I've tried a bunch of different foundations throughout the years and like many I'm still on the search for the holy grail , which I don't think I've found yet. I like mostly medium to full coverage foundation with a matte finish but I don't mind a dewy finish either as long as the coverage is good I'll admit I've spent a lot on money on foundations just because I read in a magazine that a certain celebrity uses it, and I've learned that it's not a wise thing to do because sometimes it won't work for you. Here are a few that I've tried :
1. Estee Lauder Individualist,
This is now discontinued sadly, I had purchased this in 2006 I think on holiday and I really did like it. I ended up with a shade that was a bit too dark and that was the only downpoint. The foundation was really creamy and blended into my skin nicely it was more a dewy finish on me but I didn't mind. It also had great coverage medium-buildable.
2. Clinique Superbalanced,
Where to start with this? I got a sample of it in a magazine once and loved it, again it was kinda dewy and creamy. It made my skin look amazing whilst still giving enough coverage. However I decided to purchase the full size a few months later it was a different story. I felt the formula was watery and did not offer good coverage at all, it took about 3 applications for me to get comfortable with it. So I was very disappointed with that.
3. MAC Studio Fix Fluid,
This is my current foundation, this is also the second bottle I've purchased. I always have the same experience at MAC, I go in to get color matched and in the store it looks fab then I go home and see that I look like an oompa loompa! but it's not that bad I got myself a lighter shade and use ONLY the amount I need. That's the only way it will look natural, it offers good coverage but does accentuate dry patches, so keep your face well moisturized.
4. Clinique Perfectly Real,
My first foundation that I ever bought, it has a special place in my heart. I would say I've easily bought 6-7 bottles since I started this, it's a great foundation it blends in very good and it's the only foundation I've noticed that really covers blemishes so concealer is not really necessary. The only thing is that it has some sort of pink undertone and I didn't really notice it until I saw myself in pictures, so that was the only thing and even using this every day the foundation lasted about 6 months.
5. MAC Select SPF 15,
I bought this last year and somehow was color matched to NC 30! ( I'm more of an NC 40 in real life) It looked good in the store but it was definitely too light. Never trust the lighting in these stores they will mess you up. The foundation itself to me was nothing special. The coverage was really not that great too, it was more like a tinted moisturizer and it was neither dewy nor matte so really NOT SPECIAL! will not purchase. again.