Porcelain Beauties: Rants and Raves for foundations

[innocent]

such a great topic

i had many problems with this, i am super pale, so pale, people can't believe it's natural

soooo, for years i used l'oreal's fluid foundation, brightest one, it is very sheer, and it was good for everyday look etc.
after that i needed something of better quality, and i purchased subli'mine from givenchy, also nice, a bit yellowish, but sheerness lights it enough for day looks.
now i'm using shiseido smoothing veil, it's primer and it's great. it's completely white and mixes with complexion in a great way. since i have it, i don't wear liquid foundation on a daily basis.
however, when i want more coverage, i put subli'mine over it and then shiseido luminizing pressed powder 01 (three shades of white) all over my face. it's very translucent, so i need a lot of it to get that extra drama effect.
i also found that chanel's vitalumiere in 010 suits me great!
sisley also has some very light foundations, but they're prices are beyond my universe.
so, i'm still in search of something creamy, white and with some coverage, to use for night looks and special occasions (i'm goth)
i saw that MAC PRO has full coverage foundation in white, but here, in croatia, we don't have MAC and i can't order this form anywhere...
but it's probably usefull information for you lucky girls

(i forgot to mention that all shades of MAC and Shiseido are too dark for me, and i have neutral white skin shade normal to dry)

 

[Winthrop44]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Raevyn I did go into the city yesterday and had a look at Laura Mercier, and I think I've found my foundation. The girl did a little test spot on me, and the Silk Creme foundation in the new shade of soft ivory is an almost perfect match, and it feels so beautiful on as well. Plus the translucent powder seems to actually be translucent - who knew! I got a sample, so it will be interesting to see what a full face feels like. Definitely worth checking out.

I am wearing LM Silk Creme in Soft Ivory today and love it. My best matches in liquid foundations are the LM, Prescriptives Virtual Skin Real Ecru and Stila Oil-Free in A (but this last one is a tad too light, which is pretty amazing).

 

[Raevyn]

Quote:

Quote: Originally Posted by Raevyn I did go into the city yesterday and had a look at Laura Mercier, and I think I've found my foundation. The girl did a little test spot on me, and the Silk Creme foundation in the new shade of soft ivory is an almost perfect match, and it feels so beautiful on as well. Plus the translucent powder seems to actually be translucent - who knew! I got a sample, so it will be interesting to see what a full face feels like. Definitely worth checking out. I am wearing LM Silk Creme in Soft Ivory today and love it. My best matches in liquid foundations are the LM, Prescriptives Virtual Skin Real Ecru and Stila Oil-Free in A (but this last one is a tad too light, which is pretty amazing).

I ended up buying the Silk Creme in Soft Ivory, the translucent setting powder, the primer and the Secret camouflage in SC-1. Perfect tonal match, feels so nice on the skin, and has staying power like nothing else (it stayed during a full on teary I had with my mum in a shopping centre car park after we got some bad news, no tear tracks, no red blotchy skin, perfect!)
The only thing I've found is that I need to keep my skin very well moisturised as it seems to be a bit powdery in some place - just the crevices on the nose and just under my lip.
THe stila oil free in A was a great match for me too, but it felt a little sheer for my tastes - I like medium to full coverage that is buildable. I can always make a foundation sheerer, but I can't build something that's not meant to be built.

 

[FemmeFroufrou]

Re: When NW15 is too dark: Foundation help

Quote:

Originally Posted by redhead2000 I wore NW15 for two years, but one day I noticed I looked orange. I went to Sephora and they tried a zillion shades. Finally, I found my HG foundation--Vincent Longo Healthy Skin in Porcelain. It is about $50, but well worth it. I don't know why MAC can't make a lighter shade.

Becasue Estee Lauder owns them. The first thing EL does when it takes over a cosmetic company is discontinue the pale shades since they sell the least. (EL pushes for individual product profit, not just overall profit.) Can't say I blame them--all the great pale shades (Prescriptives extra light warm, Aveda Linen, etc) barely sold before they got d/c. It's the consumer who is at fault. If I got $1 for every woman who I see wearing a foundation shade too dark for them I'd be a multi millionaire.

Has anyone ever noticed how east asian women's foundation usually match extremelly well? I blame the whole tan mind-set and fashion.

 

[FemmeFroufrou]

Quote:

Originally Posted by TeaCup Has anyone noticed runway models are paler than Morticia Adams?! What do THEY use?

Bright lights.

Models, with very few exceptions, won't make it to the runway or to the top (for that matter) if they have pale skins. It's more difficult to do pale skin make up (asymmetry is more evident) and there is a tendency for their skins to photograph unevenly. Medium to dark fair with deep yellow/golden tones is the cookie cutter model formula.

 

[fafinette21]

I have been thinking of trying the MUFE Mat Velvet since it's coming up on cooler months and my NW15 will be too orange for me then. I'm wondering, it's more of a cream than a liquid right? Or at least that's what it appears to me, so how do all of you apply it? Foundation brush, kabuki, 187? Love for some input

 

[Brittni]

Fafi, I'd blend with a kabuki.

 

[Simply Elegant]

Quote:

Originally Posted by fafinette21 I have been thinking of trying the MUFE Mat Velvet since it's coming up on cooler months and my NW15 will be too orange for me then. I'm wondering, it's more of a cream than a liquid right? Or at least that's what it appears to me, so how do all of you apply it? Foundation brush, kabuki, 187? Love for some input

It's a liquid but it's a pretty thick liquid. SFF's texture is quite similar if that helps at all.

I've tried using a 187 dupe, a regular foundation brush and a kabuki and they all work well. Kabuki gives the nicest finish because I have to use the least amount of foundation and just a tiny bit gives me medium coverage. I have to work fast with this foundation and take longer to apply with the 187 so it's harder to blend with that brush if you're not used to it, but if you are, it gives a really nice finish and the regular foundation brush gives more coverage so you need less and for me it ends up looking more natural because I'm more used to using that sort of brush.

