Liquid foundation was something I came into late in my makeup life. I came into makeup late in life as it was, but that’s a story for another day. When I discovered liquid foundations that were actually comfortable on my skin without looking like I was headed to the Beijing Opera, I couldn’t stop. I also discovered that as my skin got drier, liquid foundation actually felt more comfortable and looked better on than powder foundation, which I’d been using before.
After all these years, and after realising that every morning, when I reach for a foundation, I find my hand hovering over just a few in the drawer, it was time to share with you my favourite liquid foundations 🙂
I make no apologies that barring an extra 2 which are not included in the group shot for reasons which I’ll explain below, my favourite liquid foundations come from the department store brands, which means they come from the higher end of the price scale. I use so little product and I get such wonderful finishes from these, I have no real desire to find cheaper options. So, apologies if you’re looking for a pharmacy/drugstore brand in here, I have none in my Top 8 but I’ll tell you of 3 I like, further down 🙂
My personal preference for liquid foundations is for light-medium coverage that is buildable, with a lightweight texture. I don’t look for high coverage foundation although most of these can be built up to a degree. For everything else, I use concealer.
One more note before I delve into each product – I apply all my liquid foundation in the manner shown in one of my rare tutorial posts. I sometimes use a brush as I have shown, but I usually use my fingers to “draw” the lines and then a flat top brush to buff it out. This way, I get a far thinner and lighter and more even finish.
Won’t be going into detail with each product either. Where I’ve reviewed them, I’ll link to the full review and where I haven’t, I’ll share my quick thoughts on them. So here we go, in no particular order, my Top 8 Liquid Foundations 🙂
RMK Liquid Foundation #201 (Read the full review)
One of my first introductions to liquid foundation from a makeup forum I was on, and still one of my favourites. The water based texture is so light on skin, it doesn’t turn oily nor fade and I love the light to medium coverage I get with this. The lack of a pump does not bother me. I use my finger to cover the hole, upend it, draw a line and repeat before buffing it all in with a brush. I tend to pick this one on hot days because it seems to stay on and look a lot better without turning me into an oily mess. #201 is the lightest pink based shade. If you have a yellow tone, go for the numbers that start with 1.
Urban Decay Naked Skin 1.0
For some reason, I never got round to reviewing this in detail but I will at some point. I was actually surprised that I liked this. It is lightweight and the texture is light and liquid and the coverage is actually pretty good. I’d put it at having medium coverage but I sheer it out to a light coverage instead. It feels lovely and comfortable on skin even in our hot and humid weather, and evens out my skintone very nicely and naturally. I’ve been using this for the better part of a year and still loving it.
Lunasol Skin Modeling Liquid Foundation OC-01 (Read the full review)
Holy grail! That is what this foundation is. I’d easily pick this one as my No. 1 liquid foundation for it’s lovely lightweight texture, lovely coverage, ease of use and just all round making me look flawless. It sits very well on skin, doesn’t enhance dry or flaky skin, blends like a dream and doesn’t oil up at all, even in our weather. On days when I want to put my best face forward, I automatically reach for this foundation.
Guerlain Lingerie de Peau 01 Beige Pale (Read the full review)
This one is probably the one with the heaviest texture and coverage of the 8 I’m featuring here. The shade is a little tricky because even the lightest shade, Beige Pale, isn’t as light as the name implies. If I put on too much, it can make me look a wee bit darker as the day goes on, so I am very careful to put on a very thin layer only. I love the coverage because even a very thin layer gives beautiful coverage and glow to the skin and when you layer on a thin layer of Meteorites pearls, you glow! Love this for the evenings especially, under yellow mood lighting 🙂
Diorskin Nude Skin-Glowing Makeup 010 Ivory
Diorskin Nude is wonderful texture for liquid foundation and one of the earliest introductions to high end liquid foundation that had me hooked. When it was first launched (Diorskin Nude Natural Glow Hydrating Makeup), I actually have reviewed it but they later discontinued that version and replaced it with the Skin-Glowing Makeup which has a lighter texture and a slightly more yellow base which is a little more flattering. This one isn’t drying, and I could build it up to a fuller coverage if I need to but what I love is the glowy effect I get. It isn’t oily, it doesn’t slip off but it does give my skin a nice even tone that looks natural. I love wearing this for daily wear and I can skip my Meteorites if I like. I actually have quite quite a few of the Dior foundations from their different ranges so let me know if you want to know how the different ones perform. This one’s my favourite.
