Who doesn’t want to look good in photos or in real life?  Finding your perfect foundation is one of the most intimidating tasks when shopping for makeup.  Throw in a special event like a wedding and it can be even more challenging.  You need it to be long lasting and make it look like second skin.

The following choices have been narrowed down to five but there are other high performing foundations in the market to choose from but these have proven the criteria I set for when making my clients and Brides look picture perfect.

Best Overall:  Lisa Eldridge Seamless Foundation

Formulated in Kyoto Japan, The medium coverage is customizable that can be layered up or down depending on the coverage you want.  Infused with Uji Green Tea Extract, to help the skin fight radicals, Bamboo extract, to help absorb oil to give the skin a skin like finish an active ingredient from a Nasturtium flower to help boost hydration and smooth the skin.  The new ingredient Filmexel that forms like a flexible mesh on the skin to give a lifting a tightening effect. Who doesn’t want that?  It’a also suited for vegans, its alcohol, paraben and talc free, perfect for sensitive skin.  It has a pump that is calibrated to give you the exact amount of coverage you need.  Its best applied in thin layers.

Available at www.lisaeldridge.com

Best Long wearing:  NARS Radiant Long Wearing Foundation

True to its marketing spiel, it says it can last up to 16 hours, but I don’t know who has makeup that long on the face.  But yes it has lasted more than 8 hours on a Bride and its coverage is medium to full.  It has multiple shades that fit any skin tone, its transfer and sweat proof and suitable for vegans as well.  Its breathable and lightweight.  Radiant?  yes it is, it even looks better when it stays on the face a bit longer.  Infused with watermelon, and citrus extracts, it helps brighten the skin too.

NARS Available at Rustans

BEST for Glow from Within Look:  Jung Saem Mool Nuder Foundation

Jung Saem Mool a Korean Celebrity artist for 30 years is known for that “transparent beauty” where minimal makeup is used to enhance not mask the one’s features.  Its kinda my beauty mantra too, “still you but better”.
Its medium coverage and adjusts to your skin tone.  Its best applied with the cushion puff it comes with, patting the product and not rubbing it in.  It gives a subtle glow to the skin, but unfortunately the shade range is limited and suited for the Korean fair skin tone.  My shade is Medium deep but it’s still in the light skin tone range.

Available at https://www.jsmbeauty.us/

Best for Oily Skin:  Makeup Forever Matte Velvet Finish

I apply this foundation by prepping the skin with serums, oil and a lightweight moisturizer.  What this does is it gives the skin a satin like finish to the skin and its also long lasting.  I use this a lot for Brides with oily to combination skin as the finish it gives is just the right amount of sheen.  Available in many skin shades and I like the tube dispenser method as it kept sanitary when its’ being dispensed.

It says 24 hours coverage with its Flexifit fit technology that lasts all day and it doesn’t crease or fade.  Just like what the name says its Makeup Forever.

Available at Lazada, Sephora and https://www.makeupforever.com/us/en?l=en&c=US

Best for Airbrush quality look:  Makeup Forever Ultra HD

Foundation and Primer in one palette!  It s so sheer but when applied its undetectable and it just gives your skin a smoother even finish. The 12 shade formula can be used to highlight, contour and conceal to give you the perfect skin base.  The silicone based formula is lightweight and can be adjusted to tone it up or tone down depending on your preference.  You can buy individual shades and it can be purchased as a stick, perfect on the go.

Available at https://www.makeupforever.com/us/en?l=en&c=US, Lazada and Sephora

TIP:  When trying out foundation swatches, let it rest on the skin for 10-15 minutes to see if it changes color (oxidize).  If it does, try another product that stays true to your skin tone.