Almost no woman puts on makeup without a foundation that can hide not only minor skin imperfections, such as uneven tone, circles under the eyes from fatigue, but also quite noticeable redness, wrinkles, and pimples. A foundation that hides skin imperfections can ruin the entire look if the tone is chosen incorrectly or the product is applied unprofessionally. Also, the cream may not be of very good quality, although it is expensive. How to choose a good foundation that hides imperfections? We have provided reviews of expensive and budget products, a rating of the best and rules for applying to the skin in this article.
Types of foundation
Foundations differ not only in origin and price, but also in their qualities: texture, number of coloring particles, moisture content, the presence of additional components and vitamins. It is based on these criteria that every woman chooses the cream that is right for her. Let's look at the main types of foundations:
- Liquid foundation. This is an ideal option for evening makeup; it perfectly evens out the skin tone, making its surface visually smoother and velvety. This product is suitable for normal and combination skin.
- Mousse can even out skin texture, but is absolutely useless for hiding imperfections. Suitable for daytime use. Thanks to its weightless formula, it does not clog pores, ideal for mature, oily and problematic skin.
- Cream powder is a favorite remedy for many women. This matte foundation is ideal for covering imperfections on oily skin. It evens out the tone, removes oily shine, and hides redness and pimples. The downside of this product is its shedding. One of the most popular products of this type is Maybelline foundation. We will write reviews about it in the future content of the article.
- The fluid cream is suitable for dry skin as it perfectly moisturizes. It is also ideal for makeup in hot summer weather. This product has one drawback - its inability to hide even the most minor flaws, since it contains a minimal amount of pigmenting components.
- Cream camouflage is a real find for those who want to have perfect facial skin, but it is not that. The camouflage is made on a water-repellent basis and has a large number of tinting components. Ideally hides all imperfections, including acne, redness, pigmentation. There is one minus - it can only be removed using a special tool.
Choosing the right foundation
The quality of makeup depends on the correctly selected foundation - foundation. Professional makeup artists recommend using proven methods and tips when choosing a product:
- You should select foundation tones only in daylight. Lamps can distort the color of the product and skin, giving a yellow or gray tint.
- In order to understand whether the tone matches your skin color, apply a thin layer of the product to the inside of your wrist and blend well.
- It is important to have two types of foundation: for daytime and evening makeup. During the daytime, you should not use products with a dense texture; choose a cream fluid or mousse, they perfectly even out the tone, but do not hide imperfections. During the daytime, cream camouflage will appear as a “mask”. Mousse is not suitable for evening makeup, as artificial lighting will make skin imperfections even more noticeable; a denser texture is required.
- Depending on the expected result, you should choose the type of foundation. Liquid foundation remains the most popular, as it suits any skin type and hides all obvious imperfections; the stick moisturizes dry skin and eliminates flaking; The powder masks oily shine.
How to apply foundation to hide imperfections?
Not every representative of the fair sex can boast of perfect skin. Pigment spots, peeling, enlarged pores, oily shine, redness - this is not the entire list of imperfections that women try to hide. In order to visually make your facial skin healthier and smoother, it is not enough to choose an expensive and good foundation that hides imperfections. Reviews from experts say: it is necessary to use it correctly to achieve the desired effect.
- Before applying foundation, you need to cleanse your face and use a scrub if necessary.
- Before applying the concealer, dry or sensitive skin should be moisturized with a nourishing cream so that fine lines or age wrinkles do not become visually more noticeable.
- Enlarged pores can be hidden with a foundation that contains silicone.
- A matte foundation will hide the oily sheen; it will also be suitable for women who have wrinkles (a cream with a shimmering effect will make them more noticeable).
- Freckles can be hidden under a layer of tanning cream. It should be applied in a circular motion to the areas being masked, and then blended onto the temples, neck, and area near the ears.
- Redness, rashes and inflammation are difficult to hide at all. A thick foundation will help only in the evening; it will not be suitable for daytime makeup. Experts advise applying mousse or cream fluid to your face. To hide imperfections with these products, apply them in two layers with light patting movements and only with your fingertips.
- To hide the first wrinkles, a rich foundation will help; it should be applied with a wide brush. This will allow you to mask age-related manifestations as much as possible.
Rules for applying foundation
Experts advise purchasing a fluorescent lamp to apply makeup. It will help you apply makeup better in the evening. The foundation should be used carefully, avoiding the “mask effect”; for this, the product is taken in small portions and rubbed into the face in a circular motion. To make the tone seem more natural, you should apply the product not only to the face, but also to the skin of the neck and décolleté.
