Help me Choose a Foundation

[FuzzyBadger]

Please

I love about 90 mins away from a department store with concessions so want to narrow my search down a little before I go and get some samples this week.

My skin is combo: oily nose and dry patches.
I like a full coverage as I have a few freckles dotted around that I like to keep covered.

I've previously tried:

MAC studio fix, full coverage and sculpt - SF oxidised terribly on me, full coverage just took too much work to apply and sculpt worked quite well but didn't really sink in.

Benefit oxygen: awful.

Charlotte Tilbury Magic: don't really get the hype, seemed very drying.

Bareminerals: really don't like powder foundation.

Laura Mercier: beautiful but too light a coverage.

ELDW: I've worn for years now but am getting a bit tired of it.

So I'd like to try one of the following:

Bareminerals Skin
Armani Luminous
Nars Sheer Glow
Or a Chanel that I don't know the name of.

Any recommendations?

I have combination skin and use Chanel Les Beiges. I am also allergic to lots of skincare products so finding this one was like a holy grail. It has good coverage, especially if you apply with a wedge thingie, lasts all day (although I use Nivea post shave balm as a base) and smells nice.

Les Beiges looks soooooo pretty!

I've just read a few reviews and they're pretty varied when it comes to opinion on coverage but I suppose some people see full coverage as that heavily made up look so wouldn't like it. I'm loving that it's so good to skin too, I feel like years of ELDW use has left my skin in need of a treat.

I've just bought Chanel Sublimage for £98. It's fantastic imo. Great coverage

Oh no why would you bring this to my attention now I desperately need it!! It looks so beautiful!!!

Try Dior star or forever they are both lovely. Go and get colour matched and they often offer a sample to try.

Another one for Dior Star! It's lovely and build-able too.

Yes, had a free sample of Dior Star and keep meaning to buy it, very good. My skin is also oily on noseand dry on cheeks and chin. Laura Mercia oil free tinted moisturiser is also excellent. I was amazed at the coverage and how great it was on my oily dry skin. A little bit goes a very long way too

Oh this is so difficult!

Samples are the way to go so I will definitely be trying the Les Beiges and Dior Star. I thought the Laura Mercier tinted moisturiser was super light coverage? I really like her Foundation so would love it if she did a full coverage one.

Well apparently Chanel don't do samples that's ruined my life!

I did try the Les Beiges though and I loved the smell, texture and feel but even the yellowest shade had a pinky tone to it. Don't think it's enough coverage either

I think she's fobbing you off!!! Call her bluff and take in a tiny pot of your own, like a empty eye cream pot or even ask another counter for a empty tester pot (Lancôme do them) and ask the her to pop a few squirts in, Don't take no for an answer. Your paying big bucks for a bottle you need to be sure it's correct. If she doesn't tell her you won't purchase it until you can try a sample.

That's rubbish Fuzzy, I got samples of Les Beiges 2 weeks ago! Definitely go with Buster's idea of bringing in your own little pot. For 36 flipping quid, you need to be sure of what you're buying.

I have dry skin and found Les Beiges nowhere near glowy enough, so it may work well for your more oily skin

It's always fair to ask for a sample and the SA should provide three or four applications worth to test properly. i have returned full sizes that haven't agreed with my skin and been fully refunded. I always make it clear that I have a drawerful of unsatisfactory foundations I don't use and won't buy anything without a sensible sample to decide if it works. Just gently insist. They do generally humph a bit, but foundations are expensive, especially when they don't suit you.

The new Urban Decay All Nighter foundation is really good and has great coverage. I recently bought it and was surprised how full coverage it really is.