But while I blog a lot about foundations I love on here, I don't really chat about those I don't like. And I don't have that many because I tend to research a lot now before I invest in a new one. But there have been a few duds, so I thought I'd share with the class and give you the four foundations that made me go "meh".
About five years ago, I bit the bullet and bought my first ever MAC foundation after seeing so many great things about it on the YouTubes. 'Twas Studio Sculpt and while 'twas my first MAC foundation, 'twas also my last because I hated everything about it. It actually gives me worms just thinking about it now.
It was way too thick for my liking and no matter how little I put on, I just looked like a dirty big waxwork model and that wasn't the look I was going for. I was colour matched to an NW15 which wasn't the right shade for me and most of all, it broke me out so badly, I felt like I was back in my greasy teenage years again. It scarred me for life and put me off trying any more MAC foundations foreverrrrrrrr. Well, never say never, but still, am totally allowed to be dramatic after what I went through. You don't know my life... (See, even now it brings out the inner teenager).
Next on my meh list is Nars Sheer Glow. I got it in a swap ages ago and wanted to love it so much, mainly because Laura from Buy Now, Blog Later raved about it so much back in her YouTube days. Coverage wise it was nice but it gave my oily head an even oilier finish and on a sunny day I could blind someone with the shine coming off my massive forehead. And again, it broke me out so much that I had to go into hiding. (Not really, am being dramatic again) Since then, I've kind of given Nars the side eye with everything apart from their amazing blushes.
Another failure on my face was Make Up For Ever's Mat Velvet+. I saw Makeup By Tiffany D giving it much love in lots of her videos and figured I wanted her perfect matte skin so picked it up. Now, if you know me on a blogular level, you'll know I have an oily t-zone and normal cheeks. I don't generally have to deal with dry patches but this sucked every living bit of moisture out of my skin. It turned my face into one giant Rice Crispie and no matter what I did, I could never get it to work and I tried, I really tried.
Finally is the most recent meh foundation, the YSL Youth Liberator Serum Foundation. After reading millions of great reviews on it, I hoofed myself into Debenhams ready to pick it up and fall in love. After being colour matched (well, I had to fight with the sales assistant a little because she was matching me to something mahogany), I thought the finish was lovely and dewy and was ready to hand over the cash, only to find out they didn't have the shade in stock. So she kindly gave me a sample to do me for the week until they got more stock in. About three hours after she'd applied it to me, I happened to catch myself in a mirror in a shop and nearly collapsed at the state of me. Not only was I a dirty big greasy faced bridie, but most of the foundation had slid from my face and set up base camp in the pores on my cheeks, either side of my nose. I'm talking all the foundation plonked in about 12 pores and after the mini stroke on the ground floor in Marks and Spencer, I couldn't blend it in fast enough and said a novena thanking the powers that be that I'd not seen anyone I knew in that state.
I didn't want to write it off just yet because maybe it needed primer or a powder to help it set on me. I gave it a few more goes and no matter what I did, it wouldn't stay put for more than a few hours. I looked like I was perpetually sweating and again, it broke me out. I know it sounds like I've sensitive skin with all this breakage outage, but I really don't and these three must have a common ingredient that just doesn't work with my visage.
I really want to try Chanel foundations this year so my research has begun again and I'm not going to lie, I'm a little scared about getting burned again. And getting shiny. And breaking out.
What foundations have made you go "meh"? And what foundation do I need to try next bearing in mind I like a medium coverage, have an oily t-zone and don't want to break out thank you very much. Recommendations on a postcard please. Or in a comment. Whichever you prefer!
Try Perfection Lumiere by Chanel missus - it's so so good x
ReplyDeleteOk, added to the list lovely lady
DeleteI have dry skin so I find it quite to find a foundation that doesn’t show up dry patches. I usually love a foundation for a while and then slowly it stops working for me, one example is Bobbi Brown’s Long Wear Even Finish which I loved at first but now never use as I found it didn’t work for dry skin, even though I was told by the BB sales assistant that it would.
ReplyDeleteI've never tried any Bobbi Brown foundations but that's annoying when the sales assistant says one thing and the product does another. Makes me want not to go back into them
DeleteI must be the complete opposite to you - I used Studio Sculpt (for nights out) & loved it, & Sheer Glow is my current go to! I wasn't a big fan of Bourjois' new version of Healthy Mix & YSL Le Teint Touch Eclat just seemed to disappear off me.
ReplyDeleteHaha if I'd known that back then I'd have happily given you my Studio Sculpt!
DeleteSnap I am the same with sheer glow so I would imagine I would be the same with the rest or yours
ReplyDeleteMost likely as we are sisters from another mister with one brain between us ;)
DeleteI love the Nars Sheer Glow foundation but I can see how that could leave you with a bit of an oily skin... At the moment I am back in love with the MUFE HD and adore the Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua as well :) I am with you on your foundation love, I have so many, it's ridiculous! ;)
ReplyDeletealex @ pinkelephantbloggin.com
I used to be obsessed with my MUFE HD foundation and then forgot about it, I think it was too dark for me too, so when I purchase again, it'll be my actual shade. I think I need the Chanel one don't you think?