RMK Gel Creamy Foundation #201 (Read the full review)
2 foundations from the same brand in my Top 8? Yeah, when they’re both this good, they deserve to be 🙂 The Gel Creamy foundation is thicker than the liquid foundation in the square bottle and is, I feel more suited for someone with drier skin. It is lovely! The coverage is light-medium, it glides on and gives pretty decent coverage and it just makes you look like your skin but better. It’s also a heck lot more portable than the square bottle!
Lunasol Water Gel Foundation 0c-01
Another brand that gets top billing twice! I also never got round to reviewing this one but I reach for this a lot especially when I feel like I’m having a good skin day and don’t want too much coverage. The coverage is light at best, buildable a little but not by very much. It is very lightweight, very comfortable, hydrating on skin and does a great job at evening out my skintone. If I wanta little more coverage, I usually buff on some powder and I’m good to go. I also like travelling with this one because it’s fuss free and the packaging is wonderful, just like using a sunscreen 😀
Make Up For Ever HD High Definition Invisible Cover Foundation N115
I wasn’t expecting to like this one, but I did! I find the coverage of this one among the heaviest of the ones I own, yet the texture is lightweight which always surprises me. The coverage is closer to that of the Guerlain Lingerie de Peau but is light in texture like the Diorskin Nude. It feels comfortable and I always make sure I apply very little and sheer it out because I’m not into the full coverage look. But I do like how it makes my skin look photo ready and if I top it up with the Nars Light Reflecting Powder, I’m definitely camera ready! I’ll review this on its own some day.
I thought it might be useful to show some swatches of my Top 8 liquid foundations just so you can see how the texture and shade selection looks.
(1) RMK Liquid Foundation #201 (2) Lunasol Water Gel Foundation OC-01 (3) RMK Gel Creamy Foundation #201 (4) Lunasol Skin Modeling Liquid Foundation OC-01 (5) Urban Decay Naked Skin 1.0 (6) Diorskin Nude Skin Glowing Makeup 010 Ivory (7) Make Up For Ever HD Foundation N115 (8) Guerlain Lingerie de Peau 01 Beige Pale
Barring the Urban Decay Naked Skin, the rest are the lightest shades in the ranges. The textures and formula run from light to heavy if you look from left to right but I think you could tell that 🙂 The shades also differ slightly but they all work once sheered out.
I’ll include a bonus of 2 foundations I like, with the caveat that I didn’t showcase them as my favourite because I keep getting differing views and reports of their availability and whether they are discontinued. I love them, but I can only vouch for the formula in the bottles you see in the picture. I haven’t been impressed by the others I have tried from the brand so I cannot speak for the foundations in different packaging. Just these.
Bourjois Healthy Mix (Full Review) and Healthy Mix Serum (Full Review) #51 Light Vanilla
I’ve been extolling the virtues of the Bourjois Healthy Mix and Healthy Mix Serum foundation since 2010 and 2011 respectively and I still love them. They’re lovely going on the skin, lightweight, decent coverage and a fair enough colour match for my skin although they do tend to have a yellow tint. Healthy Mix is thicker with higher coverage than Healthy Mix Serum. I have been told at different times that either one or both have been discontinued, or repackaged, or revamped but I have no comment as I have not seen the later versions. So, I think these are wonderful, but only the ones I have. Nothing more.
Revlon Colorstay Liquid Foundation Combination-Oily Skin 200 Nude (Read the full review)
Another bonus pharmacy/drugstore inclusion is the Revlon Colorstay foundation in the oily-combination skin formula. The coverage is high but the texture is lighter than the previous formula which is why I prefer it. The shade also matches me well and I reach for this when I want a higher coverage foundation. Lovely quality, good coverage and affordable.
And there you have it. My Top 8 Favourite Liquid Foundations with the bonus 3. For light coverage, I’d pick the Lunasol Skin Modeling Foundation, Lunasol Water Gel Foundation, RMK Liquid Foundation and Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum. For medium coverage, all the previous ones which can be layered, and including the Urban Decay Naked Skin, RMK Gel Creamy Foundation, Bourjois Healthy Mix and Diorskin Nude and for higher coverage, Make Up For Ever HD Foundation, Guerlain Lingerie de Peau and Revlon Colorstay. I have a foundation for every occasion! 😀
Do any of my favourite liquid foundations sit well with you as well? What are your faves that I did not mention?
