For every review I do on drugstore foundation, I get a request for expensive ones. And since the Sephora VIB discount ends today (I'm on a makeup no-buy, boo) I thought this could give some options. Please note: all foundations have been tested in a variety of application methods, so just because they did/didn't work for me, I kindly ask that you please not give me suggestions on how to try them. Trust me, I've tried every possible way. But I encourage you to try the foundations that strike your fancy! Also, none of these caused me to have a reaction, but I suggest getting a sample (Sephora does this) and testing just in case. Enjoy these Quick, High-End Foundation Reviews:
- $39
- 18 shades
- Natural-looking (light coverage and slightly buildable)
- Easy to apply and wear
- Very lightweight feeling
- Best for: combo-oily skin
- $45
- 6 shades
- Satin finish
- Medium coverage
- Best if applied in sections as it dries quickly
- Best for: normal-combo skin (it is recommended for oily skin, but those I have tested it on have found to not last as long as hoped)
- Note: I have dry skin and can wear this easily as long as I have a good thick moisturizer on (I'm wearing it in this Friday's video)
- I don't believe this has SPF--the rest reviewed here do.
Smashbox Liquid Halo HD Foundation
- $42
- 10 shades
- Natural feel, with slightly dewy finish
- Sheer-slightly medium coverage
- Best for: combo-oily skin (this is another one that is oil-free but I can wear in the summer or with heavily-moisturized skin)
NARS Sheer Glow Foundation
- $45
- 17 shades
- Lightweight with glow
- Sheer but buildable
- Best for: it is listed for dry skin, but it never worked for me, no matter what I tried. I would suggest normal-combo to slightly oily.
Guerlain Lingerie De Peau Invisible Skin Fusion Foundation
- $61
- 8 shades
- Light coverage with a dewy/silky finish
- Sheer but buildable
- Best for: I think everyone should give this a try--a sample of course. This foundation is very runny but I love how it looks--it's my fave.
Smashbox High Definition Foundation
- $39
- This product is no longer being sold by Smashbox, but it is still available online.
- Medium-full coverage
- Best for: oily skin. It looks great in (non-flash) photography
Bare Minerals BareSkin Pure Brightening Serum Foundation
- $29
- 20 shades
- Slightly medium-full coverage
- It takes only a few drops, making it even more affordable
- Best for: normal skin, but I can wear it with dry skin. I've had many friends with combo skin who loved it.
- Originally reviewed (with demo video) here.
Diorskin Nude Skin-Glowing Makeup
- $49
- 16 shades
- Natural, but buildable
- Glow-from-within finish (I'm wearing it in my Fall Haul video)
- Best for: This is another one I'd suggest everyone trying--get a sample. I think dry, normal, and combo will like it best.
I just had to order a light shad of the bare skin due to the one I brought was to dark for me.
ReplyDeleteSorry your not feeling well - hope you get better soon!! I've been wanting to buy a higher end foundation so this was the perfect post for me!! I like the NARS one, but make-up forever was always a good option for me too!
ReplyDeleteGlad you're feeling a little better. I was sick with a miserable cold a few weeks back and it;s no fun at all.
ReplyDeleteOh no! Hope you're feeling better soon. I'm trying to get over a cold right now too. Never fun. I've been wanting to try the Bare Minerals foundation for awhile but the DiorSkin one sounds amazing too!
ReplyDelete<3, Pamela
sequinsandseabreezes.blogspot.com
Foundation is so important! I actually use a simple drug store BB Cream and love it, it's a long way from the Lacome I used for years!
ReplyDeleteI tend to stick to drugstore for my foundation, but the Urban Decay sounds like I need to try it. Hope you feel better!
ReplyDeleteI love my Bare Minerals foundation and am (finally) almost done with my powder so I can't wait to try the liquid one, especially after a good review from you! The best part about Bare Minerals is that their products last forever!
ReplyDeleteThank you for this review. I always love trying new foundations, whether it's drug store or high end, so this is helpful. glad you are feeling better Elle! Have a great week!
ReplyDeletexo, Whitney and Blaire
Peaches In A Pod
I've always stuck to the same foundation for years now but maybe I need to venture out!
ReplyDelete<3 Shannon
Upbeatsoles.blogspot.com
I really need to update my foundation. Well really my entire makeup routine.
ReplyDeleteFor your daily foundation (when you are not reviewing one for your blog) do you use a high end foundation or a drug store find?
Tracy @ Sunny Days and Starry Nights
Great review, I've wanted to try the Nars sheer glow for a while
ReplyDeleteWhat a helpful overview of all high-end foundations. I so appreciate this, as I'd never want to go into a high-end purchase without knowing unbiased facts about the product. A lot of my friends just think Sephora or beauty store consultants can always give them the perfect match for skin types. Some can and will without feeling biased but I've worked with a few who just sell whatever they are told to. So I'm constantly looking for posts like yours here..
ReplyDeleteMuch Love,
-Stephanie Eva
What a great review! I normally take advantage of this sale, but I also am not spending money on clothes or extra makeup right now :(
ReplyDeleteoh great review! I love how quick and minimal it is!
ReplyDeleteLyosha
Inside and Outside Blog
So good to know! I usually stick to the drugstore buys...
ReplyDeletexo Annie
New England Romance
Yep... I'm buying Bare Minerals this weekend!
ReplyDeleteI've tried most of these, but I seem to have more luck with the ones on the cheaper end:) Hope you'll get better soon!
ReplyDeleteGreat reviews! I have been wanting to try the Bare Minerals one, but I was told that it might get cakey in "aging" skin!
