Tried And Tested: Foundations

Posted: 03/02/12

  • Katie Jones
Foundation has come a long way since Maxfactor's original, Pan-Cake. From light liquids to mineral powders, there's a lot on offer at the beauty counters, not to mention the almost impossible task of choosing the right colour and finding the right level of coverage.

To help you find the perfect match, the MyDaily team have been busy trying and testing ten foundations from the top makeup brands. Take a look below to see how they fared.

Tried and Tested: Foundations

  • Clarins Ever Matte
    <p> <strong>Product:</strong> Clarins Ever Matte Foundation SPF 15</p> <p> <strong>Claims to: </strong>&quot;A light weight, skin perfecting fluid foundation containing a brand new cocktail of minerals and plant extracts that deliver all day protection against unwanted shine&quot;.</p> <p> <strong>Price:</strong> &pound;24, will launch nationwide in February</p> <p> <strong>MyDaily verdict: </strong>&quot;Slick creamy texture with a refreshing watermelon scent. It&rsquo;s really easy to blend and doesn't dry out the skin&quot;.</p>
    Clarins Ever Matte
  • Clinique Even Better
    <p> <strong>Product:</strong> Clinique Ever Better Makeup SPF 15</p> <p> <strong>Claims to:</strong> &quot;Combat hyper-pigmentation and deliver brighter skin, both immediately and over time&quot;.</p> <p> <strong>Price:</strong> &pound;22 from <a href="http://www.clinique.co.uk/" target="_blank">Clinique</a></p> <p> <strong>MyDaily verdict:</strong> &quot;The colour matched perfectly, it had smooth texture and it felt light on application. It hides blemishes well and lasts all day. The small-sized bottle also makes it a great handbag essential&quot;.</p>
    Clinique Even Better
  • Dior Skin Forever
    <p> <strong>Product: </strong>Diorskin Forever Flawless Perfection Fusionwear</p> <p> <strong>Claims to:</strong> &quot;The foundation blends seamlessly with the skin for a smoother, more even complexion day after day&quot;.</p> <p> <strong>Price:</strong> &pound;28.50 from <a href="http://shopping.mydaily.co.uk/redirect.php?prodID=59351693&amp;pID=7933&amp;dest=http://www.awin1.com%2Fcread.php%3Fclickref%3Dlynku%26awinaffid%3D126863%26awinmid%3D3539%26p%3Dhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww%252Eselfridges%252Ecom%252Fen%252F%252F%252F%252F%252F%255F359%252D84011246%252DF077860%252F" target="_blank">Selfridges</a></p> <p> <strong>Our verdict:</strong> &quot;My first reaction was how light and smooth this liquid foundation felt on the skin, which makes it great for a natural looking finish. More importantly, a little goes a long way which is great considering it's one of the more expensive products we tested. However, I did notice that I needed to reapply after a day in the office&quot;.</p>
    Dior Skin Forever
  • Illamasqua Skin Base Foundation
    <p> <strong>Product:</strong> Illamasqua Skin Base Foundation</p> <p> <strong>Claims to:</strong> &quot;Easily blendable, it effortlessly creates a perfect complexion&quot;.</p> <p> <strong>Price:</strong> &pound;25 from <a href="http://www.illamasqua.com/" target="_blank">Illamasqua</a></p> <p> <strong>MyDaily verdict:</strong> &quot;This foundation felt quite heavy on the skin, although it's easily blended and is great if you want to build up coverage gradually. This smooth, thick formula is probably more suited for evening make-up if you tend to go for a more natural look during the day&quot;.</p>
    Illamasqua Skin Base Foundation
  • Laura Mercier Creme Smooth Foundation
    <p> <strong>Product:</strong> Laura Mercier Creme Smooth Foundation</p> <p> <strong>Claims to:</strong> &quot;Foat[s] over skin without visibly settling into fine lines&quot;.</p> <p> <strong>Price:</strong> &pound;41.50 from <a href="http://shopping.mydaily.co.uk/redirect.php?prodID=70287703&amp;pID=8143&amp;dest=http://www.awin1.com%2Fawclick.php%3Fmid%3D3100%26id%3D126863%26clickref%3D%26p%3Dhttp%253a%252f%252fwww.ist-track.com%252fProcessClick.ashx%253fcompanyId%253d17910aed-1bae-4362-9580-b523eb87a91e%2526itemId%253dwwxwixwr%2526bid%253dt%2526affiliateCompanyId%253Dc35abe1f-3be3-45e0-bc66-7d104d67d479%25" target="_blank">House of Fraser</a></p> <p> <strong>Our verdict: </strong>&quot;Velvety mousse-like texture that gave brilliant coverage without looking cakey. Worth the money if you're happy to spend it!&quot;</p>
