The Best Foundations for Spring
Foundation: the word alone sums up the significance of a makeup product that creates a flawless canvas for the rest of the cosmetics to follow.
Every brand makes one (some have closer to a dozen or more) and each makes claims to plump, conceal, hydrate, and firm, but the trick is finding the formula and shade for you.
Luckily, this spring there are a significant number of new foundations out there, some launching their first in a long time, that provide ample coverage with various other benefits like SPF, extra radiance or an ultra lightweight formula.
Beauty brands are embracing technology and pushing the boundaries of what traditional foundation can do – packing the product with skin treatments and ingredients made for enduring wear, a glowy finish or extra definition (read: contour) of features. Other formulas are continuing to look more natural, which works well with the sun-kissed 70s look trending this spring.
NARS All Day Luminous Weightless Foundation ($48)
Like other NARS foundations, a little goes a long way here. About a drop covers skin and lasts throughout an entire day. It comes in 20 shades and feels lighter than most formulas that have this amount of coverage. Also, an Even Tone Technology is meant to redness, dullness and discoloration.
Glossier Perfecting Skin Tint ($26)
Exactly as it says, this product is very much a tint that evens out the complexion, but still lets the natural skin show through. A little goes a pretty long way and the 3 shades, light, medium and dark, make the color selection process a lot less daunting than most other brands.
Laura Mercier Silk Crème Oil Free Photo Edition Foundation ($48)
Rich, silky, and with a bit of a powdery finish, this formula, which comes in 8 shades, gives great coverage without looking cakey or heavy. It seems to sink right into skin and like Mercier’s other foundations, comes in a Moisturizing and Oil-Free Edition.
Urban Decay Naked Skin Ultra Definition Powder Foundation ($36)
This lightweight powder comes in 14 shades and can be worn wet or dry. It goes on as a thin layer of high coverage matte color and works well for contouring. The included sponge applicator has one velvety side meant for blending and buffing the product into skin.
By Terry Terrybly Densiliss Compact ($95)
A mattifying pressed powder meant to blur wrinkles through optical prisms. Skin is left even and matte, but with a sheer, glowy finish.
La Mer The Reparative SkinTint SPF30 ($95)
To costumer’s dismay, the brand previously discontinued its cult-favorite Fluid Tint SPF 18, but has now followed up with this “tinted skincare” which comes in 5 shades and is packed with the marine-based Miracle Broth found in the La Mer line. This formula gives sheer, but ample coverage and leaves skin feeling plump and hydrated, making it a perfect product for everyday wear.
Laura Geller Baked Liquid Radiance Foundation ($38)
The brand’s popular Baked products are being made as a liquid for the first time. The difference here is that before loose pigments are baked, they are coated with almond oil for more moisture. Since the liquid version, which comes in nine shades, is 40% water, it feels lighter and more emollient than its predecessor.
Cover FX Custom Cover Drops ($44)
For anyone who has wanted to alter an existing beauty item, this innovative product, which comes in 24 shades, lets you put pigment into any cream, serum or tinted moisturizer you want. Just rub the product of your choice into your hands and drop the Custom Cover color in, to make a sheer formula much more opaque.
Eve Lom Radiant Glow Cream Foundation + SPF 30 ($55)
Formulated with anti-aging ingredients, this creamy foundation, housed in a compact, has aloe for hydration and BerryFlux Vita for suppleness and tone. The 12 shades have SPF 30 and the finish sits somewhere between dewy and satin.
Clinique Beyond Perfecting Foundation + Concealer ($27)
There’s plenty of coverage with this 2-in-1 foundation/concealer that can be dotted on with the doe foot applicator. It feels lightweight enough to build extra coverage where it’s needed and the 20 shades of pigment packed color eliminate the need for additional concealer.
Related:
Foundation 101: How to Find the Perfect Formula
