We’ve all had those days when, glancing in the mirror at lunchtime, we notice that our faces have morphed into an oil slick. This sort of occurrence is particularly irritating for the working woman, who often has no time to blot or “touch up.”

In this post, I’ll award my “Top 5 Foundations for Oily Skin,” foundations which I’ve discovered hold off shine the longest 🙂

In no particular order:

1) Kat Von D “Lock-It Tattoo Foundation” – A fantastic foundation from a fantastic (and edgy) makeup brand. This foundation comes in a whopping 19 shades (even for pale ghosts like me!), so there’s a shade for everyone! It’s an incredibly thick foundation, and a small amount goes a long way. It covers not only blemishes and scars but also any birthmarks or freckles as well. The finish is matte with a capital “M,” and it keeps shine at bay all day. The lack of SPF is its only disadvantage.

2) Estée Lauder “Double Wear Maximum Cover Foundation” – The finish of this foundation is similar to that of Kat Von D’s — thick, full coverage, and gorgeously matte. Unlike the Kat Von D foundation, however, this product contains sunscreen (SPF 15). It comes in a hygienic squeeze tube and lasts forever, due to the tiny amount of product needed for a single application. The finish is divinely beautiful; I guarantee that you’ll look like a porcelain doll 🙂

3) Dr. Jart “Silver Label BB Cream” – This product, ladies and gentlemen, is a true Asian BB cream — hailing from Korea. It contains SPF 35, with a thick consistency, full coverage, and skin tone-evening properties like you wouldn’t believe! It will cancel any redness in your skin, leaving a smooth canvas. Oil doesn’t stand a chance with this product — it keeps the T-zone matte late into the evening. This BB cream, however, only comes in one shade — a light shade — so it would not suit darker skin. One warning for acne sufferers…..when I first used this BB cream, I experienced breakouts. Nevertheless, after a few uses, my skin seemed to adapt to the product, and it triggered no more acne flares. You can order it from Korea online, most notably from Dermstore.com as well as Amazon.

4) Bobbi Brown “Long-Wear Even Finish Foundation” – This product wins double awards since it falls within my “Top 5 Foundations for Acne-Prone Skin” as well! It wears matte long into the afternoon, without need for blotting. The finish is gorgeous and full-coverage, and SPF 15 is the icing on this cake. Plus, it comes in a whopping 20 colors! Incredible product for special occasions 🙂

5) Hourglass “Immaculate Liquid Powder Foundation” – This foundation was ordered with high expectations — and it did not disappoint. Dispensed as a liquid from a hygienic pump, the product dries to a powder finish on the skin. My T-zone remains shine-free at evening with the help of this foundation, which combats oil like a dream. You do not even need to apply powder on top (although I do set it with a light dusting of SPF-containing powder since this foundation unfortunately lacks sunscreen). It provides medium-to-full coverage. This is my first Hourglass purchase, and I’m impressed!

Until next time! 🙂

My most recent post named “The Top 5 Foundations for Acne-Prone Skin.”

Today, I’ll award my “Top 5 Foundations for Oily Mature Skin” 🙂

So let’s get started!

1) Lancome “Teint Visionnaire Skin Correcting Makeup Duo” – Of the 5 foundations listed here, this little jewel takes the cake. It’s incredibly moisturizing for parched, older skin — and conveys a luminous glow. This product also contains SPF 20 as well as a non-creasing concealer underneath the cap. It corrects uneven skin tone like a miracle. You can read my full review here.

2) L’Oreal “True Match Lumi” Foundation – One dead giveaway that a foundation’s suited for dry skin is a promise of luminous” or “dewy” finish displayed on the bottle. Such is the case for L’Oreal’s “Lumi,” which is derived from “Luminous.” It offers moisture without greasiness, which is always a fine line to tread. Plus, it has SPF 20 and can be purchased at the drugstore. This foundation is a win-win for dry skin! I just made a rhyme 😉

3) Clinique’s “Moisture Surge” Tinted Moisturizer – This product’s name is taken from Clinique’s “Moisture Surge” moisturizer, which is aptly labelled. This tinted moisturizer, like its namesake, truly feels like Chapstick for the face; indeed, it does offer a surge of moisture. The finish is non-greasy (but this doesn’t mean that oily skin types can get away with wearing it without developing a shiny T-zone!) and provides a subtle glow — for dryer skin types. It offers sun protection as well (SPF 15).

4) Bobbi Brown “Extra Repair” Foundation – This foundation, with its mousse-like texture, applies like velvet and does an excellent job minimizing pores and fine lines, all the while offering the moisture needed by mature skin. It also furnishes a healthy dose of sunscreen (SPF 25). My mother, who is 68, uses this foundation religiously.

5) Clinique “Age Defense” BB Cream – Clinique has scored again! This BB cream offers a gentle application but solid coverage, which does not cake or crease (a phenomenon which often emphasizes pores and fine lines). It contains SPF 30 as well. The creaminess serves to soothe thirsty skin and provides a natural satin finish.

I hope you enjoyed this post!

Next up — My “Top 5 Foundations for Oily Skin” 🙂

NOTE: This post may contain affiliate links or codes, which means I’ll receive a commission if you purchase through my links and codes, at no extra cost to you. I only recommend products that I love. Please read my full disclosure here for more information.

Until several years ago, I struggled with acne, my bare face often resembling a dart board. This war with zits fueled my passion for makeup as I desperately searched for the best way to conceal my blemishes. Fortunately, my acne has largely resolved, and breakouts are now a rare occurrence for me. (How I was delivered of that dreadful affliction is a subject for another post!)

I learned much from that time, however, including those foundations which trigger breakouts — and those which don’t.