Initially, areas of the skin around the eyes are treated with a cream of a lighter shade - under the eyebrow line and the lower eyelid. After this, the main tone is applied to the T-shaped zone, distributed over the forehead, nose, cheeks and temples. There should be no boundaries; each zone should be carefully shaded. Lastly, the cream is applied to the neck and décolleté area.
Foundation for problem skin: reviews
Many women tried dozens of creams before choosing the one that suited all the criteria perfectly. We reviewed reviews of almost all creams with tinting properties and compiled a list of the best. Here you will find both a budget foundation that hides imperfections and more expensive products.
Based on reviews from women, it becomes clear that if the skin is problematic, it is worth choosing cosmetic products more carefully so as not to aggravate the problem and hide it as much as possible.
Diorskin Nude
Many women liked Dior foundation. They write that it fits perfectly on the skin of the face, does not smear, and creates the perfect tone with a thin veil.
They write that this is a really good foundation that hides imperfections. Reviews say that it does not clog into pores and is able to adapt to the natural skin tone.
There are records that the product perfectly moisturizes the skin and lays down in an even layer without boundaries. There is also a large selection of tones. They write that with such an assortment there is no problem of choice.
Dior foundation also had its downsides. They note that there is an unpleasant smell of alcohol, but the smell quickly dissipates. They also note the high price.
Fluid foundation "Matte" from Yves Rocher
"Matte" is a foundation for problem skin. There are a lot of reviews about this product, since there are also enough women with problem skin. Those with oily and combination skin liked the Yves Rocher Matte foundation.
They write that it perfectly hides oily shine, lying on the face like powder. The consistency is light, delicate, slightly watery, so the cream lasts for a long time.
They note that the Yves Rocher foundation does not clog into the pores, is practically not felt on the skin, and does not smear.
The downside was that it does not mask imperfections, but only evens out the tone and eliminates shine of the skin. But here immediately there were defenders who wrote that this is a cream-fluid, and it needs to be applied in two or even three layers to hide imperfections.
"Maybelline"
In the Maybelline cosmetic line, it’s quite easy to choose a suitable foundation that hides imperfections. Reviews about this company and its cosmetics are almost all positive.
Women praise Affinitone cream, Dream Fresh BB Cream, Dream Pure BB Cream and many others.
They write that Maybelline is a favorite company because the cosmetics are affordable and of decent quality.
There are opinions that Maybelline BB foundation not only effectively hides imperfections, although it has a rather delicate and light consistency, but also takes care of the skin. They write that the face has become less susceptible to various types of rashes, and there is less redness.
They note that “Affiniton” ideally hides oily shine and gives a powdery effect. Does not dry out the face, does not clog the pores, does not smear.
The cosmetic product does not stain clothes, is absorbed quickly into the skin, lies smoothly, and is able to adapt to the tone of the face.
They note a wide range from which everyone can choose their own shade.
Maybelline foundation has only positive reviews. Women write that in the variety of foundations they were able to find exactly what they wanted. The line includes creams with a fairly thick consistency, suitable for evening makeup.
Many people note that Maybelline foundation has virtually no odor. Only a light “powdery” aroma is felt, and this indicates high quality.
Also, the absence of a large number of fragrances could not but please girls prone to allergic reactions. They write that they were able to choose the optimal product only from the cosmetics of this brand.
"Black Pearl"
Foundation "Black Pearl" has established itself as one of the best in the budget category.
Many people write that for a long time they did not risk buying it because of the low price, but after trying it once, they decided not to spend extra money on more expensive products.
The girls say that they were able to get acquainted with Black Pearl cosmetics a long time ago, since their mothers still used it. They write that they immediately began to buy products from this brand for themselves, including foundation. "Black Pearl" was able to please everyone.
There are reviews that the foundation perfectly hides all imperfections, including freckles, age spots, and circles under the eyes. Doesn't clog into pores and doesn't weigh down makeup.
They note that it also perfectly hides facial wrinkles, pimples, and redness. They write that it copes perfectly with oily shine.
There are records that the foundation can last on the face all day. Does not wrinkle, does not smudge, maintaining its original appearance.
Many honestly write that they tried to find shortcomings, but did not find them. I liked the foundation for all its qualities, price, and range of tones.
Time-tested "Ballet"
I would like to note one more product that has been produced by the domestic factory "Svoboda" for many years. Its quality is still noted as excellent.
Many people write that “Ballet” was the first foundation, but then they began to use more expensive ones, since the proven product practically did not appear on the shelves. Now “Ballet” is again sold in almost all stores.
