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A good foundation can totally change your skin look. A bad foundation can totally make your skin look even worse.

I have some recommendations here and I hope it would help. My skin type is combination.

1. Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation & Matte Silk Foundation (No SPF)

Foundation products from Giorgio Armani is one of my all time favourites.

Luminous Silk Foundation is probably the best seller among all Giorgio Armani makeup products. It is suitable for all skin types. This oil-free foundation has Giorgio Armani’s special Micro-fil™ technology. This liquid foundation can last all day for combination skin or even oily skin while also hydrating the skin. And according to my friends who have dry skin, this foundation would not be too dry for them either. I really like it. It is weightless and it can easily help you create nude makeup. 12 colors available.

Matte Silk Foundation is oil-free too. It combines transparency with a matte finish to control shine. I’d recommend this for combination skin and oily skin or even normal skin for summer if you live somewhere humid. It gives you long lasting look and make your skin silky smooth. Also if you need foundation that has at least medium coverage while you still want natural look, this one is great too. However, the color starts with #4 which means that if you are quite pale then this one would not work on you. I myself tried #4 and it is kinda too dark for me. (my Luminous Silk Foundation color is #2)

BTW, Giorgio Armani provides #.5 (eg. #4.5, #5.5) colors to correct dullness and yellowish.

2. Giorgio Armani Lasting Silk UV Foundation (SPF 20)

Giorgio Armani’s new product.

If you prefer foundation with SPF, this one would be a good choice. Lasting Silk UV Foundation can give a luminous semi-mat finish that lasts and lasts. It holds the makeup very well while it is very watery that you do not have to worry. It also has higher coverage than the previous two. You can keep layering but it would not look caky. 7 colors available.

3. Giorgio Armani Face Fabric (SPF 12)

This is Giorgio Armani’s “second skin nude makeup”. Tired of foundation on hot hot summer day? Want something very very light and fresh? Like the natural glow of skin? This one would be your love.

It is an invisible makeup with a 3D Micro-fil™ technology.  I usually put on primer/base first then use this one. Then can use some setting powder. In this way people usually would not even be able to tell that you wear makeup. Or if you really want, you can even use this product as base. What’s more, Face Fabric could be used for healthy-looking glow, shades and highlights as well. 10 colors available.

4. Vincent Longo Water Canvas Cream-To-Powder Foundation (SPF 8)

This product is absolutely amazing. As Vincent Longo’s most successful foundation, it contains 75% water  and vitamin E. It kinda feels like a tofu.

Water Canvas Cream-To- Powder Foundation is oil-free and imparts a real-skin (neither too moist nor too matte) powder finish on the skin. It can maintain the skin’s moisture balance and minimizes fine lines and wrinkles. This is just an awesome product for combination skin and oily skin. It can provide medium to full coverage with the Water Canvas Sponge (either wet or dry) or sheer coverage with a brush. But no matter in which way, your skin would still look very natural. The makeup would not be heavy but just fresh and light.

BTW, the Water Canvas Sponge and the Water Canvas Foundation Travel Compact have to be purchased separately.

5. Vincent Longo Liquid Canvas Healthy Fluid & Liquid Canvas Dew Finish (SPF 8 & SPF 15)

Vincent Longo products are not cheap. But you pay for what you get.

Liquid Canvas Healthy Fluid contains cucumber, aloe vera and vitamin E. This foundation is excellent for smoothing textured skin, filling in lines and wrinkles and concealing redness and sun freckles. It has SPF8 and provides medium to full coverage and long-hour wearing. It reminds me of Estee Lauder Double Wear but much lighter and it hydrates the skin very well.

Liquid Canvas Dew Finish is more moisturizing. It is an anti-aging foundation which contains vitamin E and ester C. Liquid Canvas Dew Finish imparts a radiant glow to the skin with medium coverage. It is ideal for cold and dry weather or normal to dry skin for every season.

6. Estee Lauder Double Wear & Double Wear Light (SPF 10)

The other 2 of my all time favourites.

Double Wear is great for combination skin and oily skin especially if you live somewhere hot and humid. Going to a big party? Attending gala dinner? Having a wedding? This oil-free foundation can provide medium to full buildable coverage and long-hour wearing. Seriously, very long. Up to 10-15 hours. And what’s more, it won’t melt or make your skin get dull. It really “stays in face” and at the same time it is very comfortable. BTW, this product is not for nude makeup. Also the design of the bottle makes the liquid get dry very quickly.

