In Search of the Perfect Foundation

The past few months I've been on a foundation search.  A foundation for mature skin that wasn't heavy, had medium coverage, that would help fine lines and wrinkles, and wouldn't slide off my face in the afternoon. That's not a lot to ask for, right???  I tried a lot of samples and narrowed my choice down to three:  Estee Lauder Futurist Age-Resisting Foundation, Lancome Teint Rénergie Lift R.A.R.E.™, and Hourglass Veil Fluid Makeup.

I purchased the Hourglass Veil Fluid Makeup and tried it for a week. If you haven't heard of the Hourglass brand, it is a fairly new, high end cosmetic brand.  Hourglass products are developed without the use of parabens, overpowering fragrances or animal-testing.  The Hourglass Fluid Makeup was a beautiful foundation with great coverage, but I just didn't like the way it looked on my skin, so I returned it.  

My second choice was the Lancome Teint Rénergie Lift R.A.R.E.™.  I got a sample of it and used it for about a week.  I really wanted to like this foundation because I read so many good things about it, but it didn't work out for me.  It seemed a bit drying and made my skin look cakey.  

My third choice was the Estee Lauder Futurist Age-Resisting Foundation and I used it for four weeks.  I loved the consistency of this foundation and the coverage was perfect, a light to medium coverage.  My makeup routine is to cleanse, tone, moisturize, wait five minutes for the moisturizer to absorb into my skin, then apply my foundation.  

The problem I had with this foundation was that I couldn't get it blended into the skin.  I used one pump of the foundation and applied it using several different methods, a flat foundation brush, a round foundation brush, my fingers, and a damp beauty blender.  When I applied powder to try to set the foundation, it stuck to the foundation in globs.  I couldn't apply the powder smoothly because the foundation was "wet" on my skin.  I applied the powder with either the powder brush or the powder puff, using a light rolling motion across the face. Nothing worked.  The powder ended up looking cakey and sat in the lines under my eyes, in the corners of my nose and in my laugh lines.  I even tried several different powders, the Elizabeth Arden Ceramide Skin Smoothing Loose Powder and the Laura Mercier Invisible Loose Setting Powder.  I used the foundation with and without a primer (Smasbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer Light) and it made no difference  After four weeks, I gave up.

So, the search was on....again!  I went to Sephora and Ulta and couldn't find anything I wanted to try.  I walked by the Saks Fifth Avenue store and saw their Chanel makeup section through the window.  I had never shopped at Saks before - there is never anything in there I can afford!  But, I figured why not, I'll check out the Chanel makeup.  I explained to the Chanel makeup artist what I was looking for and she recommended the Chanel Lift Lumiere Firming and Smoothing Fluid Makeup ($65).  She did a color match and I made the purchase.  I also purchased the Poudre Universelle Compact Natural Finish Pressed Powder ($45) and the Eclat Lumiere Highlighter Face Pen ($40).  

The next morning I did my usual makeup routine and used the Chanel Makeup.  OMGosh!!!!  This foundation is amazing!!!  It is weightless medium to full coverage, has a natural luminous finish and it goes on beautifully. The description of the foundation on the Chanel website is:   "A SOFT CRYSTAL LUMIÈRE™ complex visibly diminishes the look of wrinkles and fine lines, setting makeup imperceptibly and controlling shine without a hint of chalkiness. Emollients deliver essential hydration, and firming polymers provide skin with an impeccably smooth surface and the look and feel of an immediate 'lift'."  Let me just say, that is the truth!!!  My skin looks amazing and my fine lines and wrinkles are less noticeable!  Yahoo!  The Poudre Universelle Compact Natural Finish Pressed Powder is translucent with a natural matte finish and has a wonderfully soft feel.  It makes my skin look soft and smooth.  I use the Eclat Lumiere Highlighter Face Pen on my dark circles, my laugh lines and the corners of my nose.  It also reduces the appearance of fine lines and covers my dark circles beautifully.  It gives my eyes a nice brightening lift.

I'm happy to announce that my search for the perfect foundation is over.  The Chanel Lift Lumiere Firming and Smoothing Fluid Makeup will be my go to foundation for a long time.  It is a bit expensive but it is worth every penny.  If you can only afford to purchase one high end makeup item, save your money and buy this foundation. It is the perfect foundation for mature skin!! 

Take good care of yourself.....