can't agree with the last comment. I am fortunate that I have good skin and can get away with tinted moisturiser though.

I use the Body Shop moisturising one- lovely and I have tried tons of foundations.
It gives my skin a lovely dewy look .

I've never used expensive either, it's out of my price range, but I've tried every cheap and mid range product on the market!
I'm a total make up/skin cream/anti ageing crap product junky

I bought the garnier eye roll on thingy the other day and love it!

Bunbaker, we 'know' each other from another site. You're BC, I'm MM. :)

no 7 intelligent colour. it*s more like a tintef moisturiser but feels very light.

I also agree that often buying cheap foundation is a false economy. In most cases they get used for a few weeks before resigning to rolling around the dressing table drawer only to be replaced by another so once you've done this you may as well splash out!

Mind you, this comes from a make up artist who doesn't have kids as yet so that's easy for me to say. I'm afraid I can't offer any suggestions on inexpensive foundation myself though as I've not tried any.

What I will say though is that in the last 48 hours of being on this section of Mumsnet I have seen two separate references about cheaper brands being part of a luxury brand and therefore equating the fact with the product being of a similar quality, or the same product under a different name/cheaper packaging. This is absolutely not the case. There are 3 or 4 big brands who own most of the more affordable "drugstore" brands. This is just business. They do not make the products in the same factory, from the same quality of ingredients or with the same level of R&D.

Also, different foundations are formulated for different skin types and needs so what may be great for one person may not be right for another. It's worth looking on forums like Make up Advice Forum or Make up Alley to see what suggestions have been made on there depending on your requirements.

Clarins all the way! I can't remember the name of the one I use and it doesn't seem to be on their website, but it is a light-reflecting one, looks great, isn't too heavy but you can obvs wear more of it if you want to. It's about £14. Is prob better than likes of Chanel and Dior who just charge more for their name. Don't rule out high-end cosmetics brands, they aren't all £20 plus for foundation and you do get what you pay for with foundation.

It's worth looking on some of the discount cosmetics sites like cheapsmells or beautyspot to see if you can get a deal on a higher end brand. You may find Clarins on there for £14... definitely not on a Clarins counter though, they start at £23, which admittedly is cheaper than a lot of Chanel/Dior/Lancome etc.

I was previously a product junkie but not going back to work has put a halt to spaceNK.

Have just brought no.7 mineral foundation and its as good on my skin as my old Laura Mercier one. Also really like their new mascara.

Havingkittens, I hear what you're saying but these are lean times.

Having said that....ooh go on then, let's hear about the fantastic expensives ones. I would be spending our as yet unborn child's nappy money on foundation if I was to splash out but I've heard you can use old facecloths as nappies anyway.

I never got on with Clarins toiletries (used them pre-children skintness) as I found them very drying but the foundation sounds good.

The Rimmel, No 7 and Virgin sound interesting too.

Thanks everyone, you lot are really very helpful :)

I do use a MAC brush to put it on which may help