Done to death, I'm sure, but what are the best budget foundations?

[justleavethebottle]

Hi

Ok, so with my insanely generous christmas present buying this year, I am unfortunately skint.

I have managed to run out of all my 'essential' beauty products at the same time, which quite frankly, sucks.

I normally wear Clinique Even Better in 01 (am a pale face) , but I just can't justify spending much money on myself right now, so could someone please point me in the right direction for a really good foundation, on a budget?

Ideally something fairly dewy, but with decent coverage and one which has lots of different shades, ideally for pale skin tones.

TIA

Bourjois healthy mix serum is good and budget friendly. I've also tried the cc can and like it too.

Cc cream

Ta, Mac. Can you use that if you already use a serum under your moisturiser? Is it not something of a serum overload?

Rimmel True Match. It has quite a pale one, I remember. And its great.

I guess there's no reason why not. I don't use a serum in the day. It's quite a dewy foundation. The regular healthy mix foundation is good too.

I like the nivea tinted moisturiser. It has decent coverage without being heavy.

I have bought top end foundation for years - Estee Lauder, Chantecaille (eye wateringly expensive at 58), YSL etc. I really rate the Bourjois healthy mix serum foundation which is 9.99 in Boots, and they sometimes do any two make up items for 14.

I am pale, and have dry skin. I buy the Vanilla colour one and it is light and dewy. I don't use a serum underneath as I only use a serum at bedtime. I do use an illuminating primer though.

Another vote for Bourjois Healthy Mix (though I just use the normal foundation, not the serum). Great pale skin version and the coverage and naturalness is as good as any I have paid 2-3 times the price for. It doesn't actually have many shades, yet the lightest one is perfect for me and I usually struggle to find my skin tone in foundations.

I like M&S Autograph foundation stays on well and cruelty free.

I find the Nivea tinted moisturiser good for summer but a bit orange in winter for pale skin. I'm using the revlon one at the moment. It's ok, but a bit deathly on me. I need a bronzer over it to look still alive. I have one of those awful skin colours where one that matches my skin colour makes me look deathly, but move up a colour and I look like an oompa loompa.

This maybelline one is decent

Depending how skint you are, the Make Up Gallery (i.e. Poundland) foundation got some decent reviews and only costs £1.

See Cosmo article here.

Another vote for the Bourjois Healthy Mix

Thanks everyone!

Sounding like the Bourjois Healthy Mix is a winner.

Rattitude, that sounds impressive. I would have NEVER have thought about trying that! Not being a snob, just would have assumed it was awful, but maybe not..... Like the sound of their lipsticks too. High pigment and non drying are certainly not qualities you expect from an ultra budget brand.

Having tried so many foundations over the years, and found them to feel like I was wearing a mask, I finally bought the Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum and was really impressed with it. Light, easy to blend and the Vanilla was perfect for my pale complexion. So, another vote there!

Rimmel for me - tried loads in all price brackets and this one stays on and stays discrete!

Another vote for Healthy Mix but I prefer the normal one.

+1 for Healthy Mix serum

It is fantastic stuff, it's the only foundation I've repurchased recently and not because I'm on a budget particularly, I just love it. Also have pale skin. Light and dewy coverage, just evens up my skin and neutralises redness. Also try Collection Phwoar Paste as an under eye concealer, cheap as chips and great in the palest shade, in Boots too.

OP, yes, I am thinking of buying some of their lipsticks as little extra presents for my nieces. I have not tested them yet though...

Another vote for Healthy Mix Serum.

52 is my perfect colour match as well.

That's strange. My bottle has a number on the bottom but Boots have them with names.

Barbara Daly's make up range at Tesco (usually on 3 for 2). I really rate the reformulated powder foundation called One Step Face Base (I use shade Shell 1, I am very fair ). Not drying or cakey but an excellent product I think !

Rattitude, welll I'm off into town tomorrow and will pop in and give one of their lipsticks a try, so I'll report back.

So is the Bourjois Healthy Mix original, ie without the serum, as good as the one with the serum? As I said, I already use serum under my moisturiser, so think I would try the original.....asssuming it's still good Even a tenner is pushing it right now, so being extra cautious.

Another vote for Healthy Mix, I've only tried the serum version - nice and dewy on my dryish skin.

The 'serum' bit just refers to the texture of the fluid - I don't think it's relevant whether you use a specific skincare serum or not.

You can go and test it out in Boots, put one on each cheek and see which you prefer.