Top 3: Primers & Foundations

I’m not a huge makeup primer fan. I don’t necessarily think they do much unless you’re oily and looking for oil control, or looking for a really smoothing finish with a pore filling primer. They all have their purpose but I prefer more lightweight gel style primers in general. They can give a smoothing effect and I like the extra hydrating layer as a base. I also prefer ones that have a touch of shimmer for illumination. My oldest favorite is the Charlotte Tilbury Wonderglow. It’s a light gel with small champagne shimmer. The light shimmer isn’t too blingy and it just adds a nice overall luminosity to the skin. It makes a great base for makeup and isn’t heavy, oily or greasy. I’m on bottle number two. It’s been a favorite since 2014. Review HERE. A recent favorite is the Danessa Myricks Prism FX Hydrating Lotion in Peach. It’s a similar concept to the Charlotte Tilbury but a tad thicker, still not oily or greasy nor heavy. It’s more pigmented as far as the shimmer goes. Wonderglow is a bit sheerer. Peach gives a nice pinky peach glow while also laying a slightly dewy base for makeup. It’s perfect for light medium to medium skin tones. There’s a pearly white for paler skin tones and a gold. I know Sisley is expensive. There is just something about their Double Tenseur. It’s a gel product that lifts and smooths, it has immediate effects but gives better effects when used over time. It doesn’t add any color or shimmer, the gel is light enough to add a nice smoothing base plus it does tighten the skin. It’s never heavy, oily or greasy and it really makes a nice base. It’s pricey but there’s quite like it. I have repurchased several times.

Top to Bottom-Charlotte Tilbury, Danessa Myricks, Sisley:

I love foundation and I have a thing for dewy, lightweight and less full coverage types. I ultimately prefer sheer to medium at most coverage with a more dewy finish versus heavy/full and matte. Zelens Youth Glow Foundation is one of my favorites. A light creamy liquid texture with a dewy finish and medium to light coverage. It really looks so amazing on the skin and has great skincare benefits. It has a really limited shade range and I have no idea if it’s discontinued with the recent revamp of the whole brand. The shades are selling out everywhere and I haven’t gotten a response yet if it’s discontinued or just being revamped like the whole line. I’m on bottle number two and I wear shade Beige. I will be sad if it’s gone as I really enjoy it. Review HERE. I also have really come to adore Cle de Peau Radiant Fluid Foundation. It a liquid foundation with a lighter fluid texture and more radiant dewy finish. It’s light coverage but definitely has a more dewy feel than even Zelens. It’s my go to in the colder months because it’s hydrating as well. I just love it’s dewy finish. Even though it’s dewy it’s never heavy or greasy. I love how it looks so natural on the skin, it’s just radiant and natural. Review HERE.

Charlotte Tilbury Light Wonder foundation is one if my other most repurchased. It’s a fluid gel textured foundation that has light coverage with a satin dewy finish. I wear shade 6 and since it’s sheer it has a lot of wiggle room. I love the lightweight texture and feel on the skin. If you don’t want fully dewy but want a more gel foundation like product this one is great. It’s super lightweight and no pore clogging for me. It’s never heavy. Original review HERE. (Gotta love my early first year posts). I am on tube number two though. It takes forever to go through a tube as well. Surratt Dew Drop is my most recent favorite. I love Surratt in general and this one is better than the original launch. The original is thicker, more dewy satin medium plus coverage, Dew Drop is a super lightweight fluid and more light to medium coverage and a satin finish. It’s super buildable as well and not drying for a fluid foundation. I love how natural it looks without ever feeling heavy. The original feels heavier and Dew Drop is more suitable for summer or more dry skin. I wear shade 6 in both. Truly you only need about 2-3 drops from Dew Drop for medium coverage, I would go with 1-2 drops for light to medium. I love the packaging innovation as well as the formula. It’s quite superb. Review HERE. Both from Surratt are good choices though Dew Drop would be my choice of the two.

I do love a good cushion foundation. In the summer I live in them. Right now if I only had one cushion foundation it would be Cle de Peau Radiant Cushion Foundation. There is just something so special about this one. It’s light and dewy, never heavy. It has good coverage and isn’t thin and sheer like some cushions can be. If you want more dewy this is it, while still remaining light. It is my most repurchased cushion foundation. I wear O30. Review HERE. I always hated cream compact foundations until I met Cle de Peau Radiant Cream to Powder Foundation. This one is so special. It’s a lightweight cream that turns satin-matte finish wise. It’s light which is unusual as most cream compact foundations are heavier coverage and more drying/matte. This one is totally luminous plus it has a more light to medium coverage. Absolutely would repurchase. Review HERE. I know there’s a lot of Cle de Peau in this post and that they’re pricey. Honestly though they’re just really phenomenal at making foundation so it is what it is for my recommendations.

Top to Bottom-Cle de Peau Radiant Fluid O30, Zelens Youth Glow Beige, Charlotte Tilbury Lightwonder 6, Surratt Dew Drop 6, Cle de Peau Radiant Cream to Powder O30, Cle de Peau Radiant Cushion O30: