We all have different preferences when it comes to foundation depending on our skin type. As much as I love my drugstore makeup, my foundation is one product I don’t mind splurging on and, if I have the funds, I tend to go high-end. I gravitate towards matte, high coverage, long wearing foundations that will keep my combination skin shine-free for as long as possible. Right now, for example, I’m currently loving my Lancome Ultra Teint Idole Foundation and lusting over the new YSL All Hours Liquid Foundation. Sometimes, however, I feel that constantly wearing high-coverage matte foundations can take a toll on my skin. On days where I’m heading to the softplay with Penny, mucking about in the garden or nipping into town for some groceries, I find myself reaching for lighter more fuss-free base products to let my skin breathe. These are some of my favourite no-makeup makeup products for days I want a natural looking skin…
The La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo+ Unifiant Light (£16.50) acts like a tinted moisturiser, however, it targets the key signs of oily, blemish-prone skin whilst refining the skin’s texture, controlling the appearance of shine and unclogging pores. It gives sheer and lightweight coverage whilst slightly blurring out imperfections and hydrating the skin. It’s great for when my skin is breaking out and I don’t have the confidence to go completely makeup-free. It might be a touch too dark for really pale skin. It blends out flawlessly and a little goes a long way but I’d still have those trusty shade adjusting drops at the ready just in case. My only criticism is that I’m really not a fan of its scent and it’s the only product out the three that doesn’t contain SPF.
Unfortunately, the Bourjois 123 Perfect Colour Correcting Cream (£9.99) also comes in a limited shade availability but with a little help from The Body Shop, it helps give my skin a healthy luminous glow without looking or feeling greasy. It’s very runny but sinks into my skin effortlessly. It contains SPF 15 and three colour correcting pigments which help combat fatigue, redness, and dark spots.
The Gosh All-In-One BB Cream (£9.99) is formulated with mineral pigments that adapt and blend into your natural skin tone and is the lightest of the three. It evens out any redness, helps control shine and blurs visible pores. It claims to act as a primer, moisturiser and foundation all in one, while I personally think its coverage is way too sheer to be considered a foundation, it does hydrate and create a smooth, even base to apply makeup on top of if you wish. It contains SPF 15 and is cruelty-free.
I must also give an honourable mention to my MAC Lightful C Tinted Cream with Radiance Booster (£26). I finished this product many months ago and even though I’ve yet to replace it, I do believe that it’s one of MAC more underrated hidden gems. I never read anything about it but its subtle tint enhances the skins natural radiance whilst camouflaging imperfections, neutralising redness and protecting the skin with SPF 30.
What your favourite foundation alternative for no-makeup makeup days?
