Daytime Delight: Hello Flawless by Benefit
Benefit Hello Flawless Oxygen Wow SPF25 Brightening Make-Up in Champagne, £24.50, and Benefit Hello Flawless SPF15 Powder Cover-Up in Champagne, £24.50, both available from Benefit.com
For a gorgeous daytime foundation, I use the Benefit Hello Flawless range because it is so light yet adds a beautiful warmth to the face. It feels super soft on the skin and smells divine...heavenly!
I like to sweep over a layer of the Hello Flawless Powder Cover-Up in a matching shade for an extra boost of cover which lasts all day, without that nasty cloggy feeling.
Apologies for the stern face in my swatch picture above (it would appear someone forgot to put sugar on my weetabix that morning!) but as you can see, the Hello Flawless foundation is subtle but effective... perfect for daytime coverage.
Nighttime Full Coverage: MAC Studio Sculpt
I use MAC Studio Sculpt for a trustworthy coverage on those big nights out. It has a really thick liquid consistency, a gel based foundation which is fantastic for dry skin. I find the Studio Sculpt is best applied with a foundation brush, and a little goes a LONG way. It's also buildable, so you can layer the application to create a high coverage. Here's a before and after picture, featuring my dear friend Anna...
I would recommend leaving this foundation for a couple of minutes before applying powder to the skin surface, as it does set. I always use a mineral-based translucent powder (such as Rimmel Stay Matte in Transparent, £3.99) over the Studio Sculpt for an utterly flawless finish, quashing any unwanted shine in the process.
The High Street Steal: Rimmel Match Perfection
For a lower priced foundation, my tried and tested favourite is the Match Perfection Range by Rimmel. It might not feel as super soft as the Hello Flawless range by Benefit, and it might not be as super flawless as the MAC Studio Sculpt, but for only £6.99 I was seriously impressed. The SPF18 foundation blends really well, with no streaks or patchiness. It's great that more and more high street foundations are combining coverage with sun protection too! As with all liquid foundations, I like to set with a loose powder. The Match Perfection Silky Loose Powder, £6.99, works well and leaves a lovely soft finish, but I couldn't see much difference between that and the Rimmel Stay Matte in Transparent, £3.99, which is a few pounds cheaper.
Rimmel London Match Perfection in 040 Soft Beige Skin Tone Adapting Concealer and Highlighter, £5.99
I love the fact that Rimmel have developed a whole range of complimenting products to suit everyones coverage needs. The matching concealer is a brilliant high street alternative to YSL Touche Eclat (priced at a staggering £25) and works brilliantly on those troublesome areas, without standing out like a sore thumb. The concealer is bright and illuminating, lifting the dark under-eye area without dodgy creases.
Again, apologies for the slight scowl below (I really must work on my snaps!) but as you can see, my coverage looks nice and natural with a light glow. A great high street buy for those with normal to dry complexions.
Get all the best beauty news! Follow @poutoutproud on Twitter and Like Pout Out Proud on Facebook
