Sharing an updated base roundup today with my go-to favorites! I love testing new foundations, powers and concealers and lately I’ve been more into glow boosters and complexion enhancers.
Here’s what I’ve been loving. If you’re like me and find that your go-to foundations sometimes feel a little thick, heavy or don’t blend well I have some tricks and tips for you to try!
Foundation
I like my foundation to look like skin but better, but I still need some coverage. I have a lot of sun spots and my skin is prone to redness so I look for formulas that have medium coverage to even out the skin.
Dior Forever Skin Perfect Foundation ($57, Nordstrom) is the best stick foundation I’ve tried. It blends easily, looks very natural, doesn’t feel heavy on the skin and I love the way it looks. The coverage is easy to control. I tried the hack of mixing this with the Rhode Glazing Milk and it is truly 10/10 worth trying. I mix shades as I’m usually in between Dior shades, I’ve tried 2.5N, 2W and 3N. Right now I mix one of the 2s with 3 for my perfect match. In action here.
Chanel Les Beiges Healthy Glow Foundation ($69, Chanel) has been a go-to for so many years I’ve lost count of how many bottles I’ve repurchased. My best match is BD41 and this golden undertone match is the best skin match I’ve ever tried. Love that they have a good shade range and different undertone options. They most recently started adding BO which is more olive and they’re really good tones without being too green/sallow if that makes sense. This has natural glowy coverage, hydrates, is long-wearing and easy to blend.
Armani Luminous Silk Foundation ($69, Nordstrom and Sephora) in the new formula is tied with the Chanel. Comparing the two I think the new Armani formula feels a little bit lighter (thinner) and the coverage is just a bit sheerer but still medium and glowy. I wear Shade 6.5 in this formula. In action here.
It Cosmetics CC+ Nude Glow ($47, Sephora and Ulta) is the best CC cream I’ve tried. Most CC creams tend to be very thick and this is the thinnest one I’ve tried which makes it easier for my skin to breathe in humid weather. It’s still creamy and somewhat thick compared to other bases, but it’s like the skin tint version of a CC cream. Love that it has SPF 40. It’s perfect for every day, the beach, bike rides, pretty much any occasion.
Concealer
I’ve really been skipping concealer most days, but I still reach for it if I’m going to an event or a special night out. I love testing new formulas and I know a lot of you don’t like to wear a lot of face makeup but just a little bit of concealer on a tinted moisturizer.
Classics like NARS, Hourglass and Tarte are still incredible formulas, but these days I’ve been reaching for YSL, Chanel or Natasha Denona.
The YSL Touche Eclat ($40, Sephora) is still the best undereye brightening concealer. This works for me since I don’t have a lot of dark under eye circles. Sometimes I just want a little bit of brightening and I love the consistency of this one. I wear Shade 3.
Chanel launched a new concealer formula recently called the Ultra Le Teint Correcteur Concealer ($53, Chanel) and this is the first Chanel concealer that has worked for me. I love their foundations but I’ve never really liked their concealers. This one is thin but easy to blend. I tried a few different shades and I like B40 or BD41 the best. For concealers I tend to like them a little more peachy or neutral for eyes. This runs very similar to the Prada formula but I have a slight preference for the Chanel because of the color match on me. You can see it in action here.
Natasha Denona Hy-Glam ($32, Sephora) is the best full coverage creamy concealer that I can wear under the eyes or to spot conceal. It’s creamy, blends well, doesn’t cake and long wearing. 10/10 love this.
Complexion Enhancers/Glow Boosters
I used to think mixing glow products wasn’t necessary for me. These days sometimes a foundation might feel too heavy or thick. Or sometimes my skin is extra dry and foundation doesn’t blend like it should but at the same time I don’t want a heavier moisturizer underneath. I’ve found some incredible complexion mixers or glow boosters.