The quality of the foundation is noted by the owner of enlarged pores. They write that the cream perfectly eliminates shine and hides pores. They note its extensive range, the ability to choose a tone in accordance with skin color.
There are reports that “Ballet” cream is also suitable for dry skin, as it does not emphasize flaking. They write that it is easy to apply, evenly distributed, does not stain clothes when in contact with the skin, holds well, evens out the tone.
Among the minuses, a not very pleasant aroma was noted, which quickly dissipates. They also write that the texture, although light, is quite dense; you need to use it carefully so as not to apply too many tones.
In general, “Ballet” is a good foundation that hides imperfections. Consumer reviews confirm this.
Advice from professionals
Today we looked at the rating of the most popular foundation creams among women, and learned how to choose the one that will hide imperfections to the maximum. I would like to share tips from makeup artists on applying foundation to visually “correct” the oval of the face:
- To bring a triangular or trapezoidal face closer to an oval, you should take a light base tone, and shade the temples, chin and forehead with a shade darker;
- You can also emphasize the correct oval using a darker tone, which is applied to the cheekbone area from the cheeks to the temples;
- The corners of a square face can be hidden by applying a darker tone to the chin and cheeks;
- A round face can also be adjusted a little by blending a dark tone over the cheek area.
Remember to blend the edges well each time! Only then will the makeup look invisible and beautiful.
In the cosmetic arsenal of a modern woman, as a rule, there are many products for creating the perfect makeup. However, among all this variety, it is foundation that, as if by magic, can transform your appearance in a matter of minutes, hiding small wrinkles or masking skin imperfections. That is why special attention should be paid to its acquisition, so that instead of a wonderful transformation, you do not turn your face into a mask.
In this article we:
Basic criteria for choosing the best foundation
When choosing a foundation, you should be guided not by its cost, although this is an important detail, but first of all by the main characteristics of the product.
- Individual skin type
This principle should be decisive when purchasing. It turns out that the composition of any foundation is focused primarily not on the shade of the skin of the face, but on its tendency to be oily or, conversely, dry. For example, in a cream for oily skin types you will not find oils, and a product for dry skin excludes alcohol among its ingredients.
- Color palette
Of course, the color scheme of the chosen foundation should be based on your skin tone. According to the basic rules of cosmetology, you should choose a tone slightly lighter than natural to avoid unnaturalness. Although now “smart” tint products that independently adapt to skin color are very popular.
The consistency of foundation creams can be light, perfect for the summer season, or denser, with a high camouflage effect. Most often, manufacturers produce this product in the form of a liquid fluid, airy mousse or stick. The thicker the texture of the cream, the more coloring pigment it contains.
- Additional features
Quite often, foundation has a wider range of capabilities than just masking or matting. You can, for example, find creams labeled “SPF” that protect against the harmful effects of sunlight. It is not uncommon now to find “foundations” with a lifting effect that tighten wrinkles.
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Which brand of foundation should I choose?
Ubiquitous advertising has long penetrated the cosmetology market, stubbornly dictating which brand should be preferred. However, everything here is purely individual, because we are all different. According to the results of the popular vote, the majority of women highlight the high quality of foundations Sisley (France), Max factor (USA), L'Oreal (France). They are not inferior to them in their characteristics and Maybelline (USA), Bourjois (France) or Revlon (USA).
However, in the budget price category the domestic brand is in the lead "Freedom", which many women also highly rated in reviews and are not going to change it to Western brands.
During the “Looking for the best among budget cosmetics” experiment, we tried fifty foundation creams. Which ones will remain in our cosmetic bags?
Our desire to find an inexpensive, good foundation was great. It's roughly like this:
The photographers were running out of patience: “How many more do you have?”
Well, how to uh... say it. Just a little bit is not enough to plaster our planet right up to the equator.
Although... Maybe that's enough. If in one layer :)
As is the case with budget concealers, each of us has chosen favorites and outsiders depending on our skin type and our own needs.
Lena: “Now my skin is in good condition. Normal, not problematic. If before it was uncomfortable for me to go to a nearby store without foundation, now I can completely do without it. But I do not want:)
But I have become omnivorous: I love the velvet Giorgio Armani Power Fabric and the “wet” Gucci Lustrous Glow. Opaque La Mer, neatly versatile Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua, translucent Sunscreen Skinceuticals. Despite all the differences, they have one thing in common: they blend beautifully and naturally with the skin. Therefore, among budget foundations, I was not looking for a specific finish or degree of concealment, but this ability to decorate and not stand out. It is good to behave on dry areas of the skin and where the pores are enlarged.”
