When I recently learned I had developed skin allergies to most of the makeup and beauty products I have held near and dear to my heart, it was unnerving to say the least. It’s like having to learn a new language. I now need to check ingredients very carefully to see if the product contains one of 12 additives/chemicals I must avoid. To make matters worse each of those 12 have anywhere from 15-30+ other names that essentially are the same ingredient. It’s nearly impossible to catch them all. So I have to rely on patch tests, blind faith or stick to vegan/green products as they (mostly) tend to not contain the preservatives and metals that trigger an ugly and painful rash.
It all got me thinking, why didn’t I really give my makeup a second thought anyway? I am so concerned about what I put into my body these days (GMO’s, organic, filtered water, etc.), but it never dawned on me to think about what I am putting on my body. That’s crazy. Needless to say, that has now changed.
One makeup item I can’t live without is foundation. In fact, I am pretty sure what I had my initial reaction to two months ago was a foundation. I wear it almost daily since I have some scars, sunspots and uneven skintone (welcome to your 40’s), and I want the appearance of a flawless complexion. The older I get the more I feel I need foundation. So finding one I could wear I assumed was going to be really tricky. Turns out it wasn’t as hard as I had anticipated, but some foundations are clearly better than others. I prefer a liquid foundation to a powder especially in the winter. I tried many, but here are my 8 favorites.
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1. Cover FX Natural Finish Foundation, $40
This water-based liquid foundation has buildable medium to full coverage. It’s loaded with healthy skincare ingredients like vitamin C and vitamin E to help protect against free radicals. This foundation is clinically tested, vegan, and free of fragrance, gluten, mineral oil, and talc. My skin looks flawless which I have come to expect from Cover FX products.
2. Juice Beauty PHYTO-PIGMENTS Flawless Serum Foundation, $42
I love this foundation because it’s a skin perfecting and age-defying serum in one. Concentrated in plant-derived Phyto-Pigments, this buildable to full-coverage formula blends easily. It’s formulated without silicones and its hydrating, antioxidant-rich technology (with vitamin C & E) reduces the appearance of lines and wrinkles. Oh and it doesn’t settle into those fine wrinkles.
3. Beauty Counter Tint Skin Foundation, $41
I’m new to this line, but the few products I have tried…I have LOVED. I also appreciate their commitment to transparency and banning the use of more than 1,500 questionable or harmful chemicals which in on their “Never List” (which you can find on their site). I have a friend who sells Beauty Counter products and I told her the foundation is paramount. Beauty Counter’s Tint Skin Foundation is a lightweight but full coverage creamy foundation that provides serious flawless looking skin. Sodium hyaluronate, a natural moisture magnet, promotes smoother-looking skin and reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. I love this foundation so much I can’t say enough about it. It’s life changing.
4. Beauty Counter Dew Skin Tinted Moisturizer, $45
I know this is the same brand as mentioned above, but I mix the two together since I like more coverage than a straight up tinted moisturizer and it has SPF 20. It also gives your skin a bit of a glow. Black currant, peony flower root extract, and vitamin C reduce the appearance of age spots and enhance skin brightness, while sodium hyaluronate promotes firmer, smoother-looking skin. I mix a little of the two in my hand and my skin looks amazing.
5. Votre Vu Love Me Deux Nourishing Moisture Tint & Concealer, $43
Love Me Deux is a brilliant pairing of tinted moisturizer and concealer that brings your skin tones into perfect harmony. This dynamic duo has a tinted moisturizer in the tube and concealer smartly tucked in the mirrored cap – perfectly sized for your makeup bag. The tinted moisturizer contains botanical ingredients like sunflower and jojoba oils, aloe vera, honeysuckle extracts and earthy French kaolin clay. If the coverage isn’t enough you have the perfectly matched thicker concealer to erase whatever you want gone, like dark circles, blemishes and shadows. It’s blended with beeswax, vitamin E, pure minerals and botanicals. The concealer is antioxidant-rich and and free of talc, petrochemicals, synthetic fragrances and dyes – perfect for those of us with hyper sensitive skin.
6. Too Faced Born This Way Foundation, $39
This was the only foundation I used before I learned of my allergies I could actually keep. The rest are in foundation haven. Good thing because I have been a giant fan of Born This Way for some time. This oil-free foundation provides exceptional medium to full coverage and provides skin-loving benefits. It’s formulated without Parabens, Sulfates or Phthalates and it’s vegan-friendly, cruelty-free and free of gluten.
7. Oxygenetix Oxygenating Foundation, $44.95
Foundation that allows your skin to breath? Sign me up. Oxygenix contains Ceravitae™ pro-oxygen complex which stimulates skin cell production and soothes, heals and protects damaged skin thanks to skin-loving ingredients including Aloe barbadensis gel-base, vitamin E, grape seed extract, greenntea, salix alba extract and more. These oxygen-enriched, natural components make this foundation like a second skin. Designed for doctors, Oxygenetix Oxygenating Foundation can be applied immediately following procedures (like laser or peels) as its super charged pro-oxygen complex helps heal the skin by stimulating connective tissue growth and promoting collagen cell reproduction.
This breathable foundation also covers and treats a wide variety of skin problems: skin injuries, wounds, rashes, cracked, dry skin, acne scars, rosacea and other skin conditions. Additionally it doesn’t smudge due to sweat or humidity and is water and transfer resistant. Better still it has SPF25 UVA/UVB protection and is hypoallergenic.
8. The Body Shop Fresh Nude Foundation, $25
The Body Shop now offers vegan makeup and what I have tried is pretty awesome and budget friendly. I particularly love their Fresh Nude Foundation. The semi-matte hydrating formula is enriched with English rose water and aloe vera. My skin feels fresh and comfortable all day. It has light to medium coverage and is suitable for sensitive skin and is dermatologically tested.
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Disclosure: I was sent samples of some and paid for others.