Also, for anyone looking for a light coverage, inexpensive foundation, Maybelline's pure makeup is good and they're light 1 shade is around NC15, it's just a bit lighter on me.

 

[Heiaken]

Right now I'm a pretty good match to SFF NC15 (the NW just makes me look like a little piggie..), but I fear that when winter comes that'll be a tad too dark for me. But luckily I'm one of those persons who tan really easily despite being fair skinned so my arms are always a bit darker than my face so with blending the foundation to my neck I can pretty much fool the colour mismatch as I don't really show cleavage on the winter (it's just too damn cold in here.).

 

[browneyedbaby]

Does anyone use MUFE Face and Body who's an NC15 in SFF? Anys shade recs? Really want to try it!

 

[fafinette21]

Does Sephora give samples like MAC does? I hate trying on foundation in a store, I would much rather try it at home to see how it looks in different lighting.

 

[laperle]

I'm a NW15, but I highly recommend Diorskin Forever in 010 (mine is 020, a bit dark for me, but it works), which is lighter than MAC's 15.

I really like Dior's foundations. They're more expensive but my skin seems to really get along with them.

 

[Winthrop44]

Have any NC15's (or a bit lighter) tried MUFE HD liquid? I'd like to give it a try but don't know what shade.

 

[NoAddedSugar]

I keep changing my mind about what looks good and what doesn't.
I can pick foundation for someone else no problem IRL but for myself

I think I love something and then suddenly I think the colour is all wrong or the texture or the wearability.

So frustrating! I know a lot of it is in my head. I am just no able to be realistic and objective with my own face.

 

[Kiss and Makeup]

Quote:

Originally Posted by fafinette21 Does Sephora give samples like MAC does? I hate trying on foundation in a store, I would much rather try it at home to see how it looks in different lighting.

MAC's given me pigment samples before, so I know they give samples. I'm heading there after work to replace a blush/trade in for a free eyeshadow!/ask about foundations/tinted moisturizers. They have containers, and I don't see WHY they wouldn't let you take a sample home. Their light's good, but completely different from home/work/outside. As soon as I leave the store, things look different.

If they don't let you take it home, try this. Have them put it on you (either all over or on your jawline) and wear it around for a bit. I hear some of them tend to "warm up" (read "change color"). Wear it around, outside, home, whatever, and see if you like the color.

edit - OMG I'm completely stupid! I misread that.

YES! Sephora does give samples. I'm on my way there tonight (thankfully MAC and Sephora are REALLY close to each other in the same mall), and I've walked out with numerous samples. You have to ask, and I don't know how many they'd give out, but it's worth a shot! I'm hoping for 3 or 4..I'm looking for a new tinted moisturizer AND foundation!

 

[ktdetails]

Bobbi Brown's Stick Foundation in Porcelain 0 is the best color match I've found.
Her Alabaster 00 shade - matched my neck but made me look dead. The porcelain shade works best.
It's not orange, it's not brown, it's not pink.
It's fleshy pale yellow.
(I'm norweigan/irish - pale - with ruddy cheeks)
The yellow cancels my pink cheeks.

I'm thinking about trying Laura Mercier's primer underneath to give it something to hold on to.
It's a very creamy foundation.

MAC - too dark/ brown
Laura Mercier - too dark/yellow brown
MakeUpForever - too dark/pink or brown
Smashbox - too dark/brown
Dior - too dark/orange
Prescriptives - too pink

 

[Siobhan]

Hi all, So I can empathise 100% with this problem.
I'm Irish, pale is an overstatment although I've yellow undertones, and my biggest problem is that I've freckles on my face but not really on my neck and chest so to match everything up I have to lighten my face up without looking washed out which is a task when you've dark hair!
So I work with make-up forever and of they're foundations the best shades are no. 115 in the H.D range though I sometimes mix in a bit of no. 110 (The lightest) for during the day.
The Mat Velvet in no. 15 is uber pale but definately only for the oily of skin as it's definately drying.
In face and body the no. 20 (Ivory) is pretty much the palest but even then not pale enough.
Liduid Lift which is for slightly drier skins is great in no.'s 1 and 11 (most of the mufe foundations aren't in numerical order which can be confusing).
Full cover no. 2 is super pale for the creamiest of skin tones, I use no. 4 which is slightly cool toned and no. 6 is ever so slightly warmer.
Like most of ye, I love M.A.C but also find most of the shades too dark with the only exception of mineralize satin finish nc 15.
A decent irish brand called Kohl. have a good range,( I suppose they realise they have to have paler shades being an Irish brand!) and I use the shade Linen of the matte foundation which at the moment is my favourite as it is totally neutral and is the most beautiful creamy colour (real cream that is, not like the often sandy coloured "creams" of other foundations) and it's not at all too white.
Finally, for summer when I'm ever so slightly more yellow I use Bobbi Brown Moisture Rich foundation in alabaster which has a lovely texture!

 

[Simply Elegant]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Winthrop44 Have any NC15's (or a bit lighter) tried MUFE HD liquid? I'd like to give it a try but don't know what shade.

My skin is neutral with slight yellowish tones and I matched with 117.

 

[Anemone]

I'm starting to think that buying a white foundation and then just using it to lighten regular foundations is the best way to go...

Though it's a bit annoying to always have to use two different ones!

 

[clwkerric]

Ughh... does anyone else find that the MAC foundation/powder makes you look like a pale ghost when you take pictures?

I asked an artist and they said something in the formula attracts light and that's why your face looks so pale in pictures. Am I the only one absolutely getting annoyed by this?? lol