My Longest Wearing Foundations and a Tip

Following on from "My Longest Wearing Make-Up Picks" post, I have gathered up my little hoard of hard working, long wearing foundations. As Make Up Forever has yet to launch within in the UK I have left out both Make Up Forever HD Invisible Cover Foundation and Make Up Forever Mat Velvet + Foundation but if you do have the means to pick up either I can not recommend them enough. Can you tell I am counting down the days until Make Up Forever touches down in Debenhams? Anyway below is my top five picks - four liquids and a powder, for just about every budget and skin type...

My Longest Wearing Foundations and a Tip

L'Oreal True Match Foundation £9.99 via Boots - link.

Easily one of my favourite budget foundations ever, no scratch the budget element; it is one of my favourite foundations. Full stop. A light weight yet medium to full coverage formulation that glides on to the skin and is easily buffed or blended into the skin for a seamless finish. You can layer this on for a fuller coverage or use a buffing brush for a sheerer approach, it covers just about every skin imperfection without caking or looking/feeling heavy on the skin nor does it look flat. The shade range is phenomenal and set with a little powder this will not budge, even on the oiliest of skin types for a good 10+ hours. I would say this is ideal for all skin types even dry complexions as it doesn't cling to rough areas of the skin nor will it further dehydrate the skin. It is fairly moisturising/nourishing yet won't overwhelm oily complexions. Basically to try this is to love it, I think everyone should own a bottle.

Benefit Big Easy Multi Balancing Complexion Perfector £20.62 via Feel Unique - link.

Perhaps you prefer a lighter coverage? If so one of the longest wearing, lightweight bases I have stumbled across has to be Benefit Big Easy Multi Balancing Complexion Perfector .The texture of Benefit Big Easy Multi Balancing Complexion Perfector veers on creamy, which I initially thought would result in heavy coverage and shiny skin. I couldn't have been more wrong. On the skin it feels lighter than air, is super easy (a liquid to powder formula) to buff into the skin, it works just as well with your fingertips and/or a beauty blender. The coverage is pretty light/sheer but it does even out the skin tone and hides redness too. The good news is that it builds with ease and never looks heavy nor does it cake or oxidise throughout the course of wear (around 9 hours with a primer and a powder). In my opinion the end finish is semi-matte, shine is gone but the skin doesn't look completely matte or flat - I do still set this with a finishing powder. If you have dry skin I'm not sure I would recommend the Benefit Big Easy Multi Balancing Complexion Perfector, it isn't drying by any means but I did find it clung to my the skin around nose which is a little dry but on the plus side it did help keep my t-zone shine free. This is the "foundation" I reach for when at my oiliest and in humid weather and/or the summer months.

My Longest Wearing Foundations and a Tip

Lancome Teint Miracle Foundation £28.50 via Debenhams - link

If you want a perfectly matte base, that almost look airbrushed then this is the foundation for you. I kid you not when I say it is almost weightless. You can apply several layers of this product should you wish and it will not cake nor does it feel heavy on the skin which could make it ideal for the upcoming summer months. Being so lightweight you wouldn't expect it to offer great coverage but it truly does. I feel medium coverage is under selling this foundation as it covers more than any other medium coverage foundation I own and yet it is not quite full coverage...it is somewhere is the middle for lack of a better term. Lancome Teint Miracle Foundation covers any redness, discolouration, dark circles and most other skin concerns but you may want to add a dab of concealer to blemishes. It glides on like a second skin and settles to a semi-matte finish that looks both soft and natural, not to mention it doesn't sit in enlarged pores or lines of any kind. The great thing about this foundation is the wear time on my oily skin it doesn't budge or become shiny throughout the day - I'm talking a good 10 hours of wear with ease. The downside of this is that it does have quite an alcoholic fragrance which my guess is due to it being an ingredient so those with dry skin may want to avoid it!

Clarins Everlasting Foundation £27 via Boots - link.

Clarins foundation in general are incredible and so easily overlooked. If you require a fully matte base that will not budge, give way to oil yet doesn't appear flat you need Clarins Everlasting Foundation. A liquid to powder finish foundation that gives the appearance of velvet soft, flawless skin that oddly looks fresh and radiant. I would deem Clarins  Everlasting Foundation to be full coverage as it makes light work of evening out the skin tone, disguising blemishes and lightly blurring enlarged pores. It is comfortable to wear, almost weightless and does not budge for a good 10 or so hours. This is one of the few foundations in which I can skip primer and setting powder and know that I will still achieve around 6 hours of oil free wear which is impressive given I have beyond oily skin at times. I will review this foundation in full very soon, until then trust me you need to give this a whirl.

Tarte Amazon Clay Full Coverage Airbrush Foundation £34 via QVC - link

Now for the trick/tip, perhaps you don't want to own or try any of the above foundations for whatever reason but need more than a pressed/loose powder to ensure your foundation will stay in place for a special occasion? Although I don't rate Tarte Amazon Clay Full Coverage Airbrush Foundation as a stand alone foundation something wonderful occurs when buffed into the skin over and liquid foundation. If you want a flawless, high coverage finish that the Kardashian sisters would be jealous of this is the product for you. This mineral powder foundation blurs imperfections, sets make-up and keeps everything in place. On average when I buff this on top of a foundation I can pretty much guarantee that my base will look perfect for up to 12 hours which is impressive. Yes it is quite a heavy finish but at least you can turn any foundation/base you own into a high coverage, long wearing product whenever needs must! This is suitable for all skin types even dry complexions.

I hope this is somewhat helpful, if there are any other long wearing edits you would like me to compose do let me know!