How many of you guys wear foundation?
My guess is it’s about 50/50. In the south I feel like people tend to wear it more than people do in other places, but up here people also need to make it through a long day and into the night for drinks, etc. so I also think that tends to make people gravitate towards something more covering.
I started wearing foundation when I started working after I graduated, so in my early 20’s. When I moved to Chicago my skin grew much paler and I found myself looking for stronger coverage (thanks to the elements) and lighter shades. I have tried 5-6 different foundations since then (I’ll list them out below) in search of something that stuck.
I’ve been sharing more of my skincare journey lately because my skin has changed a lot in my late twenties and even this year. I started paying more attention to what I was putting on my face and what it was actually doing and the ingredients in each product. The result has been that my skin has never looked better in my adult life. It’s still a work in progress, but my skin tone, pores, and overall complexion have significantly improved.
I don’t feel like I need the same amount of coverage that I have needed before, but I also want a polished and light look that evens me out completely.
Enter: Bobbi Brown’s foundation and foundation stick. Full disclosure the Bobbi Brown team sent me these products to try after I was able to match myself with some swatches, but this post is not sponsored outside of the gifted product and a real review on my thoughts.
FOUNDATION
Let’s start with the foundation. It’s a water based formula (no oil) and aims to hydrate the skin while letting you create buildable coverage. It has SPF 15 in it (as all makeup should) so you have some sun protection. My favorite thing about using this is that when I put it on, I don’t feel like I have makeup on. It gives you a natural, “that’s just my skin” look that I absolutely love. I use a skin perfecting brush to blend it in and that really makes the finish have an airbrushed feel. I’ve been using this everyday in Natural Tan and will move up to Warm Natural when I get a little more color.
FOUNDATION STICK
Now for the foundation stick. I love this product. I am so excited to have discovered this little product, because it’s my new secret weapon. You can use it as a true foundation and use it all over your skin, but I’ve really been loving how you can use it to help contour or cover spots that need more coverage, almost like a concealer. The pigment in it is a little stronger to me than the liquid foundation and so I use it more focused on the areas around my nose and under my eyes. I use a darker shade on my cheeks for the contouring. For anyone who travels a lot – these will be your saving grace. I use the same brush and sometimes a blender to really finish the look.
Everyone’s skin is so different and personal and over the years I’ve had a really tough time matching my skin color to foundations. A lot of lines don’t have a wide enough range of shades for a more olive/warm skin tone – it’s just not a point of focus for some brands. This is one of the widest ranges of shades I’ve ever been matched to and where my skin is covered all seasons of the year with a shade.  I’m 100% hooked and happy to answer any foundation questions you have about it! Here’s a list of the other foundations I’ve used for a reference.
FOUNDATIONS I’VE TRIED OVER THE YEARS:
Laura Mercier Oil Free Photo Edition
Bare Minerals Complexion Rescue Tinted Moisturizer (I still use this in the summer)
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Foundation c/o Bobbi Brown