In the search for the perfect foundation, I recently shared my thoughts on 15 of the best and worst affordable foundation options. Now, it’s time for the "spendy" version - with products on the more luxe end of the scale.
As a reminder, I have normal skin and can make most foundations work. For the purpose of these reviews, there were no touch-ups throughout the day, and while they definitely performed better overall than the “savey” options, it was still a mixed bag with hits and misses in each group.
I tried to use as many assorted brands as I could, utilising what I had in my stash and what testers I could get in store, but you will see I do have one brand that I favour, with three products included in this list.
Now, let’s dive into the “spendy” foundations I tried this month!
By Terry Hyaluronic Hydra Foundation SPF30, $88.
Finish: Buildable, light-to-full coverage/natural finish.
Wearing: By Terry Hyaluronic Hydra Foundation SPF30. (Image: Supplied by Teresa McNamara).
Wearing: Hyaluronic Hydra Foundation SPF30. (Image supplied by Teresa McNamara).
Infused with hyaluronic acid, By Terry Hyaluronic Hydra Foundation is particularly good for dry and mature skin with light-reflecting pigments. With this you can get sheer, medium, or high coverage.
It was hydrating and wore beautifully on my skin all throughout the day, only starting to break down after 13 hours of wear. A big tick from me.
Chantecaille Future Skin Gel Foundation, $120.
Finish: Medium coverage/natural dewy finish.
Full of natural botanicals including aloe, chamomile and arnica, this is fantastic for sensitive skin. The formula felt amazing on application.
While it looked beautiful in the morning, the formula completely broke down around my nose and disappeared by the end of the day, which was a let-down (noting it was a 12 hour day).
Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Foundation, $65.
Finish: Full coverage/matte finish.
Charlotte has a lot of claims with this particular product. In fact, all of her products. Marketing needs to calm TF down.
It claims to be flawless and poreless, and it is, BUT I found that for me it oxidises significantly while drying. It can look heavy if you haven’t prepped your skin well.
If you have dry skin, I'd suggest this one is not for you.
Chanel No 1 de Chanel Revitalising Foundation, $110.
Finish: Sheer-to-medium coverage/dewy luminous finish.
Wearing: Chanel N°1 De Chanel Revitalizing Foundation. (Image supplied by Teresa McNamara).
Wearing: Chanel N°1 De Chanel Revitalizing Foundation. (Image supplied by Teresa McNamara).
Containing 97 per cent naturally derived ingredients and 76 per cent camellia-derived ingredients, this product is a skincare/makeup hybrid.
A little goes a long way with this formula, and you're left with a natural luminous finish that is so lightweight you forget you're wearing anything.
Dior Backstage Face and Body Foundation, $75.
Finish: Buildable from sheer to full coverage/natural finish.
The Dior Backstage Face and Body Foundation is waterproof, sweat-resistant and has a second skin finish, making it perfect for when you need your makeup to last the distance. My skin looked flawless for well over eight hours.
This is a great 'event' foundation, in my opinion.
Huda Beauty Glowish Skin Tint, $56.
Finish: Sheer coverage/natural radiant finish.
Containing Damascus rose oil and red bell pepper extract, this claims to be help you achieve the ultimate glowy 'no makeup' makeup look. Oh, but she glows like a light beam and it’s just too much.
I really wanted to like this, but I looked like a hot, ruddy, sticky mess.
Abort! Abort!
RMS “Un” Cover-up Cream Foundation, $78.
Finish: Full coverage/natural finish.
Wearing: RMS "Un" Cover-up Cream Foundation. (Image supplied by Teresa McNamara).
Wearing: RMS "Un" Cover-up Cream Foundation. (Image supplied by Teresa McNamara).
This one really is a hard one. Containing organic jojoba oils, organic cocoa seed butter and organic raw coconut butter, it's meant to be a great option for those with problem skin - and I can see that - but when applied it was very thick and took a lot of work to blend in. That said, you can see the finish for yourself.
IT Cosmetics CC+ Cream SPF50, $65.
Finish: Full coverage/natural finish.