    Laura Mercier Creme Smooth Foundation
  • L'Oreal Invisible Lift
    <p> <strong>Product:</strong> L'Oreal Visible Lift Foundation SPF 15</p> <p> <strong>Claims to:</strong> &quot;From the first application, fine lines and wrinkles appear visibly reduced&quot;.</p> <p> <strong>Price:</strong> &pound;14.29 from <a href="http://www.boots.com/" target="_blank">Boots</a></p> <p> <strong>MyDaily verdict: </strong>&quot;I liked that this foundation moisturised the skin as well as providing full coverage throughout the day. However, it did feel quite greasy on application and as for anti-wrinkle effect - it needs to be used for a few days before it starts to hide fine lines. It's hard to tell how long the anti-wrinkle effects will last after using the product&quot;.</p>
    L'Oreal Invisible Lift
  • Revlon Age Defying Foundation
    <p> <strong>Product:</strong> Revlon Age Defying Foundation with DNA Advantage</p> <p> <strong>Claims to</strong>: &quot;Do more than simply fight the signs of aging&quot;.</p> <p> <strong>Price:</strong> &pound;13.99 from <a href="http://www.boots.com/" target="_blank">Boots</a></p> <p> <strong>MyDaily verdict:</strong> &quot;It has quite thick consistency but spreads easily and evens out skin tone although I didn't notice any age reducing effects. Despite the thickness it only provides relatively light coverage. There's also a slight shimmer so if you're not a fan of tiny glittery bits on your skin you should avoid&quot;.</p>
    Revlon Age Defying Foundation
  • Rimmel Wake Me Up
    <p> <strong>Product:</strong> Rimmel Wake Me Up Foundation</p> <p> <strong>Claims to:</strong> &quot;Lift skin from fatigue with a healthy, radiant glow!&quot;</p> <p> Price: &pound;5.99 from <a href="http://www.boots.com/?cm_mmc=bmm-_-Google-_-Brand-Main-_-Boots%20-%20Brand%20Keywords&amp;gclid=CNqOzo2f_60CFUSo4AodHhqqrw" target="_blank">Boots</a></p> <p> <strong>MyDaily verdict:</strong> &quot;It adds a touch of colour when you need it first thing in the morning and actually made me look human at 4am which was very impressive!&quot;</p>
    Rimmel Wake Me Up
  • Estee Lauder Invisible Fluid Makeup
    <p> <strong>Product:</strong> Estee Lauder Invisible Fluid Makeup</p> <p> <strong>Claims to:</strong> <span class="info-title" id="Beauty_TabbedContainer_rptTabContent_ctl00_lblTabContentMain">&quot;Fresh, flawless, radiant. Ultra light, ultra breathable, oil-free. It will change how you feel about makeup forever&quot;.</span></p> <p> <strong>Price:</strong> &pound;27 from <a href="http://www.johnlewis.com/" target="_blank">John Lewis</a></p> <p> <strong>Our verdict:</strong> &quot;This foundation ticks all the boxes - it absorbs into the skin easily and provides full coverage whilst feeling &quot;invisible&quot; rather than heavy on the face. A winner in the luxury price bracket. Just remember to shake the bottle before use to avoid a watery texture&quot;.</p>
    Estee Lauder Invisible Fluid Makeup
  • Lancome Teint Idole Ultra
    <p> <strong>Product:</strong> <span class="title" id="Beauty_lblTitle">Lancome Teint Idole Ultra 24H</span></p> <p> <strong>Claims to: </strong><span class="info-title" id="Beauty_TabbedContainer_rptTabContent_ctl00_lblTabContentMain">&quot;Teint Idole Ultra 24H remains retouch-free, providing a flawless looking, even complexion with a velvety-smooth, shine-free finish&quot;.</span></p> <p> <strong>Price:</strong> &pound;27 from <a href="http://shopping.mydaily.co.uk/redirect.php?prodID=70808233&amp;pID=8143&amp;dest=http://www.awin1.com%2Fawclick.php%3Fmid%3D3100%26id%3D126863%26clickref%3D%26p%3Dhttp%253a%252f%252fwww.ist-track.com%252fProcessClick.ashx%253fcompanyId%253d17910aed-1bae-4362-9580-b523eb87a91e%2526itemId%253dwwxltpai%2526bid%253dt%2526affiliateCompanyId%253Dc35abe1f-3be3-45e0-bc66-7d104d67d479%25" target="_blank">House of Fraser</a></p> <p> <strong>MyDaily verdict:</strong> &quot;Lancome's new foundation really does provide flawless coverage: it blends well, and leaves a practically-invisible matte finish that's soft to touch. But it can be a tad drying, so great if you have oily skin, but not so good if you suffer from dry skin. It's also quite heavily fragranced &ndash; a little too much for me. But if you can put up with that, then it's highly recommended&quot;.</p>
    Lancome Teint Idole Ultra

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