Foundation…the Best and the Rest

Benefit You Rebel, £19.50

This one is probably great for someone with a slightly darker skin tone and wants more of a tinted moisturiser, or perfect for when you’re on holiday/have just got back. This goes on quite orange as it has been designed for all skin tones and will adapt to the right colour for you, don’t ask me how but that’s what it does! I find that it doesn’t quite work for me, and I tend to have a slight orange mark around my hairline or eyebrows where I can’t rub it in properly, it also doesn’t give the coverage I’m after and isn’t exactly cheap just to try it out. Saying that though, I don’t like covering up my skin in make up when I’ve returned from holiday as I’m hiding the one time I have a tan, but I also don’t want to go into work without my base on and it works really well for this. Benefit has recently launched a ‘Lite’ version; however, this is too pale for me! How ironic.

Secret Beauty Verdict: Test this first, I’m sure it’s an amazing tinted moisturiser if that’s what you are after.

Max Factor Colour Adapt, £11.70

I love this foundation; I found it as it was on offer and, having the fussy skin that I do, thought Colour Adapt would probably be a good choice. There are 14 shades so you can get pretty close to your true skin tone, and then be sure that this will ‘adapt’ to your colouring exactly. The coverage is perfect – completely flawless yet not too heavy, is a lovely creamy consistency and it lasts for ages, I stuck with this one for a long time until I thought I should maybe branch out and try something new…

Secret Beauty Verdict: Relitavely inexpensive and lasts for ages.

MAC Select SPF 15, £18.60

If you want to buy a MAC product then try and go in store if you can. It’s such a nice experience. I initially went in for a concealer (which is great too BTW, Studio Fix if you’re wondering) and then thought I might as well go the whole hog and get the foundation to match. The make-up artists in there are really helpful, don’t try and push anything on you and try out everything they think will work until they find the right shade. Select is a liquid foundation best applied with a sponge or brush (personally I’m not very good at this so I apply with my hands and then blend with a sponge) and comes in 21 shades so you’ll find one that matches perfectly, which mine does. It can be layered without caking meaning that you can get as sheer or heavy a coverage as you want and it feels lovely on the skin, paired with their concealer my skin looks the best it ever has and completely spot/scar free.

Secret Beauty Verdict: Amazing, worth every penny.

Dermalogica Treatment Foundation, £26.70

I am a huge fan of Dermalogica but had never really considered using their foundation until I went in for a facial and asked what the amazing moisturiser was that was put on at the end as it made my skin feel gorgeous. I was then told it was actually their foundation and when I looked in the mirror I couldn’t believe how great my skin looked. I went away with a sample to try at home thinking that it may have actually been the facial rather than the foundation but no, it looked just as amazing when I did it myself. It feels nice putting on a foundation that is doing good as I do worry about blocking my pores and the coverage is perfect. It leaves a nice healthy glow but I like to put a powder on for more of a matt finish. There are 8 shades to choose from so it’s probably worth asking for a tester first before shelling out and it not looking quite right but the one I use is perfect for me.

Secret Beauty Verdict: I feel great when I wear this but I think it could be one you either love or hate, test it first.