Foundation For Fair Skin
From left: No7 Beautifully Matte in Calico, MAC Studio Fix Fluid in NW13 and NARS Sheer Glow in Light 2 - Mont Blanc
After many years of searching for a foundation fit for Casper the friendly ghost, I have settled on these 3 to help me beat the dreaded orange line between my face and my neck!
First is my newest find, and possibly the best colour (and it may be surprising that it is also the cheapest - hooray!) I resisted trying this one for a while, despite my sister raving about it - I guess I was a bit snobby and thought that a Boots No7 couldn't possibly be better than the current MAC one I was using. However when I had to borrow it one day I got a pleasant surprise, and went out to buy one immediately.
Coming in at £13.50, this foundation is great for very pale skin as the colour matches perfectly without being ghostly-white (I found that with the Bobbi Brown Porcelain foundations - maybe only try those if you're red-haired). I was also happy to find that it's oil-free, I'm 22 and have quite spot-prone skin but since switching to oil-free foundation and moisturiser I haven't had a problem. The texture of the foundation is nice and silky and it goes on like a dream. The only flaw is that maybe it doesn't stay on for as long as others I've tried (such as the Estee Lauder Double Wear which was AMAZING but their lightest colour was still too dark).
Next is my trusty favourite, the MAC NW13. This colour was only released a year or so ago especially for us pale girls, along with an even lighter NW10. I've worn the studio fix fluid for years now and it stays on well and up until discovering the No7 it was the only make which sold a suitable colour for my skin tone. MAC sell NW and NC foundations, with the NC being for people with pinkish undertones to their skin and NW being for the yellow undertones. However, only the NWs go as light as 13 and 10 (lightest NC is NC15) and as I have pink undertones I wish they would bring out an NC13. It is also oil-free and SPF15, so perfect as an every-day foundation - it also has quite a high coverage which I love. RRP is £21.50, so still much cheaper than the Bobbi Brown or Estee Lauder competitors.
And finally is the NARS foundation - when I first used this I was amazed by the finish and I was desperate to get one, the main negative being that it costs £31. I reserve this only for nights out, as it photographs amazingly well but also (as the name suggests) is very sheer and I prefer a matte finish during the daytime. It is also NOT oil-free, it has a silicone-enhanced base which helps contribute to its silky and shiny finish. Out of the 3 it is also probably the darkest, although there is a lighter one available (light 1 - Siberia). The light 2 seems to suit a range of light skin types - my 2 best friends and my sister all fit the same colour.
So that's all - I hope this helps! It has taken me years and cost a lot of money to find a few good foundations (plus many days of catching myself in the mirror with the dreaded orange line!) so please let me know if you found it useful/have any recommendations yourself.
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Much Love!
Christina x