Cosmetics Series: My Favorites: Foundation

I have more that I want to cover with the skin care series, but I want to talk about makeup as well. I have a decent collection myself, and I wanted to start this series with my favorites.

Favorite foundations:

–MAC Face and Body

If you are as into makeup as I am, or if makeup is how you make your living, it should not be a surprise that this is at the top of my list of foundations. It gives a sheer coverage that you can build to a medium coverage. It also does not rub off on clothes, making it one of the most popular foundations to use on the body. It is a very liquid formula, and the bottle needs to be shaken before you use it. This is what I use when I want to take selfies when I experiment with makeup looks and I don’t need to go out after I finish, since it doesn’t have an SPF in it. SPF can make your face shiny in photos, so a foundation with no SPF helps me control the shine.

I usually just put some powder on my T zone and leave the rest of my face alone when I wear this if the humidity is bad. If you want a lighter foundation that won’t sweat onto your clothing, this is a safe bet.

–IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Foundation with SPF 50

This is expensive, but it is my favorite tinted moisturizer that actually covers like a foundation. I use this for when I am spending a few hours outdoors when it is sunny and I want to wear makeup with a strong SPF in it. IT Cosmetics also puts anti-aging ingredients into their products, and since I’m 38, that’s a great bonus for me. It is one of two tinted moisturizers that I use that does not make me break out.

–Covergirl Smoothers Tinted Lightweight BB Cream

This is the first moisturizer that has SPF I have tried that does not make me breakout. I discovered it way back when I was around 20, and I go back to it over and over. If you are looking for a doupe to the IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Foundation tinted moisturizer, this is the closest you are going to get. You can build up the product to a light coverage, it is very moisturizing, has an SPF of 15, and it is what I use when I am out for a long period of time under the sun. I can apply it over and over and since I have rosecea, my cheeks can get pretty red under the sun, and it doesn’t make me break out when I have to reapply it while I am outside. If I am really “out there” under the sun doing anything that makes me sweaty, I use this because it is so cheap and I can use this with waterproof mascara (I also always curl my lashes), my eyebrow pencil, and some sort of lip balm with an SPF in it.

–Neutrogena Healthy Skin Anti-Aging Perfector Tinted Facial Moisturizer and Retinol Treatment with Broad Spectrum SPF 20 Sunscreen with Titanium Dioxide

This is something that I will mix with MAC Face and Body when I am going out and don’t want to wear too much foundation. The extra anti-aging skin care is a bonus.

–Kat Von Dee Lock It Tattoo Foundation

This is a foundation that I purchased hoping it would be the best foundation for when it gets really humid during the summer months in New Jersey. It definitely is the most coverage I’ve seen from a foundation. I ordered a shade that was too dark for me and it does not have a SPF so I mix this with a lighter tinted moisturizer I found on Amazon: Missha M Perfect Cover BB Cream SPF 42.

Skin Care Series: Pale/Fair Skin

If you’re part Irish like I am, you already know that the most important thing one needs for pale skin care products that have the highest levels of SPF (sun block) you can get.

I may be a Jersey girl, but I gave up trying to tan naturally during the early years of high school. That is honestly so weird for me since I had no problem getting a tan when I was rather young. I went from easily getting a farmer tan to taking Dracula-like precautions when it came to staying out of direct sunlight.

One product I used in high school was Cover Girl’s tinted moisturizer. It was the first product with an SPF that did not make me break out. I have inherited my father’s sensitive skin, so any time I mention something does not make me break out, you really don’t have a choice but to believe me.

The version of CG Smoothers Tinted Moisturizer has been discontinued and is now sold as a “BB” cream (hover over picture to buy off of amazon.com). It unfortunately does not come in a big variety of colors, and wish it did.

When you do research to find what the best products for pale skin are, you are going to see a lot of Korean brands pop up. I believe it is because in Korea, when it comes to someone’s skin complexion, the fairer the better. I whole-heartily disagree there. If someone started a reputable skin care and makeup line specifically for darker completions (meaning foundation, powder and concealer), they would make a TON of money.

Here are some SPF products I found that have the best SPF while still being good for your skin (hover over the images to buy each item on amazon):

Youtubers You Should Watch: Bailey Sarian @BaileySarian

This chick is very funny and very hot! One of her fans said that she discusses true crime the same way girlfriends gossip amongst each other, and I have to agree! She always has positive vibes to give and breaks down her true crime research in a very palatable way.