If there’s one thing I hate, it’s the effect air-conditioning has on my skin. Within a week of starting work it was dry, irritated and sensitive to everything. It meant none of my previously used foundations sat well, with the Max Factor being too heavy and the Bodyshop powder being too drying.
Much as I love an excuse to shop, having my skin suddenly look terrible was not an excuse I really wanted!
After a few hours of countless of research, far too many testers and a ridiculous number of options discarded for their rather-lacking shade options, I picked up the No. 7 Stay Perfect Superlight Foundation. At £14.50 this certainly wasn’t the cheapest foundation, but is it worth it…? So far, I’m saying yes!
Despite it looking pretty boring, I actually quite like the compact plastic tube; it’s perfect for traveling and throwing in the bottom of your bag (unlike a lot of foundations)! However, the squeezy tube and thin formula means you are in danger of wasting a lot of foundation. Getting the right amount of product out takes a lot practice – unfortunately this has meant I’ve gotten through my first tube a bit too quickly for my liking!
The water-based formula claims “
life-proof foundation with up to 24 hours wear, for a super-natural, flawless complexion with a barely there feel“. The formula is meant to be suitable for all skin types – how much this is true I don’t know, but for me it hasn’t drawn attention to any dry patches I have suddenly developed, doesn’t settle into pores and sticks around all day. The coverage is advertised as light/medium and buildable – I would say it’s definitely medium on me, with a second layer taking it up to full coverage. That said, my skin is pretty clear of blemishes right now. It stays put for a good work-day (including the sweaty broken-down tube – which happens far too often!), needing only a dab of powder if I’m heading out for a few post-office drinks. And the best thing? It blends into the skin like a dream. I have no patience for difficult-to-blend formulas, and this applies beautifully in less than thirty seconds.
The color (lightest shade, Calico) matches me almost perfectly as it has a slight olive-undertone – strange I know, when I had my face done by a makeup artist she said my skin was one of the most difficult she’d ever had to match! This is by far the closest match I have got, though I have noticed that it can oxidise slightly and go a little over-dark = the one downside! Other than that, the Superlight foundation gives me a natural, radiant yet non-shiny finish which I love. Definitely worth the price!
What’s your current go-to foundation?
