Your favourite foundation

[Whostolemyhorn]

At the tender age of 37 if just started to get into makeup and I'm beginning to really enjoy the journey of trying new products, but I've come to a bit of a holt with foundation as I don't really know where to begin. I've been looking at all the reviews online but they're all so mixed and it's ended up just confusing me. From what I can gather the dior forever foundations are wonderful but I just can't justify spending £37 on foundation at the moment, so I'm hoping that the mn gurus can point me in the right direction to a good, long lasting, non drying foundation that is under £30. I do tend to have a dry t zone but other than that my skin is pretty forgiving in that Im not prone to acne and don't really have any blemishes, just ageing skin that needs a good base. I did have a quick search but the threads that came up were quite a few years old, so any experience will be really helpful

Fenty is amazing and they do hydrating and matte foundations as well.

For inexpensive I like the ordinary and maybelline fit.
Bit more expensive I like doll 10 which is gorgeous on the skin and last all day and provides excellent coverage.
I also recently started using Estee Lauder double wear, also lovely.
I'm tempted to try nars for my next purchase but I'd like to wait until make up counters are open.

Check out pampered wolf on YouTube too, she has sone good tutorials and lots of reviews of different products.

@Iamneverfull

Nyx can't stop won't stop for coverage and long wear with a radiance primer underneath. On bank holidays there is often 15% off on Dior, I love Dior foundation but YSL all hours is slightly better if you are spending more. YSL often have 20% off on Bank Holidays in John Lewis but they may not price match as much now Debenham have gone. Estee Lauder double wear light is a brilliant foundation if you want medium coverage and EL will exchange your foundation if you are not happy without fuss.

Ooh, thanks, I will definitely look out for some bargains!

I've heard good things about the IT CC cream but the price has put me off, but like the sound of the travel size, that could be a good way to give it a try.

Loving all your tips and experiences, thanks everyone

Smashbox studio skin is great. I've tried quite a few high end brands but always come back to this.

I've just ordered the mac studio fix but I'm finding its a bit too matte (I'm in my 40s).

Estée Lauder DW too heavy for me.

I also love Clarins everlasting powder foundation but I have to use lots of primer.

I always use one of those stipling brushes, gives a lovely finish.

@Aquamarine1029

The Ordinary Serum foundation. It's fabulous and incredibly inexpensive. Their concealer is great, too.

I’ve just started using that and love it, £5.70 I think from Boots. I found it quite easy to order the right shade online too thanks to the codes The Ordinary use.

Boots hydra luminous, approx £15 , boots are open so u can look at the shades but obviously no samples available
It’s good coverage but not heavy and looks .. well luminous.. healthy but not over made up
I have bought twice now and it’s almost half the price of the Clinique I used orevously

I’ve tried a number of products but find myself keep coming back to certain ones.

No7 Protect and Perfect SPF 50 (Good shade choice)
Max Factor Miracle Second Skin SPF 20 (stays all day as does anything you put on top of it. Good for dry skin)
Mac Face and Body (Not a long lasting one but lovely finish). No SPF.

@Whostolemyhorn

It's a bit of a mine field isn't it! I definitely think I'm just going to have to try one aren't I. I was thinking about the Estée Lauder double wear but reading some of the reviews I think it's going to be too heavy for me so I think I'm going to try the double wear light when I can get to see the shades in real life

I wear Double Wear Light in Ecru and it’s fantastic, sheer but stays on all day.

No7 hydraluminous is nice
Estee lauder double wear light is flawless and not too heavy

I'd try IT Cosmetics first as well. It's worth the money.

Armani luminous silk

Ive gone through so many to find what i like. I love a lightweight on and the Nars tinted moisturiser or the ordinary serum ones are my favourite.

I also like Too Faced peaches and cream or born this way for a medium coverage.

The revolution conceal and define are ok too but a bit too heavy for me thesedays

Revlon Insta Filter photo ready. Stays put all day!

I use EL double wear and don't find it at all heavy.

I think the issue is that you need such a tiny amount of it for full coverage, which makes it really cost effective. But if you are used to using Maybelline, MAC, NARS, whatever, you are probably used to using a much bigger amount, and so the amount you use ends up looking heavy?

I always use a primer because I have large open pores on my nose, but EL double wear looks great on me and I can't imagine using anything else.

I like NARS Sheer Glow. I find it not too sheer and not too glowy.

I’m 38 with dry skin and love Clinique even better glow.

Are Boots No7 still offering that gizmo in store that matches you up to one of their shades? It gave me a great match.

Bourjois do one called 'healthy mix' which is really good. It gives good coverage without looking or feeling too heavy. My skin always feels glowy when I wear it. Its £9.99 but I usually get it when it's on offer 3 for 2 in Superdrug or Boots.

Another good one I'm using at the moment is one from The Ordinary - the coverage one with spf. It costs less then £6 , which is a bargain & its really good. I tried the serum one which was also good, but I found it very runny. The coverage one really does give good coverage without feeling heavy.

I have tried more expensive ones in the past and like you mentioned, I couldn't justify spending £30-40 on one each time...the cheaper ones I mentioned are just as good as the expensive ones.

I've used Leichner Camera Clear foundation since my 20s - now in 50s. It's suited my skin all the way through and when my DM tried it, she also used it through to her 80s. It's a creamy foundation, day long in loads of colours.

@Greencabin Sorry to be the bearer of bad news but Bourjois has been discontinued in the UK. That was a great foundation for the price, it's what I used to use.

Fenty! I’ve spent a stupid amount of money on foundation from the cheap as chips to the eye wateringly pricy and Fenty is the absolute best I’ve found. A staggering 50 shades too so you’re pretty much guaranteed to get a good match.

Estee Lauder Futurist Hydra Rescue moisturising makeup foundation is brilliant. I converted from the original double wear. It's much lighter but still good coverage. For everyday I like a no 7 City light tinted moisturiser or L'Oréal true match super blendable foundation. It matches your skin tone & is cheap at about £10. Look fantastic usually have good deals on different brands of foundation & www.findation.com is good at matching shades for you.

Kat Von D it’s a heavy foundation it’s not for new make up starters.

I also like YSL.

@ashmts Nooooooooooo. I wondered why it didn't come up when I searched it a while ago, I didn't think anything of it!

Firstly you need to define which coverage you need as foundations can be light, medium and full coverage. The lighter the coverage the lighter and more watery the foundation. I feel lkke full coverage is too thick and i can sed it and feel it on my face. For example, Marc Jacobs foundation is full coverage, while it's amazing it's way too heavy for me. On the lighf side i used Elizabeth Arden mousse foundation for couple of years and liked it yoo. Armani is good, still have 2 bottles but YSL is currently my favourite.
The tricky bit is to find your right shade and I doubt it's possible to do online.