ReplyDeleteHope you get better, we were fighting it last week! I've only tried the Nars one out of these, thanks for your review :)
ReplyDeleteSmashbox Liquid Halo HD Foundation interests me the most. I have such a hard time with foundations. I have tried a ton and only like a few. I am currently using the MUFE Mat Velvet. I wish I had some drugstore ones that I loved but I struggle with figuring out my shades in those.
ReplyDeleteTarte is another great foundation just got my hands on a tester from Sephora, i love it. Also Naked skin is amazing foundation if you like a light wearing foundation.
ReplyDeleteBoo for colds, I hope you're feeling better now! I'm pretty much a drugstore beauty gal, but if I did upgrade, I think foundation would be something I'd consider splurging on. The BareMinerals product sounds most intriguing.
ReplyDeleteI'm close to running out of the bareskin foundation. Best drugstore find (in honor of No Spend November)? Feel better soon! xx
ReplyDeleteGreat review!
ReplyDeleteQuickie reviews are so useful. I think the key is to try a sample before investing. I'd hate to purchase all 5 of these in full before figuring out which works best. :] // itsCarmen.com ☼ ☯
ReplyDeleteGreat review!'
ReplyDelete<3
it takes 2 to fashion
I've never been a big full coverage foundation girl, so I appreciate the natural/buildable, etc.
ReplyDeleteOh, your dedication to the subject of make-up is just incredible. Really admire you for that. Wonderful review, as always - you just know how to cover every point without unnecessary blah-blah-blah... I must say that when I used foundations, Guerlain ones were my favourite, too. I loved the texture and results very much. x
ReplyDeletehi dear,great review..i like nars foundation..
ReplyDeletei'm a new follower(Colorblock) follow me back if you want
kisses
I tried the UD Bare Skin BB Cream and it was awful! I'm hesitant to try the foundation because of it. I loved the bareSkin foundation but it's starting to smell on me :/ I also love NARS but I have combo skin. It is on the sheer side so for fuller coverage I go for Smashbox's BB Cream. Great round up!
ReplyDeleteGood afternoon! I hope you feel better! A cold attacked me to, and I've been hitting the hot-tea-with-honey like a fiend. Thanks for this review. I've had the BareSkin Foundation for a few months. I really like it, but I've noticed I tend to sweat this one off really easily. I wear mineral veil on top of it. I've thought about getting one of those touch-up mineral veil with brush sets . . . Any other suggestions for not sweating this one off?
ReplyDeleteDefinitely want to give the Nars foundation a try! Thanks for all the awesome info Elle :)
ReplyDeletexx 365hangers
Lovely Pictures and great review, helped me a lot as I've been deciding between the Nars and Smashbox for a while!! Thank you for the wonderful comments! Just followed you on GFC, follow back?
ReplyDeletewww.chionebrasiliahardy.blogspot.co.uk
Chione XX
I really want to try Diorskin Nude, it just seems so right for me!
ReplyDeleteReflection of Sanity
I am loving the Naked UD one. I picked it up a few weeks ago and it has become my new favorite after not being thrilled with Make Up forever or Tarte. I used to enjoy Este Lauder Double Wear also but it has been awhile since I have used it. I remember it being thick. I was between Bare Minerals and the UD at the store, which one did you like better?
ReplyDeleteI have the US one and love it. I've heard nice things about a lot of these
ReplyDeleteGreat picks! I'd like to try the one from Smashbox. I've never tried any of their products.
ReplyDeleteOh no, I hope you feel better.
ReplyDeleteI need to check out some of these foundations.
I have been thinking of trying the Naked Skin, I love the shadows but also have been thinking of trying a mineral foundation at Birch Box.
ReplyDeleteAllie of ALLIE NYC
allienyc.com
Hope you get to feeling better! I currently use Bareskin foundation and I love it. My face has the tendency to be oily and breakout but I think it is good to switch it up a bit…what foundation do you think is comparable?
ReplyDeleteI'm intrigued by the Dior Show! I tried a little sample at Sephora the other day and it melted flawlessly into my skin. That's saying something, because I'm so pale!
ReplyDeleteCool! I want to try some of them, maybe I'll buy samples first. Hope you feel better!
ReplyDelete(^^,)
I've been wanting to try the Guerlain Lingerie De Peau for so long so I'm glad to hear you like it. Of the others you mentioned, the only one I've tried is the UD Naked which is nice but sometimes too dewy for me in the Summer (oily combo girl here). Thank you for your quick overviews of these foundations. I'm more excited because I haven't tried most of them so this information was really helpful, Elle. :-)
ReplyDeleteBeauty Isles | An Island Girl's Beauty and Lifestyle Blog
Thanks for all of the reviews! I think I have a small sample packet of the Lingerie De Peau. Hope it's in my right shade!
ReplyDeleteLoved reading mini reviews on high end foundations. I love such posts :-)
ReplyDeletehttp://naturelbellefemme.blogspot.com
Hope you feel better soon, girl. :(
ReplyDeleteI've never tried ANY high end foundations... I feel like you use so much of it that it would get way too expensive for me!
I love these reviews! I've been wanting to try Urban Decay foundation for a really long time now I think I'll definitely be trying it finally!!
ReplyDeletewww.beautybrain.org
love other diorskin products and would love to try their foundation....so pricey, tho!
ReplyDeleteGreat post. I have to try the NARS foundation! I keep saying I will and havent yet!
ReplyDeleteNARS Sheer Glow never impressed me. It felt thick and streaky, no matter how I applied it, and it would crease around my nose and mouth by the end of the day. I also kind of cannot believe it doesn't come with a pump for $45. (-___-) Great mini reviews!
ReplyDelete