Alternative to Clinique?

[Mobydick100]

I've worn Clinique make up for years.
Need to try something less expensive. Can anyone recommend a brand? I'm fine with my eyes and lips but really struggle with my skin- any tricks for picking right foundation for my skin? I've always had advice from reps on Clinique stand in the shops but some of the less expensive brands don't have an actual person you can speak to. Help please?

Following for advice

The ordinary brand foundation is brilliant, I use the serum formula one for medium coverage and a bit of moisture, the full coverage one is more Matt. They have 22 shades. I get mine from the Deciem shop but have a look online for stockists. It costs £5.90!

Thanks tshirt I’ve just had a look and qvc have a good offer on this brand, I’m going to try it

Thanks t-shirt. How do I know which of the 22 shades to go for?

I usually use MAC and found charts online that match up the shades for the brands. Maybe worth a google.

If you go to findation, there's a shade matcher where you can put your current Clinique shade in and it'll bring up your shade in a zillion other brands. I used to wear Estée Lauder DW and it matched me perfectly to my current MAC shade.

I worked for Clinique for 15 years. Most of us didn’t even wear the products- we used cheaper brands as even with 65% discount the stuff was so expensive and you could get similar shades from cheaper brands! Most of us used to wear max factor foundations (their lasting finish one was very popular with all of us) and we used to like collection (!) for eye shadows.

The main thing when choosing a foundation is to take a small mirror with you and test it along your jawline. Go for the one that you can’t see when you look in the mirror in natural light. That’s how we were taught to match. It’s that simple.

If you have spot prone skin go for an oil free formula. If you have dry skin go for a hydrating one.

I really love no7 foundations now. They give a really natural finish and last well. I would never spend more than about £15 on any item of make up. I just don’t think it’s worth it, you’re just paying for the “name”.

(We used to get 65% discount on Clinique and their brands but 25% off items in the shop we worked in as well - so in Boots it made all the other cosmetics cheaper too)!

I don't know with the shades, sorry! I went to the shop and the guy was great, just looked at me and pulled out a perfect match straight away.

Thanks everyone. I'm going to look on the findation site and go from there.
Yes, Clinique is ridiculously expensive but I never dared change brand because I knew it looked fine and didn't dare try anything else.

Boots no 7, I like instant Radiance,light but covering,dewy finish
Also an assistant to advise you and let you try samples to take home if you want to

Agree with Boots No7, I use the essentially natural one. I do like Clinique but their prices have gone up so much. I do use the quickliner as so far that hasn't gone up too much and its the only one I can find in a black/brown colour but as for the other make up I've moved from it, the foundations are going up too much and the lippies are now going up to nearly twenty pounds which is almost as expensive as the foundation. I know it lasts though. That's interesting about the staff not even buying Clinique themselves.

I've just bought L'Oreal Infallible Glow for a tenner and it might become my holy grail.

I've also just flogged some Chanels, Cliniques and a Giorgio Armani. The L'Oreal is nicer. I also rate n7 Lift and Luminate and Maybelline dream satin liquid.

But I always use Clinique quickliner and pressed superpowder.

@citygirl, i love the sound of l'oreal foundatio. does it give coverage? is it hydrating? Please tell us more

Dointreat, its the No7 foundation I use, not Loreal x

I really didn't like The Ordinarys foundations at all. I've tried them both.

Currently using nyx total control which I do rate.

I don’t like the Boots No 7 ones. Tried them instead of Lancôme but went back to Lancôme, despite the price tag

Some of the websites that sell the ordinary products will send you samples of the foundations for free with another order.

L'oreal True Match is amazing. It is comparable to Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua, so it is quite glowy without being oily. It suits my combo skin really well. I haven't tried the Infallible Glow yet, so keen to see how that one compares. I also swear by No 7 eyeshadow sticks. Cool Mink is one of my faves, and stays on all day.

I tried a Bourjois Healthy Skin foundation (square top) on a whim when it was on sale inSainsbury’s recently and have been pleasantly surprised.

Just popped in to my local boots and Superdrug, inspired to try L’Oréal True Match. Unfortunately no testers

Sorry citygirl.

@missmorkans. Could you tell us more about the l'oreal foundation? What sort of coverage is it? Suitable for dry skin?

Thanks

According to some groups I'm on, ppl seem to like Maybelline Superstay foundation and B.B. creams from Bourjois, Rimmel and No 7.

Doingreat- it's L'Oreal Infallible Glow, currently (apparently) only available from Amazon. I have dry skin and it's lovely- it's in a tube but more of a liquid than a cream I'd say, I've been to a christening this morning and kept stroking my face it felt so nice. Radiant but buildable I'd say.

amazon.co.uk/LOr%C3%A9al-Longwear-Foundation-Natural-Exclusive/dp/B01DPA6JXS/ref=smi_ge_cnf_cnf_smi?_encoding=UTF8&%2AVersion%2A=1&%2Aentries%2A=0&ie=UTF8&pldnNewCustomer=1 L'Oreal Pro Glow]]