Julia: “My skin is oily, but often dehydrated, loose (with clearly visible pores), with the first age-related changes, slightly reduced tone. One of the problems is red spots: due to sensitivity and closely located blood vessels, I am always so “multi-colored”. I used to love matte foundations, but as I got older I realized that this finish didn’t suit me. But the options “with radiance” are terrible for my oily skin. Therefore, I’m looking for a middle ground: reliable coverage, smoothing of skin texture and a finish that is not wet, but not matte. And also - so that after half a day the tone does not flow away and become noticeable, does not sink into the pores. The main problems I had were with the level of coverage and durability - most foundations on the market, like their concealer cousins, turned out to be too light for me.”
Yana: “Normal aged skin with uneven color, there are not many wrinkles, but there are some and they are not pleasing, on the cheeks there is baby fluff, which is also not pleasing:) In foundations, I appreciate the moist finish, good blurring abilities, and the presence of care components. I physically can’t stand it if the tone is noticeable on the skin. I like light or medium coverage, but I understand that sometimes – filming, public speaking – you can’t do without a denser one, so I tested them too.”
We divided the foundations according to the degree of camouflage. The evaluation took into account durability and type of finish.
Light degree of camouflage
1. Moisturizing cream + leveling and smoothing base for combination and oily skin Professionals BB Cream+Primer SPF20, Pupa Milano (RUB 839) – “There is more pigment per teaspoon than in the famous Dream BB Fresh, Maybelline. And this teaspoon is still noticeable, so this BB cream is clearly more versatile. It is very comfortable, the stated hydration - yes, it is present. SPF 20 is also nice. Well, the fact that blush and bronzers stay on it better is absolutely unprecedented generosity,” Lena K.
2. CC cream “Absolute Perfection” Color Correcting Cream SPF 20, Lumene (RUB 1,170) – “We recently tried all Lumene foundations with Ira and Masha (review coming soon) and unanimously decided that this one is the golden mean. It suited all three of us, although we have different skin types - dry, normal and oily. I think it will also work for moderately problematic ones. Of course, inflammation under CC cream will require spot masking, but it will slightly conceal peeling and will not fade during the day. You can smear it with your fingers like a cream without looking. A thin layer is great. Layer – yes, please. The finish is non-binding, there is a little bit of radiance for the liveliness of the face,” Lena K.
3. CC cream Super Color-Correction + Care, Physician’s Formula (492 rubles) – “It looks almost like water, it’s even surprising how it can hide or even out something there, but it can. Apparently, thanks to the correct combination of yellow, green and pink pigments, and clearly not due to the density of the texture. And – SPF30, by the way. Comfortable, pleasant, sweet,” - Yana Z.
Average degree of camouflage
1. BB cream Aqua Petit BB, Holika Holika (550 RUR) – “Just a find, not a BB cream! Once I got hooked, I never left it – it’s an ideal remedy for every day. Redness may show through, but the overall tone evening out and relief smoothing is decent. Hassle-free application - I also put regular cream on my face. And it's also obviously a little moisturizing. In general, I already have two tubes (you never know!)” Yulia
“A real BB, not just a moisturizer with a tinted effect. It really does a good job of smoothing out pores and texture. In terms of coverage it beats Erborian, so I understand why Yulia liked it. It didn't suit me because the only shade is very light. I admire it from the outside,” Lena K.
“This is a strange thing. I'm even darker than Lena, but it suited me fine. He is a little grayish, like all Koreans, and, apparently, this saves him. Otherwise I agree with everything said above. Lena, try again. " - Yana Z.
2. Healthy Mix foundation, Bourjois Paris (RUB 700) – “He received so much praise that I simply have nothing to add. The only drawback that I see in Healthy Mix is its durability. By evening it disappears from the skin. But with primer it is incomparable. A dewy finish even for those who avoid wet finishes: practical and wearable,” Lena K.
“Ideal finish, comfort, visual polishing of wrinkles. If you need a cream for aging skin and don’t want to spend thousands, take it,” Yana Z.
“Love him too - most of the year. The only exception: the change of seasons, when the skin shows even more oiliness - then it can float away by the middle of the day,” Yulia
3. High Definition Foundation, Nyx (RUB 1,100) – “Nyx’s HD line makes me happy so far. The foundation did not disappoint - if necessary, the coverage can be layered from medium to dense, it evens out the skin well, smoothes out pores, and has normal longevity. The only thing is that, like many foundations with a denser disguise, they require careful cleansing,” Yulia.
“Blends into the skin like a plus. With durability and everything else everything is fine. If you want a semi-matte velvet finish, go for it,” Lena K.
