Foundations that made me go "meh"

After my post this week on Maybelline's SuperStay Better Skin foundation, the lovely Yavanna from Makeup Monster left a comment saying I was lucky when it comes to foundations, that my skin seems to work with them.  And it got me thinking.  I do like an aul foundation (or twenty) as you can see from my ridiculous collection and I absolutely love trying new ones out.  I want to have naturally flawless looking skin.  That's not too much to ask is it?  Not at all!

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!