Ranking 2019 Foundation Releases
If 2018 was the year of the eyeshadow palette than the first half of 2019 was the season of the foundation. You couldn’t throw a stick without hitting a new foundation release. Next to eyeshadow palettes, foundations are the makeup product I buy the most of. I love trying new formulas. And so I wasn’t torn up about all of the releases. But it was still a LOT to keep up with. A prime example of this is how long it has taken me to get this post up. I was originally going to post in July. JULY. But then more foundations came out and I decided to wait. This isn’t a comprehensive list. I didn’t purchase every single foundation released this year because that’s just cray. I purchase the ones that interested me the most. And a lot of them happen to be some of the most popular or talked about releases of the year. I have worn most of these foundations enough times to get a real sense of how they apply, wear and what skin type they work best with. I also want to remind you that everyone’s skin is different. What worked for me may not work for you and vice versa. This list is purely based on my skin and how it worked with the listed foundations.
7. Juvia’s Place I Am Magic (not pictured)
I hated this foundation. I hated it so much I actually forgot to add it to the pic above. Juvia's Place boasts a large shade range but somehow I wound up buying the wrong shade- TWICE. I’ve gotten pretty good at picking out foundation shades but not with this one (or the one right above it on the list). I almost didn’t add this one to the list at all because I had it on for exactly 20 minutes. That’s how much I hated it. I didn’t even leave my house in it. It was so heavy and cake-y and dry looking on my skin. And I don’t have dry skin! I felt like I was wearing a mask that’s how thick this formula is. So yeah…this was my least favorite foundation of 2019. Hands down.
6. Dose of Colors Meet Your Hue Foundation
Dose of Colors is one of my favorite makeup brands. Their liquid lipstick formula is my favorite and their eyeshadow formula is one of the best on the market. But this foundation…was one of my least favorite of the year. First off - despite having over 30 shades I couldn’t seem to my find a good match for my skin tone. Like I said above, I am pretty good at picking out foundation shades but this one stumped me. The shade that I wound up ordering, Medium Tan 123, was entirely too orange and dark. All of the shades seem to lean incredibly warm. And so I wore this exactly once. And I didn’t like the formula. It feel drying and reminded me of how matte foundations used to look before companies learned that no one wants to look like the Crypt Keeper. It just looked and felt flat on my skin.
5. Pat McGrath Skin Fetish Sublime Perfection Foundation
This foundation divided homes and tore apart families. Just kidding. But it did cause quite a rift among those who either loved it or thought that it was overrated and overpriced. I am smack dab in between both. Yes I do think it’s overpriced. But I also don’t hate it. I just don’t love it. It is a sheer to light medium coverage foundation which is why I think some people who prefer fuller coverage disliked it. But if you like a foundation that looks and feels like skin and is so light that it doesn’t feel like you’re wearing anything, then this may be a great option for you. The shade range of this foundation is fantastic. There were actually two shades that would have worked for me but I opted for shade Medium 117. The biggest drawback for me and why I would never wear this foundation on a regular basis is the fact that it contains alcohol. I was disappointed when I saw this on the ingredients list. As someone with sensitive skin wearing a product with alcohol in it day in and day out is no bueno. But during the summer months I did reach for this at least once a week. I feel like this foundation was made for people with good to great skin who don’t need to cover any blemishes. If you do - this isn’t the foundation for you.
4. Shiseido Synchro Skin-Refreshing Foundation
This is the newest addition to my foundation collection. I have been wearing it pretty much everyday since I purchased it in mid-November. I want to like this foundation more than I do. I had heard so many amazing things about it but the first few times I wore I was an oily mess by the end of the day, which puzzled me because it’s not marketed as a matte foundation and my skin simply doesn’t get overly oily anymore. I tried it with my regular Milk Hydrogrip Primer and it was a no go. I then tried it with Too Faced Hangover Primer which was a little better but not by much. I then tried it with a primer that I purchased not too long ago but haven’t used very often, CoverFX Gripping Primer. And so far the combo has been working well. I also use my Too Faced Peach Perfect setting powder with it and of the setting powders I own this works the best. The shade range is good, I wear 360 Citrine and it’s a great match. I do still feel like I get oily quicker and more with this foundation overall but it isn’t a bad foundation and I do like the finish of it on my skin. It ranks solidly in the middle of the pack for me.
3. Fenty Pro Filt’r Hydrating Foundation
A hydrating foundation is the last thing I normally would reach for. They tend to be too dewy for my oily skin. But this one? I love it. It isn’t dewy at all. It is a natural almost satin finish. Which is my favorite finish as it’s the most skin-like. But it also provides fantastic coverage and the shades correlate to the original Matte Pro Filt’r foundation. I actually like this formula much more than the matte formula. If the word “hydrating” scared you off from trying this, don’t let it. It’s a beautiful foundation that wears really really well. I wore this for nearly 12 hours and it looked AMAZING at the end of the day.
2. Anastasia Beverly Hills Luminous Foundation
Don’t let the word “Luminous” foundation fool you. Like the Fenty “Hydrating” foundation this formula is much more of a natural satin finish than a dewy “luminous” one. This was my summer foundation. I wore it nearly every day during the work week because I loved how it lasted and looked on my skin. I would probably still be reaching for it if I hadn’t started using my L’Oreal Infallible Fresh Wear foundation again. I wouldn’t say the formulas are similar - but both last really well on my skin. The coverage of this is Medium to Full. I can’t say how well this builds; I apply my foundations with a brush so I tend to get pretty decent coverage right off the bat. And then I simply go over any areas that need a bit more coverage. I wore this foundation during the height of summer. 90 degree days - and my foundation still looked amazing. That’s pretty impressive.
1. Kevyn Aucoin Foundation Balm
Ah -my controversial first choice for my favorite foundation of 2019. People either loved or hated this foundation. And it really all depended on your skin type. I would say if you are dry - avoid this foundation like the plague. But normal, combo or oily? This foundation is stunning. It gives the skin an amazing velvet-y finish without looking heavy or cakey. The coverage is a nice medium-full which could probably be built up. The formula is so unique and different from anything I’ve ever tried before. A lightweight “balm” that applies evenly to the skin with no streaks or weird patches. This is the foundation I wore during the summer on the weekends. I would wear this when I wanted coverage but also wanted to rock a “no makeup” makeup look. My only gripe with this foundation is the way the shades are presented online. I originally got shade-matched on the Sephora website. Which kept telling me that I was shade Medium EF08. Which just didn’t seem right. I felt like I was probably Medium EF10. But I decided to trust the system and order that shade. When it first arrived and I opened the package I was relieved. The shade looked perfect in the pan. Until I actually applied it. And then I looked like Caspar the Friendly Ghost. It was a good 2-3 shades lighter than it looked in the pan. I wound up exchanging the shade in person at Sephora and getting shade matched to…you guessed it. Medium EF10. NEVER TRUST THE SYSTEM FOLKS. But honestly - get shade matched with this foundation in person if you can. The formula makes it appear darker in the pan that it is on the skin.
Did you try any of the foundations released this year? If so, what was your favorite? Let me know in the comments.
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