Very much skincare-infused and an all-in-one product, this is a holy grail product for a lot of people for good reason. It performed similarly to the E.L.F Camo CC Cream, $25.25 - but this is the better product.
It wore quite well, but I looked a little cakey by the end of the day.
Laura Mercier Flawless Lumiere Radiance Perfecting Foundation, $74.
Finish: Medium-to-full coverage/natural luminous finish.
I mean, the name says it all. Containing vitamin C and silver ear mushroom extract, this formula blends beautifully and looks like a second skin.
It's hydrating and smoothing - and yes, it's luminous. *Fan girl sigh*.
Charlotte Tilbury Charlotte’s Beautiful Skin Foundation, $65.
Finish: Medium coverage/radiant finish.
This is the perfect choice from Charlotte Tilbury if you have dry skin, featuring skincare ingredients including hyaluronic acid. Thankfully, this one doesn’t oxidise like the Airbrush Flawless and I really enjoy this formula. It leaves your skin glowy, smooth and radiant.
M.A.C Studio Fix Fluid Foundation SPF15, $57.
Finish: Medium-to-full coverage/matte satin finish.
This is an original holy grail for a lot of people.
Out of all my foundations, this was the closest match colour-wise and for my undertone. M.A.C. just do shades so incredibly well.
It looks flawless but heavy on skin, and I guess I always feel I can pick a M.A.C wearer just by looking at their face. Studio Fix is extremely long-lasting, but can look cakey as the day wears on.
NARS Light Reflecting Foundation, $73.
Finish: Medium buildable coverage/natural luminous finish.
NARS’ newest offering is a skincare foundation with so many enhancing ingredients that I can’t list them all. However, this product seems to be either a love it or hate it.
For me, it's lovely up until about four hours - then it starts going south.
Just a warning - if you are going to swap over to this from another NARS foundation, don’t assume you will be the same shade, as they're not all like-for-like.
NARS Radiant Longwear Foundation, $73.
Finish: Medium-to-full coverage/natural finish.
Wearing: NARS Radiant Longwear Foundation. (Image supplied by Teresa McNamara).
Three words: Long-wearing, breathable, and flawless.
NARS have three foundations in this list for a reason. This is fade-resistant and includes raspberry, apple and watermelon extracts.
I chose this for my bridal party - it doesn’t oxidise, and leaves the skin with a beautiful, natural finish.
NARS Sheer Glow Foundation, $70.
Finish: Sheer, buildable coverage/natural glow finish.
A cult product from NARS, this absorbs beautifully into your skin. It's hydrating, brightening, smoothing, and leaves your skin looking like skin but so much better.
The only major downside? Having to buy a pump for the bottle.
Too Faced Born This Way Foundation, $68.
Finish: Medium-to-full coverage/satin finish.
This was a favourite for a long time, and if I was a makeup artist and had to pick one that worked for most people, this would probably be it.
It's a fantastic all-rounder that is long-lasting and buildable without looking cakey. I know a lot of makeup professionals with this in their kit.
The expensive foundations I would buy again.
Now for the good bit - the results!
After trialling all of these spendy foundations, there are four top foundations I would recommend trying.
Best light coverage: Chanel No 1 de Chanel Revitalising Foundation, $110.
This one was a surprising new favourite, just beating NARS Sheer Glow at the post.
Best medium coverage: By Terry Hyaluronic Hydra Foundation, $88.
Best full coverage: NARS Radiant Longwear Foundation, $73 and Laura Mercier Flawless Lumière Radiance-Perfecting Foundation, $74.
Here we have a tie between a long-time favourite and a new discovery for me.
Keep in mind these are just my opinions and your experience may differ to mine.
Now, I need to point out the RMS “Un” Cover-Up Cream Foundation made me go back and play around with it. I ended up mixing it with a serum and really watering it down and buffing in with a brush sparingly.
It looks completely different when used this way. I would only use it when wanting my makeup to be all about the skin, but look at this photo. I feel like a skincare ad.
So while it was the worst “as directed”, it just goes to show if you play around with products, you may be amazed at what you end up with.
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Feature image: Supplied