If you have a fave you think I might like, do share! I’m always on the lookout for new favourites. Also, I’ll be slowing down even further after this with posts so do expect it to get even more sporadic. I have a lot going on right now and something has to give. In this case, it’s the blog. Thanks for sticking by anyway! 🙂
Paris B
I have to say my current favourite or current most used foundations are (mind you, I’m a liquid foundation person) the Chanel perfection lumiere and the Dior Forever liquid. I’ve got both in different colours though…the chanel one is slightly darker and the dior one is my usual or now ‘slight lighter’ skin tone compared to half a year ago. Sigh, got the chanel one right after coming to the uk when my skin was more ‘tanned’..hence the different colour match – which is annoying me madly cause on days when I feel I want to wear the chanel one, I have to mix it with another foundation shade to get the right colour..sigh..
Umm, the L’oreal true match foundation seems popular (personally, tried it, hate it). It has been circulating he blogosphere for a while now, I think and so is the Nars sheer glow (again, tried it, and personally I felt that it doesn’t live up to its ‘sheer glowy’ hype but its alright, not reaching for it often though; but that’s just my personal opinion. A lot of peeps out there would disagree with me.) -which is raved so terribly about that I’m surprised it didn’t end up on the list as most beauty bloggers go mad about it, most-.
Sheer Glow is completely not sheer, and completely not luminous. haha. I think consumers just have to live with it! If you know it is not what it is called, and you don’t like matte high coverage foundation (which is what Sheer Glow really is), then you can choose to steer clear of it.
It is a naming thing, and it gets on the nerves of some. Nonetheless.
Foundation is something that consumers must ask for samples before buying. Ignore the sales people. My NARS counter kind of eyeballed and snubbed me when I asked for the sample.
Thanks for sharing your favourites Robert 😀 I never had any luck with Chanel foundations which is a pity because I hear the Perfection Lumiere is very highly raved! But they all tend to oxidise on my skin and the colour match is so poor because they don’t carry my shade locally if you can believe it! Tsk 😛 I remember trying True Match but it was the formula from many years ago so I don’t know if it’s been improved since. L’Oreal does make quite nice foundations but the ones we get here also tend to be Asia exclusives so it’s again different from the rest of the world. I have tried Sheer Glow and I do like it but I didn’t include it in my list because I never bought it 😛 I keep meaning to and never get round to doing it 😛
I like Bobbi Brown Skin Foundation as the shade match my skin nicely and not too light nor too heavy coverage, just nice like my own skin but enhanced LOL Other foundations, I found either too greyish, whitish or yellowish. And what I like about this foundation is even though I applied myself with my amateur technique, the result is still good in bright light and natural sunshine.
It’s hard for me to let go Skin Foundation as it works fine with me and besides, with other foundations, I don’t want to get heartache on shades and coverage that not suit to my needs and crying a river over unused 90%-left-in-bottle foundations.
That’s great to know it works so well for you Fathin 🙂 I found it very difficult to find a colour match in Bobbi Brown because her foundations are all so yellow 🙁 But I can imagine that most people will find it a very good match due to the warm tones! So you’re the lucky one 😀
Diorskin Nude is actually one of my favorites too! My other favorites are Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua and NARS Sheer Glow. I know they seem to overhyped but they work lol.
I’m not a big fan of Estee Lauder Double Wear Light though. Too sticky for my liking, always need to mix it with primer so it can be applied with no streak.
However my skin’s been behaving lately so most of the time I’m good only with tinted moisturizer
Yay for Diorskin Nude! I love it 😀 And who cares if they’re overhyped foundations so long as they work eh? They have to be hyped for a reason 😉 I found the EL foundations all a bit too heavy for me and the colours were all off. Turns out they don’t carry my shade here so every shade is too dark! LOL! No wonder I don’t like them 😛
Bourjois Healthy Mix is now revamped to Healthy Mix Radiance Reveal, but HM Serum is still available! Just so you know. I tried HM Serum, then HM Radiance Reveal, but in the end swapped away the Radiance Reveal and went back to HM Serum!
