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Original poster

Best supermarket foundation?

50 replies

ApplePizza · 29/04/2017 12:54

Money is tight, so now I've finished my last foundation, I need to replace it with something a lot cheaper...

I don't know where to start, and I can't afford to make lots of mistakes...

I'm a red head, so my skin is very, very pale and this is often the sticking point. I can get a lot of redness (although not all of the time, so avoid green based correctors as they make me look ill).

Does anyone have any recommendations? I've been using Laura Mercier/ Bobby Brown pale foundations. (I don't like No. 7 stuff from Boots.)

Thank you

OP posts:

BarchesterFlowers · 29/04/2017 18:35

If you go to boots they have a little machine that they put next to your skin which reads the colour and recommends a shade of foundation.

I did that last week because I had a voucher from my no7 advent calendar that was about to expire.

Gah81 · 29/04/2017 18:35

I think MF is underrated - it's not as glossy or fashionable as other Boots brands but I have always liked everything I have tried. Theirs is the only budget foundation that has really worked for me (I like the solidish stuff in a compact) colour and texture-wise :)

VintagePerfumista · 29/04/2017 18:52

Maybelline Dream Satin Liquid.

Fab-u-lous.

I have 2 X Chanels, 1 Armani, about 4 Cliniques and various Korean brands and this is the only one I am never without.

Bourjois City Light is nice, and pale enough for me, but the lightest health mix oxidises very very quickly on me, and the serum one is vile, slimy and gloopy.

Fivetoomany · 29/04/2017 19:12

I have just bought primark matte foundation after seeing it recommended somewhere.
£3 and its lovely!
Medium coverage and lasts all day 😊

BobbinThreadbare123 · 29/04/2017 19:17

L'Oreal True Match. Very pale if you want it. I use it, and a little goes a long way. I use the lightest shade. Very affordable.

Destinysdaughter · 29/04/2017 19:37

I always love/hate these threads as I'm excited to know what works for other pp but it's so individual depending on your colouring and skin type! I do like Bourgeois Healthy Mix, but as I have red cheeks, I put Dermablend concealer on first which helps. Green concealer used v lightly can help the redness, but it can also make you look ill!

TowerRose · 29/04/2017 19:38

I swear by Maybelline Fit Me, and it's only £6!

KP86 · 29/04/2017 19:43

I like Healthy Mix but it really depends on your skin type as to what foundation will suit you. Maybe talk to a few professional counters and then google for dupes?

Inkythemouse · 29/04/2017 19:46

I use bd trade secrets from Tesco which I love. Although saying that I've just got some from primark for roughly £3 and it's really good too.

GoulashSoup · 29/04/2017 20:05

Another one that swears by max factor (I'm blonde but very pale with skin that does red blotchy easily). I also like the GOSH squeezy blusher/highlighter when I can't stretch to benetint and high beam.

Parmaviolets13 · 29/04/2017 20:16

I tend to use rimmel which is generally quite cheap.

I do often buy natural collection by boots, their concealer is £1.99 and really good. I often if I wear enough of it in the right places don't need foundation at all - and my skin is dreadful

Theworldisfullofidiots · 29/04/2017 22:56

Not supermarket but I love lilylolo. Tried other stuff but always come back to it. It's a mineral foundation. It can only be bought online. It does do v pale and you can get tester pots.
Love the eyeshadow and blusher too. (not lipstick or mascara)

TheLongRider · 30/04/2017 11:17

When I was trying to find a pale cheap foundation I went into Primark and bought some of the small travel sized stacking pots. Then I went to Boots and decanted a small amount of foundation from the testers into the pots, enough for a couple of days, labelled the pots with a pen and ta da! instant testers.

I'm a pale ginger with rosacea and Revlon Colourstay in ivory or Bourjois City Light work best for me. They're both slightly pink toned.

Beaubeagle · 30/04/2017 12:01

I've just started using Max Factor colour match and it's fantastic! I say this as someone who has tried all the expensive brands. It's £9.99 in Boots but you can get it online for £6.99 so a complete bargain for every day wear. I also love the Max Factor Mastertouch all day concealer.

Iusedtobecarmen · 30/04/2017 12:08

I have just bought Primark and I thinks it is really good for the money
I bought it simply because I saw a woman out a few weeks ago and her make up looked so nice I actually went up,complimented her and asked what it was! Mine doesn't look anyway near as good but of course it all depends on the shade Etc.
I'm medium ish colouring usually with some fake tan on too

Iusedtobecarmen · 30/04/2017 12:09

I usually use mac for going out and daytime it'maybelline better skin,which is nice for less than a tenner.

QueenieGoldstein · 30/04/2017 12:09

Another pale red head here and I use Bourjois Healthy Mix serum, it's only light coverage but it works well with my dry, pale skin.

jeaux90 · 30/04/2017 12:25

Body shop one is 15 quid, the one for dry skin is great if you need that extra moisture but it's not a thick coverage it's quite natural

thethoughtfox · 30/04/2017 14:58

Revlon one is great, amazing coverage and shade range, comes in with dry skin or oil/ combo skin and £8.99

RedMetamorphosis · 30/04/2017 15:35

Another Bourjois fan here. I also have dry skin, and it looks very glowy and natural on.

It's actually replaced my £40 Armani foundation which has been my favourite for about 3 years.

mainlywingingit · 30/04/2017 16:48

I love Garnier BB cream - liquid, light but great coverage.

Needs to be the one for oily skin -
(I don't have oily skin)

It's £5 and lovely. Previously always bought Chanel and thought I would try the recommendations on it. It's really great

Original poster

ApplePizza · 30/04/2017 17:34

Thank you!

I'm just back from Boots. Due to the availability, it was a toss up between MaxFactor Lasting Performance and Revlon ColourStay.

I ended up with the Revlon purely because it was sealed and I was wary that some pots had been tried (instead of the tester ).

It's a good match, so far (although more pink toned than the Laura Mercier I normally use). I need to give it a good day lit full face check at some point as this is when it often shows up as too dark. I like the texture and we'll see how it lasts

Thank you for the suggestions. I've written them down and will but a different one each time and work my way through them.

OP posts:

inisfree · 30/04/2017 21:27

Op you have perfectly described my colouring, so if you find something that works please come back and tell us.

northerngirl71 · 01/05/2017 00:22

Which shade did you get OP?

Original poster

ApplePizza · 01/05/2017 11:30

Shade 110, ivory (there were no paler shades).

It's slightly more pink than I expected, but works surprisingly well. I would rather something with less colour, but it works indoors - just not sure about outdoors (it's something I have a lot of trouble with anyway, being so pale) and I can mix it.

The big advantage of the hint of pink so far is that it doesn't look like I've been tangoed - unlike some of the so-called pale shades I've tried.

Overall I'm pleasantly surprised, especially for the price. It's definitely not wasted, but I will keep looking at others for a better match.

OP posts:

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