Ladies and metrosexuals: what is the best drugstore foundation?

[StellaBlue]

And, please, no "pier and beam" answers. ;)

I am about to go on a shopping run, and need some. My skin is normal/sensitive, and I'm white, with fair-to-medium olive skin. I want good coverage in a liquid foundation, no rub-off, stays on all day. Impossible, I know.

[NewWaveChick1981]

1. L'Oreal True Match foundation. This one is not a "stay put" formula, but

it does stay put. They have a very large selection of shades in warm, neutral, and cool tones. There is matching powder and concealer, too. Costs between $8-10 a bottle depending on where you buy it. You can check your newspaper, too---sometimes they run $2 off coupons in the coupon section. :) True Match is great because it covers well and blends exceptionally well. You can also correct mistakes and streaks well after the fact.

Hope that helps. :hi:

Revlon ColorStay regular foundation (they've come up with many versions, but the regular is best) is a good second choice. That one really doesn't rub off, and you have to work fast or it gets streaky and doesn't blend.

Edited to add: I'm a makeup junkie and have tried just about everything, both drugstore and dept. store. This is my educated opinion!

[StellaBlue]

2. Thanks! I'm using TrueMatch right now.

It doesn't provide enough coverage for me, and fades after a few hours. Also difficult to blend, as it dries too fast. It's okay, though... :shrug:

I was reading reviews on MakeupAlley, and Cover Girl Clean and Maybelline Smooth Results are pretty highly recommended, for those of who can't afford Chanel or Laura Mercier.

[NewWaveChick1981]

3. I used to hang out at Makeup Alley a long time ago.

I liked the info, but there were way too many flame wars for my tastes. Glad they have some good advice there! :)

[IsIt1984Yet]

5. I use and like the Cover Girl Clean. And, I do like the Maybelline Smooth

Results as well.

Both are good recommendations in my book. :thumbsup:

[Flaxbee]

4. I also like Almay, but I prefer sheer coverage

so that might not be what you're looking for.

And as a plus for me, Almay doesn't test on animals; I believe L'Oreal does. Cover Girl does, Maybelline doesn't.

[LeftyMom]

6. Please look for a brand that isn't tested on animals

I know finding decent makeup is a pain in the ass, but the extra time to find some that wasn't rubbed in the eyes of rabbits is well worth it, in my opinion.

Companies that don't test on animals: http://www.caringconsumer.com/pdfs/companiesDontTest.pdf

Companies that do: http://www.caringconsumer.com/pdfs/companiesDoTest.pdf

Other than that, I can't help you. I haven't even owned any makeup in years.

[IsIt1984Yet]

7. Dupe.

[IsIt1984Yet]

8. Those lists can be misleading. They refer to companies whose finished

product is not tested, but they do not necessarily hold suppliers of raw ingredients and finished products to that standard. Look at Avon's own statement:
http://avon.avon.com/avonfaq/default.asp?levelid=1266&displaymode=qa&oldlevel=8&category=%3Cb%3EThe+Company%3C%2Fb%3E

"..not require that suppliers of raw ingredients and finished products produced for Avon conduct animal testing on our behalf".

OK, they don't REQUIRE animal testing be done, but they don't hold them to cruelty-free STANDARDS either. So, one link calls Avon virtuous for their standards and another urges you to boycott them for the lack of accountability for their suppliers (http://www.uncaged.co.uk/products.htm), which, let's face it, is where the bulk of the testing is really done.

[LeftyMom]

9. True.

The best bet is to go with a brand that has a really strict anti-testing policy and no animal products (because what's the point in a non-tested product when it's got animal fat or ground up beetles in it?) I like Beauty Without Cruelty for hair stuff, I'm told thier makeup is nice as well.

[Flaxbee]

10. Bath and Body works used to have on its label that

the FINISHED product has not been tested on animals, but obviously they weren't working too hard to make sure the ingredients were cruelty free....

[LeftyMom]

11. They got bought by L'Oreal, which is a big tester, so I doubt even that

lame attempt at ethics will stick.

[IsIt1984Yet]

12. Exactly. It's faux ethics. "well, *WE* don't test on animals¹"

¹Our suppliers might, but jeesh, that isn't *US* doing it!!

[AzDar]

13. I have tried just about EVERY foundation known to woman (Dior,

Lancome, Lorac, Clinique,etc.),and I swear I always come back to CoverGirl Smoothers.
I used to LOVE Loreal's 'Visuelle', but they stopped producing it.