Battle of the Drugstore Foundations

Hey guys, I'm back!! Sorry it's been a few, the end of last semester got crazy with finals and moot court obligations. However, don't worry, because the whole time I was gone I never forgot about my blog and have been trying out multiple drugstore foundations in preparation for this post!




As you know, I am fairly new to the whole liquid foundation thing. I had been using powder foundations my whole life because my skin is super oily and that was what everyone always told me I should do. However, I think with the technology in makeup these days, that old rule should be officially kicked to the curb. There are TONS of liquid foundations that are oily-skin friendly, as well as dry-skin and combination and any other skin type you can imagine. 

I already talked about my love of the Revlon Colorstay here, and instead of limiting myself to just one, I decided to try a foundation from all of the major drug store lines and see how they stack up against each other. I've been alternating wearing each one for the past couple of months, and I am officially ready to share my absolute favorites, as well as some that I don't think measure up. Hope you enjoy!

The Contenders

Almay Clear Complexion Makeup

This foundation is definitely my least-favorite of all the ones I've tried. I bought it when I was experiencing some breakouts because it has "BlemisHeal" technology in the form of Salicylic Acid, so it's supposed to help clear up your skin. I plan on keeping it on standby in case I have a particularly bad skin day, although I definitely won't repurchase it once it's out. First of all, this foundation is SO sheer. I don't know about you guys, but I have hyper-pigmentation and scars that I need my foundations to cover up, and with this foundation you literally have to cake it on to get any coverage. Which brings me to my second point: it does not blend well at all. I use a foundation buffing brush to put my foundation on, and with this one I literally had to put the brush down and smooth it out with my fingers to get rid of the streaks. 

Additionally, I bought the darkest foundation color they had, Sand, and it is still too light for my skin. I don't know why they don't have darker shades, maybe it was just at the particular store that I went to. I've been making it work by dusting my bareMinerals foundation over it, but it's definitely annoying.

Neutrogena Healthy Skin Liquid Makeup SPF 20

If I had to sum up this foundation in one word it would be "meh". Literally, to give you an idea this foundation was one of the first I bought to try and after wearing it a few times it has literally sat in my makeup drawer neglected because its just so forgettable. I do remember what I don't like about it, once you put it on it literally stings your face for a few seconds, I don't know why but it's quite unsettling! 

Ok so I just went to go try it on so I can actually tell you about this foundation. It has pretty good coverage and goes on smoothly, although it does feel a little greasy. A lot of people say this is a dupe for Nars Sheer Glow (which I've never tried) so there's that. I remember from the times I've worn it that I was decently happy with its staying power; definitely not as happy as some of the foundations I've going to talk about next but it didn't completely melt off by the end of the day. It also has SPF 20 (physical kind!) and antioxidants which is nice. Overall this foundation is just average in my book, I probably won't purchase it again. If you have drier skin you might like this foundation more.

L'Oréal Magic Nude Liquid Powder

This foundation is so cool! It literally is just what its name says: a liquid that as you spread it out becomes almost powder-like in texture. It literally leaves such a silky-smooth finish, I love it. It feels very lightweight and really lets your pores breathe. Coverage is pretty good as well, it dries to a nice matte and it lasts all day. The only con I can think of with this foundation is watch out, it really is a liquid! The first time I tilted it to pour some out I spilled a lot of it because it just came out so fast. Once I got the hang of it it was fine though! I will definitely be keeping this one in my makeup bag.

UPDATE: It's been three months since this post and I just wanted to say that this foundation has moved to the BOTTOM of my list because this morning I opened it up to use it and it literally poured out clear! It had completely separated and was nasty. Even when I closed it and shook it up, the consistency was not the same anymore. Apparently this is a foundation that you need to shake daily if you even want it to stay wearable. Fail in my book. Will NOT purchase this again.

Revlon Colorstay Makeup

I just had to throw this one in since it is one of the drugstore foundations I've been using, and I really like it. Especially if you have oily skin, this is such a good option because it dries matte and it does not budge. It is easy to apply and it gives good coverage. It also lasts all day for me (not too sure about the 24 hours claim on the bottle). If you are looking for a good, dependable foundation that will last, definitely check this one out! 

Maybelline Dream Matte Mousse Foundation

This foundation is another one of my favorites! What I love about it is how easy it is to apply; I find myself reaching for it whenever I need to get ready in a rush. It comes in a little pot so I just use my fingers and spread it out all over my skin really fast. It dries to a soft matte finish but it also has jojoba oil to keep your skin moisturized throughout the day. Its super blendable and smooth, and it gives really good coverage that you can build without looking too cakey. Loving this foundation!

Covergirl Outlast Stay Fabulous Foundation

This foundation is my absolute favorite foundation of the moment! It is 3-in-one because its supposed to be foundation, concealer, and primer all in one. While the coverage is really good, I do find that I need to add a little concealer after I apply this, but I have really dark under-eye circles so you may not need to. It is extremely long-lasting, I always reach for this foundation when I know I am going to be out all day. Even with the Revlon Colorstay or Maybelline Dream Matte I usually experience some fading by the end of the day (because of my super oily skin), but not with this one. It is the only one I have found that stays put all day and does not oxidize. 

The only thing I don't like is you have to blend it out kind of quickly, because as soon as you apply it, it tends to start drying. Other than that, I absolutely love this foundation, and I think its a really good option for all skin-types. I actually splurged on a more expensive foundation around the time I bought this, and I have to say, I like this one better! (I will review the other one on here soon). Definitely try this foundation if you haven't already!


Alright guys, I hope you enjoyed this little foundation breakdown!!! Clearly the drugstore champion of the moment is Covergirl Outlast, but I will keep you posted if I discover a new drugstore foundation that I like better.

xoxo Patricia