Thursday, February 2, 2012

Going Undercover: A Guide to Natural Foundations/Concealers

Whether you're going the natural route or searching for a conventional one, a good foundation is always tough to come by. One size does not fit all and the hassle of finding your perfect color is enough to drive anyone crazy. And when you're hunting for a natural one, the search gets even harder. But trust me, it's worth the hassle. Natural foundations can do wonders for your skin. You'll have yourself wondering why the hell you ever thought of putting that other crap onto your face.

I've had acne for years and it's been a mission of mine to find a good, eco-friendly foundation to help fake the skin I wasn't born with. Over time, I've sampled a bunch--- everything from tinted moisturizers and concealers to mineral and liquid foundations. Here's a little guide to help you sift through the cover-up jungle.



1. Physicians Formula Organic Wear Loose Powder - $13.95
This has become a mainstay in my routine. I use it to set my foundation and get rid of shine. The coverage is too translucent to be used alone, at least in my opinion. But it gets the job done for a great price. The kabuki brush included is pretty much worthless. I use one from Eco Tools that is far better.

2. Physicians Formula Organic Wear Tinted Moisturizer - $9.95
This was one of the first natural cover-ups that I tried, simply because you can find it in most drugstores and it has a price tag of under ten bucks. Provides light coverage and leaves my skin looking fresh. However, this would probably be more suitable for dry skin, considering all the lovely moisturizers that it contains.

3. Alima Pure Matte Foundation - $22
I was originally a Bare Minerals kind of gal, but after learning that bismuth oxychloride, an ingredient in the popular foundation, may be linked to breakouts, I decided to ditch it. As an alternative, I came across Alima Pure to satisfy my mineral foundation needs. It provides awesome, light coverage without irritating my skin or being too chalky. Finding my color was pretty easy, thanks to their awesome shade selection.

*Alima Pure is currently having a 20% off sale on their matte foundation through February 13th*

4. RMS Beauty Un-Cover Up - $38
Sampled from Spirit Beauty Lounge, this concealer is absolutely fabulous. It's made with only the best ingredients, providing superb nourishment for skin. The coverage is really great, too. Just a little dab on top of a blemish does the trick. Best of all, my tiny little sample lasted forever. A little definitely goes a long way. Hopefully, more shades will be added in the future--- only four shades exist at the moment.

5. Dr. Hauschka Pure Care Cover Stick - $21.95
As the newest addition to my make-up routine, this little stick covers up those pesky pimples that peek through your foundation. Not only does it hide them, but it also treats the blemish with tea tree and manuca oils. I'm slowly starting to realize that I can't live without this product. Definitely worth the money.

6. Dr. Hauschka Translucent Make-Up - $31.95
Currently a staple in my make-up routine, this foundation has a similar texture to Nvey Eco's: light, water-like, and very blendable. Dr. Hauschka is known for infusing soothing plant extracts and oils into their cosmetics, making it a great choice for sensitive skin types. Covers my breakouts nicely while evening out my skin tone. Although the tube is a bit small for the price, it lasts a long time. Just a small dot of foundation goes a long way.

7. Nvey Eco Moisturizing Fluid - $42
This foundation has been hailed as one of the best natural foundations out there. It's used by many professionals which means that it comes with a professional pricetag. I sampled some shades from Spirit Beauty Lounge and was pretty impressed. Despite having a light, water-like texture, this product provided some great, natural looking coverage. Choosing a shade was a bit difficult. Definitely sample some shades before committing to this purchase.

8. Vapour Soft Focus Foundation - $48
After being hailed as the best foundation by Fig & Sage's beauty awards, I had to give this one a try. I ordered some samples directly from their website. The shade selection was very nice. They certainly try to provide products for the very pale, the very dark, and everyone in between. I was satisfied with the medium to heavy coverage; it never looked cakey. However, the texture was a bit odd. It had almost an oily feel to it that was a little hard to blend.









Hope these helped!
What's your favorite natural foundation? Have you ever tried any of these?

1 comments:

  1. it's been my mission to find a good foundation! i can't seem to find one that matches my skin tone well since im relying on pictures online. currently using the bourjois healthy mix serum which isn't too bad!
    love your blog! :)

    http://elaeraloves.blogpspot.com

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