Double Wear Light is also oil-free and ideal for normal daily look. This foundation is fresh and light while it still “stays in face”. It provides sheer to medium coverage and oil controlling to make the makeup last for 10-15 hours. The look is very natural and the skin is free to breathe all day. I love using it when going to school on a hot summer day or when doing outdoor stuff.

7. Laura Mercier Oil-Free Foundation (No SPF)

This is probably the best seller of all Laura Mercier foundation products.

Laura Mercier Oil-Free Foundation is great for “no makeup” look. It is very light so the makeup would not look heavy or caky and at the same time it has buildable coverage. It also provides long-hour wearing and is quite easy to apply on. This foundation contains Vitamins A, C & E act as antioxidants to protect the skin from harmful effects in the environment. It is oil-free however it is not drying which means that it’d be good for all skin types.

8. Laura Mercier Silk Cream Foundation (No SPF)

If you have pimples or some pigmentation, this foundation would be ideal for you. It offers full coverage while hydrating and protecting the skin.

Silk Cream Foundation has the most coverage among all Laura Mercier foundation products. It is oil-free, fragrance-free and quite long wearing.

9. M.A.C. Studio Fix Fluid & Select (SPF 15)

They are my favourite M.A.C. products.

Studio Fix Fluid is an oil-free foundation. It is quite good for combination skin and oily skin. For many people, the skin would be oily on the surface, however, it is actually dry inside. So, the makeup would easily melt or could not stay in properly. This foundation is ideal for this case. It provides long-wearing and flawless natural matte finish with medium buildable coverage.  M.A.C. has many colors available.

Select is a water-based foundation with sheer to medium coverage. It is nice in winter to hydrate and protect the skin. Especially if you live somewhere dry. It is not heavy for combination skin or oily skin while it is fresh and watery too. Many colors are available as well.

10. M.A.C. Full Coverage (No SPF)

A cream foundation. M.A.C. Pro product. One of the the best foundation for coverage no matter face or body. I always use this one for photography/studio purpose. It can cover most scars, blemishes, birthmarks and even tattoos. The point is you have to do it with the right tool: a dry sponge would be the best or a brush if you only have that. And actually the coverage ranges from sheer to opaque. So if you just need some sheer coverage you can use a moist sponge.

However, this foundation sometimes does not last long. Especially in hot and humid weather or under strong studio lights. So it is always a good idea to put on some primer/base. Besides, I would not recommend oily skin and acne-prone skin to wear this every day.

This foundation is available in a wide range of colors.

11. SmashBox High Definition Healthy FX Foundation (SPF 15)

This is an oil-free and weightless foundation that contains anti-aging, revitalizing, and firming ingredients that work overtime to provide cellular nutrition for skin.

I like using it in winter and this product can last all day with a good primer/base. The face would not get oily that ruin the makeup while not dry either as this foundation can moisture the skin pretty well. Medium buildable coverage. It is very easy to apply on. Not that suitable for oily skin and acne-prone skin though.

12. SmashBox Camera Ready Full Coverage Foundation (SPF 15)

Another great cream foundation for coverage.

It comes with a small brush and the coverage is medium to full buildable. It can easily create flawless skin. However, a primer/base is a must unless you have dry skin. Also, it is not very suitable for oily skin and acne-prone skin unless you are in cold and dry weather since it may cause breakout and may make the skin look oily.

13. RMK Liquid Foundation (SPF 14)

A very watery foundation. It is light and fresh. RMK Liquid Foundation wears quite easily. It provides a natural finish and long-hour lasting.

I usually do not like Japanese style makeup but this foundation is so different and impressive. It is not dry and it is not oily or heavy, it covers the fine lines and it would not make the skin look caky. What’s more, it is waterproof. Lovely stuff for summer. Great for normal daily look and suitable for all skin types.

14. RMK Creamy Foundation (SPF 15)

One of the most watery cream foundation. Great for dry to normal skin for all seasons and combination skin for winter.

RMK Creamy Foundation can moisture the skin very well and it is not heavy either. I guess that’s RMK’s feature – light, fresh and watery. This product provides a radiant and lustrous finish. And it would let you experience a balance between coverage and lucidity.

Related posts:

1. My favourite powder – Yalta’s Makeup Review (Part 3)
2. My favourite base/primer – Yalta’s Makeup Review (Part 1)

This entry was posted on Thursday, September 24th, 2009 at 1:25 pm and is filed under Cosmetics. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.