For a large part of this summer I’ve been on a long, long
ride on the struggle bud trying to find a foundation/ BB cream/ tinted
moisturizer that had decent coverage, doesn’t break me out and has SPF. It’s
essentially the unicorn of the face makeup world for oily skinned ladies or
those with acne prone skin, because unless SPF is done just right it is bound
and determined to break you out. To add to that, it’s hard to find good
coverage for existing blemishes in a lightweight formula. However, after much
searching and trying and many, many breakouts later I’ve found three products
of varying levels of coverage that I give a passing grade. And on that note my
three favorite summer face products are…
These! I’ve used the products over an extended period of
time to make sure my results were consistent and reliable and I’m pretty happy
with these products.
Product Number One is MAC’s Matchmaster foundation.
Matchmaster is a relatively new formula for MAC, and comes in a color range
that’s different from MAC’s traditional NC/NW rating. These foundations are
offered in shades from 1 to 10 with half shades in between – I wear a 1.5. The
formula is billed as “medium-buildable” coverage and contains SPF 15, which
while it’s relatively low it should be good for days when you’re not planning
to spend the entire day outside. I’ve tried a few different application methods
including the 187 brush by MAC and a foundation sponge but I’ve found that
using my fingers to apply gives me the smoothest and most covering application.
I found that it was extremely difficult to build color with both the brush and
the sponge, and with my fingers I can just tap extra product where I need it
without it getting sucked up in an applicator. The formula looks very natural
once applied and looks extra wonderful when set with an HD powder or MAC’s
Mineralize Skinfinish Natural.
Product 2 is a perennial favorite of mine, Smashbox’s BB
Cream. I’ve tried tons of BB creams and even a couple of CC creams but I always
come back to this one. I love the amount of coverage it gives while still
maintaining a natural finish, plus it has SPF 35 which is GREAT if you’re
spending time outside this summer. My only con for this formula is that Smashbox
claims the formula is oil controlling, but I see no marked improvement in the
oiliness of my skin when I wear this. However, I do have SEVERELY oily skin, so
that could just be me. I’m sure this might help girls with combination skin or
just lightly oily skin, but it certainly doesn’t help me. I have to blot or
reapply powder an average of three times a day when I wear this. I also prefer
using my fingers to apply this product (spoiler alert: that’s how I apply the
next product too).
Product 3 is Pixi Beauty’s Illuminating Tint & Conceal. The biggest con for me is the price tag – this product costs 30 freaking dollars and it’s from Target. Not a fan. However, I had wanted to try this product for a long time as it generally receives fantastic reviews, so I finally picked up a tube a while ago. I’ve used it quite a few times and I have to say I’m impressed. It has admirable coverage for a tinted moisturizer, plus the concealer in the cap is GENIUS. It’s a full coverage concealer, which is great because you definitely need that with a tinted moisturizer if you have any blemishes or facial scarring. It’s a truly genius idea and would be great for travel. It also contains SPF 20, which is a little above average for tinted moisturizer. Another thing about this product that may be a con for some is that it’s quite shimmery. I don’t mind it so much if I top it with powder but there is a good amount of shine to this product alone. Overall this is a really great product, but honestly I’m just not sure I’ll always be willing to drop $30 for it.
Like I said one of my conditions is that none of these
products break me out, which is true of all of them. Of course when you apply
with your fingers, make sure they’re clean. Overall these are good products –
the foundation is light enough that it’s not drying or overly moisturizing. The
tinted moisturizer is great for the weekends when you’re not doing much but
still want to look not so much like a zombie. Beware the BB cream: if it’s hot
enough that you’re sweating, it’s going to come off and if it doesn’t it will
slide all over your face and look terrible. Other than that I have very few
complaints about these products. They’ve served me well this summer through
long days at work, hot days in the city, busy days running errands and lazy
days at home. They’re great summer staples that beauty devotees will love. They
may not be for your average shopper as all of these products cost upwards of
$25 but if you want great face products that are tailored for summer skin concerns,
these are really great. I hope my advice will help you get flawless summer
skin!
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