My Summer Foundation Wardrobe
It’s officially summer (though it’s been pretty hot here in Chicago since early May) and I’ve been rocking a more minimal base. I’ve actually been wearing a more minimal base for a while now and have been really loving it. I used to be a full coverage, matte foundation kind of girl. But since lockdown and the Panorama my tastes have changed. I don’t sit in an office under bright hot office lights anymore, or commute. I no longer wear primer and setting spray since I don’t need my makeup to hold up for 10-12 hours a day.
I also have been enjoying how my skin looks without such full coverage. I recently decluttered my foundation collection and got rid of most of them. I wanted to start fresh. There were two reasons for this: my skin tone has changed a bit and I wanted to bring in lighter coverage, more glow, and more natural-looking options. This was spurred on by one of the makeup projects that I began earlier this year, my 12 in 12 project. I wanted to use 1 of my foundations every month for an entire year. I was about 3 months into this project when I realized it just wasn’t going to work for the above-mentioned reasons. And so the declutter happened and I decided to search for new foundations that would suit me now.
LYS Beauty Triple Fix Serum Foundation
I wasn’t originally going to purchase this foundation. One because I didn’t think it would work for my skin type and second because someone mentioned to me that it was incredibly similar to the Anastasia Beverly Hills Luminous Foundation, which I own and is a personal favorite. But my curiosity won out and I purchased it earlier this month. I can see where the comparisons to the ABH come from. Their textures and the way they apply are similar. But on the skin, I find it looks and wears differently for me. It feels lighter on the skin and isn’t as luminous. It also doesn’t have as much coverage. But in the handful of times that I have used it, I have liked it. I actually prefer it to the ABH for the summer months because it is lighter overall. And at $22 it is about half the price of the ABH as well.
Tarte Hydroflex Serum Foundation
I purchased the Tarte Hydroflex Serum Foundation at the same time as the LYS Beauty Foundation and I have been alternating between the two. I would say at this point that I enjoy them equally. The Tarte has medium coverage but feels light and soft on the skin. It looks skin-like. The finish is natural. I enjoy the way this wears over time as well. I’ve taken naps wearing this and it managed to still look pretty good.
L’Oreal Age Perfect Serum Foundation
Another new addition. Of the three new additions - all of which has the word “serum” in the name- this one is the most “serum” like in texture. It’s not watery - think of a more bouncy gel-like serum. The color on this one is a tad light (it will work for in the winter but I need the next shade up for the summer months), so I haven’t worn it as much as the other two but I have enjoyed it the few times I have. I love the glow that it gives to the skin and the coverage is buildable. You can apply it lightly and then build it up in places you feel you need more coverage. Of the three this is the one that makes my skin the oiliest over time and I do find myself powdering my T-zone halfway throughout the day. This used to bother me about foundations, but now I don’t mind it. The wear is good and even after it’s been powdered it doesn’t look cakey.
My OG serum foundation. This is the first serum foundation I ever tried and it is serum-like in the traditional sense. Very water and light on the skin. The coverage is perhaps the lightest of all of them (with one exception). This is truly a your skin but better foundation. It won’t cover any blemishes, but it will even out the skin with a natural finish.
Pat McGrath Sublime Perfection Foundation
I would say that this is almost light in coverage as the TO foundation, but it builds up a tad more. But not by much. I have mixed feelings about this foundation. I don’t think it’s bad. I think it’s a nice light-coverage natural finish foundation. But it’s also the most expensive of all of my foundations and I don’t think it’s any better than the ones previously mentioned. It’s a good solid foundation. But not a spectacular one. I added it to this list because I do enjoy wearing it during the summer months and it serves a purpose for me. But it’s not one of my favorites.
Anastasia Beverly Hills Luminous Foundation
A personal favorite. Of all the foundations on the list, this one is probably the “heaviest”. And when I say that I mean that it’s the one that will give you the most coverage. It’s also the one that is the most makeup looking as well. But I still love it. It gives a beautiful glow to the skin and is medium buildable coverage. This is the foundation that has gotten me compliments on my skin multiple times. It’s that extra bit of coverage but isn’t mask-like. It really kind of straddles the line between if you want more coverage but still want your skin to look like skin. And because it has more coverage than the others, I feel it also lasts a bit longer. If you are going to an event (now that the world is opening back up) and need something that will last, but won’t feel mask like or heavy this is a great option.
What are some of your favorite foundations for summer? Let me know in the comments!
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