Today I’m sharing an updated basic roundup of my top favorites! I love testing new foundations, powers and concealers and lately I’ve been more interested in glow boosters and complexion enhancers.
This is what I loved. If you’re like me and find that your favorite foundations sometimes feel a little thick, heavy, or don’t blend well, I have some tricks and tips for you to try!
Foundation
I like my foundation to look like skin, only better, but I still need some coverage. I have a lot of sun spots and my skin is prone to redness, so I look for medium coverage formulas to even out the skin.
Dior Forever Skin Perfect Foundation ($57, Nordstrom) is the best stick foundation I’ve tried. It blends easily, looks very natural, doesn’t feel heavy on the skin and I love the way it looks. Coverage is easy to check. I tried the hack of mixing this with the Rhode Glazing Milk and it’s really 10/10 worth a try. I mix shades because I’m usually between Dior shades, I’ve tried 2.5N, 2W and 3N. Right now I’m mixing one of the 2s with 3 for my perfect match. In action here.
Chanel Les Beiges Healthy Glow Foundation ($69, Chanel) has been a favorite for so many years that I’ve lost count of how many bottles I’ve repurchased. My best match is BD41 and this golden undertone match is the best skin match I have ever tried. I love that they have a good color range and different undertone options. They recently started adding BO which is more olive and it’s really good tones without being too green/pale if that makes sense. This has a natural glossy coverage, moisturizes, is long-lasting and easy to blend.
Armani Luminous Silk Foundation ($69, Nordstrom and Sephora) in the new formula is tied with Chanel. Comparing the two, I think the new Armani formula feels a little lighter (thinner) and the coverage is a little more sheer, but still medium and shimmery. I wear Shade 6.5 in this formula. In action here.
It Cosmetics CC+ Nude Glow ($47, Sephora and Ulta) is the best CC cream I’ve tried. Most CC creams tend to be very thick and this is the thinnest I’ve tried, which allows my skin to breathe easier in humid weather. It’s still creamy and slightly thick compared to other bases, but it’s like the skin tone version of a CC cream. I love that it has SPF 40. It’s perfect for every day, at the beach, bike rides, pretty much any occasion.
Concealer
I actually skip concealer most days, but I still reach for it when I’m going to an event or a special night out. I love testing new formulas and I know a lot of you don’t like wearing a lot of face makeup, just a little bit of concealer on top of a tinted moisturizer.
Classics like NARS, Hourglass and Tarte are still incredible formulas, but these days I reach for YSL, Chanel or Natasha Denona.
The YSL Touche Eclat ($40, Sephora) is still the best brightening concealer for under eyes. This works for me because I don’t have many dark circles under my eyes. Sometimes I just want a little brightening and I love the consistency of this one. I wear color 3.
Chanel recently launched a new concealer formula, the Ultra Le Teint Correcteur Concealer ($53, Chanel) and this is the first concealer from Chanel that has worked for me. I love their foundations, but I never really liked their concealers. This is thin but easy to blend. I’ve tried a few different shades and I like B40 or BD41 the best. For concealers, I tend to like them a bit more peachy or neutral on the eyes. This is very similar to the Prada formula, but I have a slight preference for Chanel because of the color match that suits me. You can see it in action here.
Natasha Denona Hy-Glam ($32, Sephora) is the best full-coverage creamy concealer I can wear under the eyes or to conceal. It is creamy, mixes well, does not cake and lasts a long time. 10/10 love this.
Complexion Enhancers/Glow Boosters
I always thought mixing glow products wasn’t necessary for me. Nowadays, a foundation can sometimes feel too heavy or too thick. Or sometimes my skin is extra dry and the foundation doesn’t blend as it should, but at the same time I don’t want a heavier moisturizer underneath. I have found some incredible complexion blenders or glow boosters.
