My Most Frequently Used Foundations
start with your skin
One of my biggest tips for foundation looking natural & effortless, and staying all day, is to make sure you are doing your full skin care routine before applying condition. On the days that I don’t take the time to hydrate and prep my skin, I feel like my foundation can be flaky, it can rest in cracks on my face and not look as smooth, and my skin feels dry. If you are prepping your skin by moisturizing it before you apply make up, it will typically go on smoother and not dry out as much. I actually do not use a primer before applying foundation, not really for any specific reason other than I find that it’s not necessarily helpful for my specific skin type.
shop my current full makeup routine
foundation faves
my all time favorite combo
Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation: I got hooked on this foundation about eight months ago & have worn it probably every day sense. Not only does it have an incredible range of colors to choose from, it has great undertones and tone options which make it really easy to find a perfect shade. This one is a liquid formula that comes with a pump, it is medium coverage, and oil free. It does have a buildable medium coverage to it while maintaining a somewhat glowy we look. It looks really good if you said it with a setting powder, but you can also wear it alone and I feel like it was really well throughout the day. I can wear both shades 4.5 and 5.75 - one has a slightly warmer glow which I prefer in the summertime, but honestly it is such a lightweight and smooth foundation that the color has never not matched my skin really well. You can also combine two shades if necessary. I apply with a clean, damp beauty blender.
Charlotte Tilbury Flawless Filter: My absolute favorite combo is mixing the luminous silk by Giorgio Armani with this Charlotte Tillbury Hollywood flawless filter. Flawless filter is not necessarily a foundation - it is more of a complexion booster that blurs, smoothes and gives a glow. You can definitely use it alone, but I love to apply under the foundation. Applying mainly on high points of my cheekbone + down my nose. When I apply the foundation on top, I sort of mix it together and pat on top, and it creates a really beautiful glow from under the foundation. You can also use this on top of your foundation, down the bridge of your nose and on the high points of your cheekbones, to give an extra glow. I use shade 4 but I really think any shade would work because it does not show up super pigmented or dark, and blends so well. Any lighter shade would work great too!
light coverage
The Ilia Super Serum Skin Tint is probably my favorite foundation-like product, especially in the summertime. There is nothing as light coverage as this. It has SPF 40, squalane, and hyaluronic acid, which makes it a skincare and makeup combo in ONE. It is oil free & fragrance free, and it’s also clean beauty. Since it is an extremely lightly tinted serum, it provides dewy coverage with a natural finish. I actually felt like this product applied best with a clean brush instead of a beauty blender. The damp beauty blender barely applies any of the product because it is such a lightweight serum. The color matching on this is slightly difficult in my opinion because it does tend to dry on your skin slightly darker than it looks when you first put it on. This is not a huge issue but just be mindful of that when you are purchasing your shade. If you are going for a really light weight natural “no makeup” look - this is a great option in my opinion, however it’s not going to cover any imperfections, discolorations breakouts. Don’t forget to shake before you apply!
medium coverage
itCosmetics CC Cream: LIGHTWEIGHT w/ SPF! This has been a favorite of mine for several years now. Especially in the Summertime when you want something with pretty good coverage but lightweight + has SPF in it. I like to apply with a damp beauty blender. This one doesn’t dry matte, it has a pretty dewy finish so if you are hoping to wear it all day and have the coverage stay for more than a few hours, use a light powder over the top to help set it. I like this Becca Cosmetics powder & apply with a big round brush. They also make a matte version which doesn’t need powder!
full coverage foundation
Estee Lauder Double Wear: I first used this foundation Summer of 2019; I head heard so so many things about it and knew I had to give it a try. I do love it. Super full coverage with a really matte finish. You can layer it for more full coverage or just lightly dab it on with a damp beauty blender for lighter coverage. I would say this is great if you prefer heavier makeup, a full coverage look, or something that is very long lasting.
Maybelline SuperStay: This is a drugstore deal! have literally been using this since I was a freshman in college & first started wearing makeup hah! It was only $10 and had a huge selection of shades so I actually picked out two and called it good. The funny thing is that I was lowkey GENIUS haha at picking 2 color because I always tell people to do that now. You can get a summer shade and a winter shade, and mix each day if you need to get the perfect color!! This foundation is full coverage and dries matte; you don’t need to put any powder on the top.