My Favourite Foundations of 2012

If there's one item of make-up I can never get enough of, it's foundation - and it's no secret! I think I've read enough reviews on most high end foundations that I can tell you a bit about each of them!

My nerdiness aside, it seems that in 2012, some of my most popular videos and blog posts were my reviews of foundation. So it was only natural that I wriggled uncomfortably in my seat as my mouse hovered over the "Publish" button of what I had forcefully declared as my top 3 products of the year. It felt wrong, forced and unreflective of my 2012. Instead of stubbornly sticking to tradition, I decided to scrap it and do only what I felt I could honestly declare - my favourite foundations of 2012! There's no better feeling than doing what you really want to do, ey?! ;) So in no particular order, here they are..


Yves Saint Laurent Le Teint Touche Eclat
I fell in love with this foundation back in September when my skin decided to go through a drought. It was the only foundation that smoothed over my dry patches and brought a glow to my face. I haven't been able to justify purchasing this in full size yet, but it'll undoubtedly be the next one on the list!

MAC Studio Fix Fluid
A saviour when my skin erupts (yes my skin has all kinds of natural disasters going on), this foundation provides the flawless base I need yet maintains that semi-matte finish I want. I wrote a post on how I apply this to do that - it's definitely not the masky foundation many people say it is!

Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua
I think this was the foundation I used the most this year. When it says, "skin-perfecting foundation" it really means just that. It has a natural level of coverage and just seems to add that oomph to your skin to make it look glowy, perfected, polished but you :) It's by no means drying but it's great for the summer when I don't want any more hydration than I already do on my face. Click here for a full review and a video application.

Maybelline FIT Me Foundation
I wrote about the dream team this foundation makes with the famous Real Techniques Buffing Brush here. This has a very similar finish to YSL but with more oil control, despite being slightly more hydrating and with a bit more coverage. It's fab for the autumn for me!

Lunasol Skin Modelling Water Cream Foundation
The newest in my foundation collection, and one of the hottest foundations in Japan at the moment, this is something between a gel and a cream. The blendability of this product will blow you out of the water - I never knew such a texture was possible! It has a nice amount of coverage and leaves a nice dewy finish and a glow. Very similar to the YSL in many ways, but I think this has a bit more coverage and hydration, which will come in extremely handy in these winter months!

L to R: YSL, MAC, Chanel, Maybelline, Lunasol.

As you can see, 2012 for me was all about the skin-like finish with the appropriate hydration for my skin and the right amount of coverage for that time of year. The YSL and Lunasol are perfect for when my skin is dry, as they both hydrate and somehow turn dry, dull skin into glowing skin. The Chanel is great for the summer, when I don't need hydration. The Maybelline is an essential for the autumn when my skin needs that balanced amount of hydration. And all four give skin-like finishes that is natural, smooth and glowy with varied amounts of coverage - all falling into the low to medium category. And the MAC will always be there for those pesty acne and their scars!

2012 was the year of bases. I tried so so many - The Body Shop, CoverFX, Estee Lauder, Dr. Jart+, BareMinerals.. too many to count! But these 5 were definitely the stars. Some, I feel, have even joined the ranks of the Diorskin Forever which used to be my one and only favourite! But as needs and tastes change throughout the year (I definitely got more normal skin this year!), it's always difficult to figure out which ones I'll still be on about in a year's time.. I suppose we'll have to see! But until then, I can fully and honestly recommend the 5 I've spoken about today :)


Were any of these your favourites this year too?
What were your favourite bases this year?


<3yu

Comments

  1. Nice review! I absolutely love the Maybelline Fit Me foundation :) I've heard a lot about Lunasol but I have no idea where to purchase it!

    xx

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    1. Ahh it's a hard one to get! I think Strawberry Net or A Pop of Kawaii is generally where most people get Japanese make-up!

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  2. Vitalumiere Aqua is definitely my all-time fave. I do like the FIT Me as well and Bourjois Healthy Mix is another one of my top bases.

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    1. If Bourjois had my shade I think I'd love it too - but it's quite pink based! Have you tried the Serum version? :)

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  3. I love the MAC and the Chanel foundations you've mentioned and I've heard lots of good things about the FIT Me range, so that one's next on my radar!

    http://beautifulsmudges.blogspot.co.uk

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    1. Always good to find people with similar tastes! :) I hope you like the FIT Me range if you try it!

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  4. Such great foundations! I've never tried the FIT one though, I may just have to give it a go though! :)

    www.laviestylebeaute.com

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    1. It's great, especially if you have the RT Buffing Brush! :)

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  5. Nice Review. I use to use Mac but found as I am very fair it was too yellow so now my favourite is Dior Fovever. I love it. It's perfect for me!

    http://livelaughlove20andonwards.blogspot.co.uk/

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    1. Thanks! Shade range can make such a big difference! For me, Dior's shade range is too narrow - I'm somewhere between 030 and 021, I should get another shade so I can mix :)

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  6. I really like STudio Fix Fluid but often neglect it in favour of new shiny things. Shame on me. Matchmaster is pretty good too!

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    1. Haha I do that too, so many neglected foundations - mostly because of shade matching as well. Ahh I've never tried that one! I've tried Prolongwear though which I hear is quite similar to Matchmaster!

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    1. I think it'll be in mine for a while too, it's gorgeous!

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  8. Aqua is such a beautiful foundation! I really want to try the Fit Me foundation, heard amazing things! x

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    1. It's amazing with the RT Buffing Brush, I think you'll like it if you like Aqua :)

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  9. Currently trying out the Maybelline Fit me foundation after my beloved Healthy mix ran out. I do want to try the Laura Mercier silk creme foundation.. I feel it may be a good wedding day base? I dont know! Im clueless! I just need to work out what im going to wear on my face on the big day as I am doing my own makeup!

    Leanne @ Leanne-Marie | Beauty, fashion & lifestyle. xx

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    1. Wow that's impressive! You will look gorgeous as ever Leanne :) I used the Illamasqua Rich Liquid for my graduation as it's full coverage, natural finish (when mixed with a primer) and no SPF!

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  10. I fell in love with Vitalumiere Aqua this year. I think I need to try Maybelline Fit Me. xx

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    1. Me too! If you love Vitalumiere Aqua I think you might like Fit Me :)

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  11. I really want to try the FIT foundation, I was just put off by it being a gel foundation! But I like your review :)
    LaceyLoves x

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    1. It's not gel in the thick, MAC Studio Sculpt sense, it's a very light kind of gel! :) Thank you so much :)

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  12. My favourite is YSL Touche Eclat followed by Rimmel Match Perfection and Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum :)

    http://raspberphobia.com

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    1. I like the Healthymix Serum too! My only issue was the shade range :( But I'm surprised by Rimmel, is it similar to Bourjois/YSL?

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  13. I love Vitalumiere Aqua! Reading this post makes me wanna try Fit Me! xx

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    1. It's such a lovely foundation :) I think if you like Vitalumiere Aqua you might like FitMe too! :)

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  14. The YSL is definitely the one for me, the rest I think would be too orange on my skin tone! I really want to try the Chanel one though, but for me can't eat Max Factor, love their foundations

    http://alittlebitunique.blogspot.co.uk/

    x

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    1. Chanel actually has a range that isn't as yellow, so that may work! :) Maybelline is quite yellow, and MAC is as well - even their non-yellow toned line! :) I've never tried a MaxFactor foundation except their loose mineral one years ago which I didn't even know how to use hahaha - which do you recommend?

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  15. Complete beauty advice, product reviews, beauty tips, makeup samples, cosmetics and much more on beauty tips

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