Thanks for the Bourjois update KS 😀 I was told that the Healthy Mix Radiance Reveal has warmer tones than the plain Healthy Mix which is why I was quite upset about the change since that means I won’t be able to replenish anymore boo! Still, it’s good to know they kept Healthy Mix Serum. That’s lovely!
Awesome post, Paris! I think we have similar tastes – I will check out that UD foundation, and the Dior as well 😉
Haha glad you liked it Larie and we do tend to like the same sort of base products I noticed so your recs always have me intrigued too! Do try to get a sample of the UD foundation. I really liked it, much to my surprise! 😀
I’ve only sampled the Diorskin Nude, but I really, really liked it. It’s similar to my other favourite, the Lancome Teint Miracle, but perhaps lighter in coverage. I’ve also been liking the YSL Teint Touche Eclat, and the Giorgio Armani Maestro, the latter of which is only for good-skin-but-oily days.
You could be right about Teint Miracle, Teresa. I couldn’t wear Teint Miracle due to a poor shade selection and because it oxidised but I remember it felt quite nice. I’ve also heard a lot of good things about the YSL and GA one and I’m really curious about the Maestro to be honest but we don’t have either brand here and I’m too scared to take a plunge buying online LOL! I’ll definitely have to check them out next time I see a counter 😀
Lovely collection! I’m happy to see the drugstore foundations as well and I’ll try Revlon colorstay for sure now 😀 I’m curious to know if it lasts you all day since you sheer it out and apply..
Yep, I definitely had to include a couple of drugstore faves so there’s one to suit every budget 😀 Yes, the Revlon does last all day on me despite my sheering it out. It just sticks on! Nice product 😀
Oh thank you for sharing this! Been waiting for it to come up 🙂 I think I will be making a round at RMK & Lunasol this week to check out the Lunasol Water Gel Foundation & RMK Liquid Foundation. And yes, I’ve been loving the Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum one too, its amazing 🙂
Another of my favourites for foundation would include Nars Sheer Glow and I really like that one! 😀
Yay! Glad you like the Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum too. The coverage surprises me considering it’s got such a light texture. I do like Sheer Glow too but as someone else asked, I didn’t include it because I don’t actually own it LOL! 😀
I swear by RMK Gel Cremy Foundation too! And I am sure I will like the RMK Liquid one. Hehe, I don’t own full size because every time I buy a blush, the assistant gives me generous amounts of gel creamy foundation. And each sachet can last me 4-5 use. It is THAT good – a little goes a long way. And I reserve my samples for high-coverage special occasions.
My heart was a little broken some time back when you didn’t review the UD Naked. But I noticed you sneaked in a little love for it here and there, and I am so glad you are happy with the UD Naked. I must say, UD Naked is my first true love in the liquid foundations arena. I like it over Bourjois Healthy Mix, because it is more liquid-y.
Unfortunately, I have realised that the UD Naked is really not as good as RMK or NARS when it comes to staying power in our tropical climate. I always need to set it with a lot of mattifying loose powder on non-rainy days. Talk about perfect foundation for summer/tropical climate, probably RMK gets it hands down.
The other one I really, really do LOVE is the NARS Sheer Glow. It is a high coverage one. And for people who are not going the way of Estee Lauder Double Wear, there is simply no need to use NARS Sheer Glow. Sheer Glow is extremely matte and completely flawless in finish. Very unfortunately for me, I cannot find a perfect match for my skin.
They alternate the tones of the shades, so you get pink-yellow-pink-yellow-pink-yellow. So each time you skip from one pink to the next, the foundation jumps two shades darker, not one.
Wow you have a generous RMK SA 😀 Well on the plus side, you don’t actually have to buy the foundation and still enjoy using it 😉 It’s good stuff, I’d agree with you. I do like the UD Naked a lot but it’s one of those things I never got round to reviewing LOL I always find it so hard to talk about foundations because you need to get the right photos and everything and by the time I do, I’ve forgotten where I put the photos. But I do like it and it surprised me because I can’t say I’m a huge fan of anything from Urban Decay 😀
I like Sheer Glow too based on what I’ve tried. I keep meaning to buy a bottle but I never end up doing it LOL I remember the coverage is pretty good although I can’t recall off hand if it sets matte. I usually only have it on when there’s a makeover and you know, they tend to apply more than you’re actually used to 😛
I have been a liquid foundation person for as long I could remember. I’ve had forays into other textures but always came back to liquid. I MUST try the Lunasol ones! You have me intrigued.