“I don’t quite agree about the velvet finish; rather, it’s not as glossy as the previous ones. But, oddly enough, I also love him very much,” Yana Z.
4. Tinting fluid Nordic Nude Natural Glow Fluid Foundation, Lumene (RUB 1,537) – “Emazing. I hid luxury bottles in my closets and have been using this only for three months now. For us, beauty insiders, the time limit is unacceptable. It means more than affection - love) What is good? But for everyone: it polishes, hides obvious red spots, shines - as if you had just made a moisturizing mask. The smell is a miracle,” Lena K.
5. Long-lasting foundation Lasting Performance, Max Factor (382 rubles) - “I was thinking about where to put it - to a medium or high degree of concealment, I decided to let it be the densest in the middle group. Its main advantage is unkillable durability and comfort. In terms of reflective properties, it is inferior to many, and the finish is closer to matte, but... still, very good,” Yana Z.
High degree of camouflage
1. Foundation HD Liquid Camouflage, Catrice (471 RUR) – “This tone was recommended to me in the comments to the project, I would never have found it myself -). The tone is liquid, with a dropper, and lays down in a thin but dense veil. It gives very good smoothing and covers up my redness. Stays strong throughout the day. The downside is that it dries out a little, so for me this is not an option for every day. And it requires very careful washing, otherwise with my skin type there is a risk of clogged pores. But the advantages and price outweigh these disadvantages,” Yulia.
2. BB cream Petit BB SPF 30 PA++, Holika Holika (550 RUR) – “Half a tone darker than Aqua BB, and a handful more covering. Applying directly from the tube to your face and trying to smear it is a bad idea. One pot would be enough for the forehead, cheeks, and even left for the neck (there is a lot of pigment), but the viscous texture cannot be stretched so easily. Therefore, first I first squeeze it into my palm, and then press it in with my fingertips. For a dense, long-lasting coating, it fits exceptionally well. You can really feel the nutrition and protection from cold/wind,” Lena K.
3. Miracle Touch foundation, Max Factor, (RUB 742) – “Gives a perfectly smooth finish. You can layer it almost indefinitely - you still won’t get the mask effect, since the plasticity is excellent. Of course, highlighters and blush are a must afterwards, otherwise the face is not only even and smooth, but also flat, but it covers the pores perfectly, and a dark spot corrector is not needed,” Yana Z.
Worst foundations
1. Liquid foundation with the effect of a second skin Liquid Skin Second Skin Foundation, Kiko Milano (RUB 1,470) – “The leader in my personal list of outsiders, not only because it is catastrophically worse than others. It had more chances to succeed: the price was 1,470 rubles. Seriously? For this slurry that turns normal moisturized skin into the surface of Mars? Once I went into the corner of the brand and asked the makeup artist to apply it to my face. Well, suddenly it’s not Martian skin, but my hands. Yeah, shazz – in the mirror there’s the same scaly desert with pore-craters,” Lena K.
2. Chantilly foundation fluid, “L’Etoile Selection” (RUB 1,049) – “For people like this fluid, it’s time to start a category “Not suitable for all skin types.” A product with the effect of disadvantages: enlarged and clogged pores, peeling... Everything is available. The pipette is inconvenient. Sorry, welcome to the anti-rating,” Lena K.
3. Fluid Invisible Illumination Instant Glow Beauty Serum, Lumene (RUB 1,833) – “Not the worst, but very strange. There is essentially no texture. The water evaporates (is absorbed?) and stains the skin like a tint. Here you should have your caps in the air, hurray, tone-that-is-not-but-as-if-there. But one detail changes everything. Shine. There's a lot of it. And the skin looks bare :)) You look at yourself as if you were a stranger, who inherited an even complexion and very oily skin from his parents. Awkward tonal vibe. It turns out that you can overdo it with the effect a la naturel,” - Lena K.
4. 8-in-1 BB cream care with tinting effect Dream BB Fresh, Maybelline (RUB 549) – “It was praised in the comments, so I took it. Still perplexed. Doesn't mask anything at all. Of the 8 declared qualities, I’m ready to agree only with the presence of SPF. For me, this will somehow not be enough,” Yana Z.
5. Foundation Drops, Gosh (about 1,100 rubles) - “Word for word I will repeat my previous review: something oily, with a dropper, we wanted it like MAC, but something went wrong. It immediately breaks down into two substances - oil and pigment. It clogs my pores even for me, what it does to oily skin - I’m afraid to imagine. For some reason, SPF10 is included there. Who can explain to me why? Why would anyone need SPF10 anyway?” - Yana Z.
What good budget foundations have we not tried yet? Share your experience?