Today I will name my “Top 5 Foundations for Acne-Prone Skin.” Please note that I used each of these foundations during my acne years, and none of them caused a breakout.

So, without further ado, in no particular order:

1) Clinique “Superbalanced” Foundation – Now, when I mention acne in the same sentence with Clinique, you would probably guess that I would praise Clinique’s much-touted “Acne Solutions” foundation, which contains salicylic acid (a topical anti-comedogenic ingredient). Yet I tried that foundation and still struggled with breakouts! My local Clinique saleswoman recommended “Superbalanced.” It’s the creamiest foundation I’ve ever applied, and truly feels more like a moisturizer than a foundation — yet it nicely conceals any blemishes and scarring you might have from past breakouts. Best of all, it never triggered a breakout on me and feels very gentle on the skin. Its only downside is the lack of SPF.

2) Lancome “Teint Idole Ultra” Foundation – Another department store foundation. It offers sunscreen (SPF 15), full coverage, and oil control. Good oil control is important for acne-prone skin since increased sebum production facilitates breakouts — “Teint Idole Ultra” provides this advantage and prevents one’s face from looking like an oil slick at day’s end.

3)  Revlon Colorstay Foundation (Combination/Oily) – It offers fantastic coverage of any existing pimples and scarring without causing more. Although it contains inadequate sun protection (SPF 6), this foundation conjures a matte finish, with great shine control until late in the afternoon. A great choice for those of us on a budget 😉

4) Bobbi Brown “Long Wear Even Finish” Foundation – Similar to the Lancome Teint Idole Ultra — offers full coverage if needed, strong oil control, and SPF 15. You really cannot go wrong with any of Bobbi Brown’s foundations if you struggle with acne; her “Skin” and “Natural Finish” foundations are non-comedogenic as well but do lag behind the “Long Wear Even Finish” in terms of oil control.

5) Bare Minerals Matte Foundation – It’s impossible to discuss makeup for acne-prone ladies without mentioning Bare Minerals. Since it’s mineral makeup, this foundation feels lightweight and shouldn’t trigger inflammation for problem skin. The coverage is buildable and can be applied as much as desired on breakout days; it covers pimples in a natural, non-cakey manner. Although neither the matte nor the regular Bare Minerals foundation precipitates acne flares, the matte version (as it’s name suggests), provides better oil control. This foundation contains SPF 15. As a side note, this product is so renowned for its non-irritating properties that some dermatologists sell it in their offices!

Stay tuned for upcoming posts featuring “The Top 5 Foundations for Oily Skin” and “The Top 5 Foundations for Dry Skin” 🙂

Nothing quite enhances a woman’s attractiveness like striking eye makeup. By properly framing the eyes, she veils the windows to her soul with mystery — and allure.

Women throughout the ages have known this, from the ancient Babylonians to the Egyptians to modern-day film stars.

Let’s attempt to de-mystify this art!

The Basics

1) It’s very important to prime your eyes to prevent creasing of the eyeshadow as the day progresses. It will also make the shadows more vibrant! Apply the primer all over the eye. Some examples of various eyeshadow primers:

–> Urban Decay Primer Potion

–> Too Faced Shadow Insurance

–> L’Oreal Magic De-Crease Eyelid Primer

–> MAC Pro Longwear Paint Pot in “Painterly”

2) Apply a white, cream, or nude-colored base over the entire eye. Ideally, the color should not include shimmer. This will mattify the eye to create a canvas for your darker shadows. Such a color exists in every palette! Examples include:
–> MAC “Vanilla”

–> Urban Decay “Foxy” or “W.O.S.” in the Naked2 and Naked Basics palettes

–> Lorac “Shell” in the Pro-to-Go palette

I think you grasp the general idea 😉

3) You can go in one of two directions at this point, and, once you understand each, you can play with these techniques and create any look you desire. I will call them “Approach A” and “Approach B.”

Approach A
Apply a lighter shade *of any color* to the lid itself, and apply a darker shade *of any color* in the crease and/or outer V to mimic and deepen the natural shadow cast by the eye crease. You can see this technique in action below:

Approach B– Apply a darker shade *of any color* to the eyelid, with a lighter transition shade *of any color* blended into the crease.

Actress Kristen Stewart utilizes this approach below:

Examples of crease colors:
–> “Cafe” in the Lorac Pro-to-Go palette

–> MAC “Quarry”

4) Apply a shimmering white, nude, cream, or champagne color to the inner corner of the eye (near the tear duct) and on the browbone. This acts as a highlighter to awaken the eyes!

The celebrities love this trick, including Taylor Swift (pictured below using this technique in the inner corner):

5) Next, apply eyeliner above and below the eye. (You can even substitute a matte black eyeshadow as eyeliner, applied with a flat-tipped thin brush.) This frames the eyes for a striking, seductive effect.

6) You can even “smoke it out,” or smudge dark shadow on the lower lash line.

Here is an example of this technique:

7) Apply mascara — always over a lash primer, to which the mascara can bind. You can also apply two different mascara formulas to produce a synergistic effect — and a glorious false-lash illusion!

Some eyelash primers:

–> Clinique Lash Building Primer

–> Tarte Multipleye Primer

–> Lancome Cils Booster XL

8) Apply brow powder. No makeup look is complete without brow definition. Use a matte eyeshadow, close to the natural pigment of your eyebrows. Personally, I use Bobbi Brown’s single eyeshadow in “Slate,” which works well for me but will be too dark for blondes.

Elizabeth Taylor understood the beauty of defined brows!

…

One last pointer! Contrary to popular opinion, it CAN be stylish to wear bright eyeshadow (blues, greens, purples), but only if paired with a neutral color (grey, taupe, brown, etc.). Otherwise, the effect is overdone — and a fashion faux pas!

I hope these tips were helpful! 🙂