Oh I LOVE the Lunasol ones Zulfa! I am even thinking of trying the cream versions that come in a pot which is crazy because I know it maybe too heavy for our weather here, yet I’m tempted because people tell me it’s amazing! 😛
I love highend makeup but i always reach for my bourjois healthy mix & revlon colorstay!
I tried the dior forever flawless and was so disappointed i never gave the nude skin a try.perhaps i should ask for a sample the next time i go to sephora.
I remembered using the mufe hd for a party and literally had an awful makeup meltdown in five hours.Maybe because i used it together with the benefit porefessional,or is it bad for vy oily gals like me?
I wish my local sephora would carry guerlain as i have been wanting the lingerie de peau for the longest time now. *Boohu
Thanks for the long list Paris! Would def give some of these prods a try.
You’re welcome Ayen and yay! We like the same drugstore foundations 😀 I personally am not as big a fan of Diorskin Forever because it’s just too matte. Definitely my least favourite one although when I do use it (since I already own it, I might as well do) I mix in some serum or moisturiser and it lightens the texture and makes it more comfortable. The lasting power is quite something though 🙂 Do try to get a sample of Diorskin Nude when you’re at Sephora and see if you like it. I’m so sorry to hear that MUFE HD didn’t work for you 🙁 It could well be your skin just not taking to it, I’m not sure if other oily skinned gals have experienced the same thing. Did you try using it without Porefessional?
in your swatch, #3 & #8 look like colors from different end of spectrum! am still into BB skin foundation 😀 really one of the best match so far after trying out quite some foundations. but i am quite liking the borjoiuos healthy mix serum, and it looks like it can last forever ><
Haha yes they do look totally different right? That’s why I Have to use the Guerlain one lightly because it is a bit darker than expected. I like some BB products too, but then I realised all the BB I like are all like light foundations! LOL p/s the Bourjois does last forever. I’m still on my 1st bottle 😛
Hi Paris, I’m wondering where is the Shiseido Perfect Refining foundation that used to be your HG or those that u have reviewed are better? I’m liquid foundation person when I started with foundation as all the powder foundation are too cakey for my dislikes. Started with Lancome Teint Miracle and falls in love immediately. Now I’m loving my NARS Sheer Glow as I do received compliments for good skin. Have u try any Shu Uemura Lightbulb foundation?
Hi Sharon, I liked the Shiseido Perfect Refining and I still do but I didn’t quite consider it HG material because I realised that I don’t reach for it as much as I do the ones I’ve featured. It is nice but a little heavy for my liking now that I tend to use light foundations so the textures of my foundation picks do reflect that choice 🙂 It’s still a very good product and I do still like it a lot though 🙂 I couldn’t use Teint Miracle but like you, I like Sheer Glow too. Just have to buy it LOL! I haven’t used the Shu Lightbulb liquid foundation. I was interested but a very poor experience at the boutique put me off as the SA didn’t seem interested to sell it to me nor was she able to explain it to me. Wasn’t too keen on the sponge either. I’m not sure if I’ll ever try it but if I do, I’ll mention it at some point 🙂 I do have the powder version to try but havent’ got round to doing so 🙂
Interesting picks, I haven’t tried most of these 🙂 My latest love is Clarins HydraQuench Tinted Moisturizer.
Gah! Do you know that we don’t get any Clarins makeup anymore? They only sell the skincare here now! I’m so disappointed 🙁 The Hydraquench tinted moisturiser sounds like something I’d like!
Ahh I used to love Guerlain foundations, until I had the horrible realisation that they\’re far too pink toned and dark :(My faves are Dior Skin Forever, Laura Mercier Silk Creme (Soft Ivory is perfect match for snowmen like me but the coverage is a bit too much) and everyones favourite, Luminous Silk 🙂 What about your \’least favourite foundations\’?