DeleteI have to say that I am a fan of Nars Sheer Glow (although it's not as amazing and life changing as everyone says) and YSL Youth Liberator.. I generally tend to get on well with most foundations as I do a serious amount of research and always get a sample before purchasing, but two I hated were Rimmel Wake Me Up (it breaks me out so badly) and Laura Mercier Silk Creme. If you have oily skin I would recommend Dior Forever - slightly higher coverage but it looks so flawless and feels so comfortable on the skin compared to the likes of Double Wear.. x
ReplyDeleteRachael | www.overdosedemaquillage.com ♥
Oh I forgot about the Rimmel Wake me up, I didn't like it at all, I was so shiny with that one too. Ok I like the whole Dior suggestion too... Flawless you say?
DeleteAah love this post!! Thanks Karen!
ReplyDeleteNo thank you! I'm always forgetting about the meh products as there are so many good ones out there, so thanks for the inspiration!
DeleteInteresting to note that they are all pricey brands. MAC foundations is pure mank; hate it for the exact reasons you outlined. I hate the look of it on peoples faces because it looks like you could scrap your nail down their face and leave a dent in it!
ReplyDeleteAlso: " It actually gives me worms just thinking about it now." I snorted.
THAT'S EXACTLY IT!!! It looks like an absolute mask on people, so glad I'm not the only one ;) And it does give me big fat worms ;P
DeleteAny Bordouis (excuse my spelling haha) I've tried as just not cooperated my skin at all. It just wore off really patchy. I've fallen in love with the L'oreal Lumi Magique foundation. I've such dull skin and it makes me look all glowly and goddess like (or as close as)
ReplyDeleteOh I must check that L'Oreal one out, I've heard of the concealer in that range and I would also like to look like a goddess!
DeleteThanks karen- i love when people like you talk about the good and the bad in the world of makeup! I wanted to Love loreal nude magique so much,wore it yesterday to work and by lunchtime my piseog was like a mess of dripping oil! Since I picked it up,my skin has broken out & I've got those nasty milia. Its back to my beloved bourjouis healthy mix for daywear!
ReplyDeleteOh no!! I hate when that happens, it might be the dry oils in it that has you breaking out. What are we like? Delicate little allergic flowers ;)
DeleteI use the Estee Lauder Double Wear foundation and like it, it's nice and pale and does give good coverage. I'm desperah though, that's the only foundation I have! I use mainly BB creams daily, but have lately started wearing more make up so think I need to get a lovely new foundation so am on the hunt!
ReplyDeleteListen lady, you're totally inspiring me with your Keeping up with the Selfridges challenge, so you totally deserve a new foundation! Just not the ones I mentioned up there ;P
DeleteAhah, all but the Mufe are some of my absolute favourites... Let's see how I get on with the new Maybelline one, I picked it up today ;-)
ReplyDeleteThat's gas! I should have held on to them and passed them over to you! Good luck with the Maybelline one!
DeleteI'm loving it! It has really good coverage and lasts all day, a winner! :-)
DeleteIt's so funny how different people are because I loved studio sculpt!
ReplyDeleteI wanted to love it so much and felt like a durty big loser because everyone online loved it and I just looked like my face was melting off with it on ;)
DeleteNars sheer glow, totally rubbish. Also don't like the new Bourjois healthy mix in new bottle, is it new formula? Not the same as the old one. Clinique, even better just rolls off my face.
ReplyDeleteDying to try the new cover girl 3 in 1 Infinity, the USA you tubers raved about this in 2013. Karen ... A review ?
I must say I loved the new Healthy Mix and have loved most of Bourjois' foundations except for the Bio Detox which felt like I was spreading Nutella on my face, awful texture, forgot about that one, should've added it in! I'd love to try the new Cover Girl foundation but alas I don't have access to it yet, when I go to NY at the end of the year I'll pick it up
DeleteI also didn't like mat velvet - I really thought I would love it but it just makes my face look one dimensional!
ReplyDeletePhew, thought I was alone with my lack of lovage of the Velvet+, not a fan at alllllll at all
DeleteDior Forever foundation,it turns orange 5 mins after it makes contact with my skin! It looks like the perfect colour in the bottle.Had it applied in Debenhams and it looked perfect,caught my eye in the mirror on the way home in the car and I could have cried,it's not even just a little dark it's umpa lumpa orange and it was so fecking expensive!!!
ReplyDeleteOh nooooooooooooooo! Oxidation is the devil's work! Such a shame missus
DeleteThe number of foundations is (relatively!) small because I'm SLOWLY copping onto the fact that I do possess my HG. Double Wear Light for the daytime and Double Wear for nights out/days I need makeup to not budge. I have to stop looking! It just works for me.
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with the horror that is MAC foundation. I bought one YSL one (can't remember which) but wasn't wowed. Returned my Urban Decay one to Sephora (after trying the sample). Rimmel 25hr was too pinky on me. Can't get the Maybelline Fix Me to work well.
Bourjois Healthy Mix is probably the only budget one I would repurchase. My Benefit one is grand for Summer but I don't reach for it in the winter!
So...my foundation collection should only have DW, DWL, Healthy Mix and Benefit...yeah there are more. I should use up or get rid.
See Aoife, this is when you know you're a fully fledged makeup junkie. Even if you find something amazing, you can't but want to try new products! I must investigate DW Light when I use up some foundations....
DeleteI literally wanted to try all 4 of these foundations but since I have oily and acne prone skin I think I stay away lol. Great post Makeup By Lauren Marie
ReplyDeleteThanks lady, if it helps you then I'm happy! But then again, you might have a better time with them than moi...I'm such an enabler, I know, it's terrible ;)
DeleteLancome RARE is the best foundation I've ever come across
ReplyDelete