Armani Fluid Sheer ($43, Nordstrom) is a classic. I don’t really use these as a highlighter as they’re too sheer once blended. I prefer to mix them with a foundation and I love Shade 10 because it’s golden but sheer. It adds a really nice glow to the skin. The only downside is it’s incredibly pricey to mix in with foundation on a regular basis.
One/Size Base Thinner ($36, Sephora) is a recent discovery in the Bronze Pearl shade and I am 100% obsessed. I love the shade and way it adds the perfect amount of glow to the skin. It mixes really well with foundations and the glow is perfect. Not too shimmery, not too emollient, not too sheer – just perfect. I really want to try the Pink Pearl formula too. Skin looks fresh and radiant without being over the top.
L’Oreal True Match Lumi Glotion ($17.99, Ulta) is a classic and budget friendly. Love that they have different shades. I’ve tried multiple and love them. It’s a really great multi-tasker. You can wear it as a primer under foundation, mix it with your base or use it on top to add a little bit of glow.
Saie Glowy Super Gel ($29, Sephora) is another great multi-purpose illuminator. I’ve tried this a number of ways but my favorite way to wear this is mixing it with foundation. I really love this mixed with the Armani Luminous Silk Foundation. I’ve tried all the shades and Roseglow is my favorite. I think this is the best for dry skin but it’s not heavy. It has a slightly transparent quality to it with the gel formula which I love.
Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Flawless Filter ($50, Sephora) is the OG glow booster. There are so many dupes of this, some are very good, but I have to give a shout out to the original innovator. Love this and I still think it’s worth the splurge. If you think this is too shimmery for you I also really love her Unreal Skin Sheer Glow Tint Foundation Stick as an alternative.
Sarah Creal Today’s Highlights Peptide Balm Luminizer ($55, Sephora and Sarah Creal) is my favorite cream highlighter of the moment. I know so many of you love the dewy highlighters like ones from Westman Atelier, Chanel and Merit etc. I love the look of so many of these but because I’ve always lived somewhere warm – a few hours of wear time = greasy mess. The Sarah Creal one is more natural looking but the formula is elite! It gives that lit from within glow.
Rhode Glazing Milk ($20-32, Sephora and Rhode) is 10/10 a must for dry skin. I don’t think you need super dry skin to use it. I love this mixed with foundations to help them blend better on the skin whenever they look or feel too heavy.
Contour/Bronzer
After all these years of trying makeup I have to admit I’m still not into contouring. I prefer a subtle cream bronzer with a little bit of warmth as cool tones tend to clash with my skin tone. These are the most natural looking ones I’ve tried.
Makeup By Mario SoftSculpt Transforming Skin Enhancer ($34, Sephora) is my favorite cream bronzer that has an emollient texture and sheer finish. I think it’s a little too creamy to wear on its own so I usually set with a powder blush or bronzer, but I love this to add warmth to the skin. I’ve tried both Medium and Medium Dark. Swatches here.
Merit Bronze Balm Sheer Sculpting Bronzer ($32, Sephora) is the best for super dry skin or if you want something super sheer or balmy. It does pull very sheer once blended but I like the warmth and super natural look it gives the skin.
Dior Forever Skin Bronze Bronzing Stick Balm ($52, Nordstrom) is another great skin-like bronzer. This is probably my favorite bronzing stick that still looks very natural on the skin. I can wear 02, 03 or 04 – I think the shades are pretty easy to wear. It has a satiny finish that looks like skin. I really love that this is a non-dewy option that isn’t too matte. Swatches here.
Powder
Last but not least a quick shoutout to my go-to setting powder right now. I used to be a pressed powder person, but the past few years I’ve almost exclusively used the Laura Mercier Loose Setting Powders ($26-$48, Nordstrom) with a puff. The lasting power is much better with a powder and I think hers are the best for looking natural.
Tools
Quick shoutout for my favorite foundation brushes. I love the ones from It Cosmetics, Hourglass, Fenty, Laura Mercier. For concealer I swear by the ones from Hourglass and Real Techniques.
That wraps up my favorites right now! What are you go-to favorites?