You’re right Celine, Guerlain foundations do lean pink which is probably why I like them but I can imagine that many warmer skinned people won’t 🙁 You’re also right about the Silk Creme coverage! Boy, is it full coverage or what?! LOL I too wear Soft Ivory 😀 I used to like Luminous Silk as well until like you, the realisation that I was between shades if you can believe it, so I had to get rid of mine. Pity because the texture was so good! Hmm least favourite foundations? Anything that’s too heavy or thick. I can’t think of any off hand but I don’t wear anything from Lancome or Chanel or Estee Lauder because their shade selections are off for me. Can’t think of one I’d hate off hand though!
Eep sorry for the double post ._.
Of the foundations you reviewed here, I have the RMK Gel Creamy Foundation and Makeup Forever HD Invisible Cover Foundation. The RMK is thicker and heavier than MUFE HD so I wear it when I want full coverage. RMK does not clog my pores or cause any breakouts (I have normal to oily skin). MUFE HD is the best foundation I have in my collection, which includes Shiseido Perfect Refining Foundation and Shiseido Radiant Lifting Foundation. I love the Shiseido Foundations but MUFE has the most perfect colour match for my skin tone. MUFE has so many shades of foundation that it’s hard to go wrong. I have never tried the Guerlain and Dior foundations (now you’ve got me curious about them) or Lunasol (not available in the US or Europe, but I’ll check them out in Tokyo this fall). Thanks so much for your detail reviews and comparisons!
Hey Evie, that’s so interesting that you find the RMK Gel Creamy foundation thicker than MUFE HD! For me it was the other way around haha! But you’re right, both are pretty high coverage. I love how the MUFE one really makes my skin camera ready and you’re right, their shade selection is impressive! I do like Shiseido’s Perfect Refining too but the Radiant Lifting was such a disappointment for me 🙁 Oxidised and looked oily 🙁 Do check out the Lunasol one if you have the chance. The Japanese make excellent foundations, I’ve realised so most Japanese brands do very good ones! 😀
At the moment I’m using Diorskin Nude and I’m really liking it. The texture is wonderful and it looks so natural on the skin. I’ll probably try the MUFE foundation next. Your description intrigues me. 🙂
Yay, happy you like Diorskin Nude too Gio! 😀 Definitely give the MUFE one a go when you have the chance. Shade selection is a bit tricky but I really like the effect!
Paris why you do this to me? I’m still on the search of a perfect foundation but my budget it’s tight; however I don’t know if I have to be grateful because 4 of them aren’t available in Mexico so I can’t go and look at them.
About the cheaper ones: the Revlon doesn’t have testers so I won’t buy it without trying on and Bourjois still carries here both formulations so I’ll check them.Right now I’m on a powder foundation period but I still want a good liquid foundation for oily skin, because I think powder looks cakey easier and the finish is flatter.
Haha sorry Efrain! I do confess to being a bit of a foundation snob 😛 But do try the Bourjois one. It’s very nice and if you don’t want too much coverage, go for Healthy Mix Serum which feels nicer on than Revlon unless you want more coverage 🙂 I’m not good with the shades, but maybe you could be a #53? Give it a go and let me know how you like it? It shouldn’t be very expensive 🙂
PB thank God you aren’t a SA 😉 but in Bourjois powder I’m a #57 (a powder that I’m sure was one of the reasons I broke out more), in fact I prefer more coverage so I’d chose Revlon but again the testers problem.
I still going to take a look of the Healthy Mix Serum because if everything looks more unified even if it isn’t completely covered looks good.
(I’m happy you’re answering comments again).
Hmm… because I’d be really crap at picking out shades? HAha! 😀 Actually if I’m to be honest, I picked #53 because that’s the darkest shade we get here LOL I kid you not! But I’m sure you’ll find something and you know, what I’ve learned is that sometimes, it’s not worth covering up everything because it can be too thick. Instead, consider doing a lighter coverage of foundation, just to unify the skintone, as you say, dab a touch of concealer on the areas that really need coverage, then take a good powder and buff all over. You might just be surprised at how much better, and more natural it looks! 😀 p/s I’m glad to be back even if only temporarily but I’m so relieved to have caught up with comments! 😀
Hi, i would like to ask you what’s your favorite foundation when u attending a party which you might take photos under flash light?
Hi Carine, I’d probably pick the Make Up For Ever HD Foundation. It photographs well for me 🙂