My Favorite Foundations

I've tried a lot of foundations in my 25 years of life, and I've disliked a lot of them. These are the ones that I am gaga over. I always recommend these foundations to people, because they are amazing! For reference purposes: I am a very pale Mac NW 15 with normal to dry  sensitive-ish skin.

Revlon ColorStay is my go to foundation. I use the Normal/Dry skin formulation, and I use the color Buff. It covers amazingly well, and when I want a full coverage look that appears very natural I always reach for it. It covers so well that I usually don't need concealer with it, and if I do, this foundation basically doubles as a concealer. It can be layered and layered and still look natural if applied correctly. I personally apply it with a flat top synthetic brush (Sonia Kashuk's flat top synthetic, or the E.L.F Powder brush). If I'm in a hurry I apply it with my fingers. It lasts all day, which I love because reapplying foundation is sort of a pain in the ass, because you have to reapply everything else also. The only downside about this foundation in my opinion is that it is sort of hard to remove, but with a little bit of effort, it WILL come off. 

Laura Mercier Silk Creme Foundation is very luxurious. I use the color "rose ivory".  This  foundation  is the only foundation that perfectly matches my skin tone. I can skip blending this into my neck and it still looks perfect. It is VERY full coverage. I tend to save this foundation for special occasions, mostly because it is expensive and also because I don't need that much full coverage in everyday life. It works alright for my dry skin, but I feel the need to exfoliate first, because it can highlight any dry skin patches I may have. The best thing about this foundation is that just a teeny tiny little bit will give full coverage to your whole face. It blends out beautifully. I like to apply it with my fingers, just because I feel like I get the most natural looking appearance that way. When I apply with a brush, it seems too cakey to me.

The NYX HD Foundation is relatively new, but I am in love with it. I use the lightest shade in 01 Nude. It photographs very well. When I first bought it I was afraid it would be similar to Revlon PhotoReady, which I absolutely hated, because it made me sparkle like Edward Cullen on a sunny day. It's not like PhotoReady at all (thank goodness). It has a lovely texture and provides a medium to full coverage. I use this on days when I know I may be photographed, or on days when I'm having a relatively good skin day, and I don't need Revlon Colorstay coverage. Some people compare it to Makeup Forever 

HD foundation. I have no idea if it is actually comparable, because I can only afford one too expensive foundation at a time! It also surprised me in lasting power. I get a good 8 hour wear out of it without touch ups. I think most people would really like this foundation, except their color selection is ultra shitty. People who may be lighter than me, will not have a match, and people who have dark skin are screwed. Hopefully NYX will come out with more colors so more people can experience the glory. I apply this with a stippling brush, or a flat topped synthetic brush. I also apply with my fingers if I'm in a hurry. 

Honorable Mention! Skin 79 Super BB Cream. I use this on days that require tinted moisturizers, especially in the summer. It is lovely. 

*All photos were taken from Amazon.com*

Now for a list of foundations that I loathe:

• All Mac foundations: For some reason they make my face itch. 
• Revlon PhotoReady: It makes me sparkle, and it cakes up on my dry skin and acne very badly.
• Cover Girl Natureluxe silk foundation: I couldn't get past the smell (ew) and it irritated my skin a bit.