Armani Fluid Sheer ($43, Nordstrom) is a classic. I don’t really use these as a highlighter as they are too sheer once blended. I prefer to mix them with a foundation and I love it Shadow 10 because it is golden but pure. It gives a very nice glow to the skin. The only downside is that it is incredibly pricey to mix with foundation regularly.
One/Size Base Thinner ($36, Sephora) is a recent discovery in the Bronze Pearl shade and I am 100% obsessed. I love the shade and the way it adds the perfect amount of glow to the skin. It blends very well with foundations and the shine is perfect. Not too shiny, not too emollient, not too sheer – just perfect. I also really want to try the Pink Pearl formula. The skin looks fresh and radiant without being overdone.
L’Oreal True Match Lumi Glotion ($17.99, Ulta) is a classic and budget-friendly. I like that they have different shades. I’ve tried several and love them. It really is a great multitasker. You can wear it as a primer under your foundation, mix it with your base, or use it on top to add a little shine.
Saie Glowy Super Gel ($29, Sephora) is another great multi-purpose relief. I’ve tried this a few ways, but my favorite way to wear this is mixing it with foundation. I really love this mixed with the Armani Luminous Silk Foundation. I have tried all the shades and Roseglow is my favorite. I think this is best for dry skin, but it is not heavy. It has a slightly transparent quality to it with the gel formula which I love.
Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Flawless Filter ($50, Sephora) is the OG glow booster. There are so many dupes of this, some are very good, but I have to give a shout out to the original innovator. I love this and I still think it’s worth the splurge. If you think this is too shimmery for you, I also love her Unreal Skin Sheer Glow Tint Foundation Stick as an alternative.
Sarah Creal Today’s Highlights Peptide Balm Luminizer ($55, Sephora and Sarah Creal) is my favorite cream highlighter of the moment. I know many of you love the dewy highlighters like those from Westman Atelier, Chanel and Merit etc. I love the look of so many of these, but having always lived somewhere warm – a few hours of wear time = oily mess. The Sarah Creal version looks more natural, but the formula is elite! It gives that light from within glow.
Rhode Glazing Milk ($20-32, Sephora and Rhode) is 10/10 a must for dry skin. I don’t think you need super dry skin to use it. I love this mixed with foundations so they blend better on the skin if they look or feel too heavy.
Contour/Bronzer
After all these years of trying makeup, I have to admit that I still don’t like contouring. I prefer a subtle cream bronzer with a bit of warmth, as cool tones tend to clash with my skin tone. These are the most natural looking ones I’ve tried.
Makeup by Mario SoftSculpt Transforming Skin Enhancer ($34, Sephora) is my favorite cream bronzer with a soothing texture and a sheer finish. I find it a bit too creamy to wear on its own, so I usually use a powder blush or bronzer, but I love this to add warmth to the skin. I have tried both Medium and Medium Dark. Swatches here.
Merit Bronze Balm Sheer Sculpting Bronzer ($32, Sephora) is best for super dry skin or if you want something super sheer or sultry. It goes on very sheer once blended, but I love the warmth and super natural look it gives to the skin.
Dior Forever Skin Bronze Bronzing Stick Balm ($52, Nordstrom) is another great skin-like bronzer. This is probably my favorite bronzing stick that still looks very natural on the skin. I can wear 02, 03 or 04 – I think the shades are quite easy to wear. It has a satin finish that resembles skin. I really love that this is a non-dewy option that isn’t too matte. Swatches here.
Powder
Last but not least, a quick shoutout to my go-to setting powder at the moment. I used to be a pressed powder person, but for the past few years I’ve almost exclusively used the Laura Mercier Loose Setting Powders ($26-$48, Nordstrom) in a puff. The lasting power is much better with a powder and I think hers is the best for looking natural.
Tools
Quick shoutout to my favorite foundation brushes. I love the ones from It Cosmetics, Hourglass, Fenty, Laura Mercier. For concealer I swear by Hourglass and Real Techniques.
These are my current favorites! What are your favorites?
