Yahoo News I tested four budget foundations to find the best coverage and a £6 product won
Finding a foundation that lasts all day without smudging or looking patchy can be so hard, believe me, it's taken me a long time!
For years, I've been on the hunt for a foundation that doesn't budge or cost an insane amount of money. Whether you're heading to the Grand National or you've got a spring wedding coming up - I can help you.
A good base of foundations is the key to any seamless makeup look, so finding the right product that works for you is important. I'd always recommend trying out a couple of foundations first before settling on a main choice, and hopefully I can help you make a decision.
READ MORE: Grand National 2024 Aintree weather forecast for Thursday, Ladies Day and Saturday
READ MORE: Grand National 2024 sweepstake kit to print for free for the big race
We all know that the weather, particularly at an event like the Grand National in April, can be temperamental at times. That's why finding a foundation with a formula that you know works for your skin is essential.
Whether you prefer a matte coverage, or something a little more dewy, setting your foundation with a primer is a must. This e.l.f. Power Grip Primer priced at £9.74 on Amazon has been doing the rounds on TikTok, and it's very easy to see why.
It's the number one best-seller on the Amazon website, with shoppers praising it for helping your foundation 'last all day'. As well as a primer, I'd recommend investing in a good setting spray, like the popular Urban Decay All Nighter Setting Spray for £28 on LOOKFANTASTIC which I have sworn by for years.
Anyway, let's get into foundation. Here are my five favourites that won't break your bank account.
Collection Lasting Perfection Foundation - £6.49
I will continue to rave about this foundation for a long time, especially considering the fact it cost me less than a tenner. I wore this Collection foundation to my office Christmas party and it basically stayed on from 4pm-4am, and that's not even an exaggeration!
As mentioned in my previous review, this foundation formula is pretty thick which is something to consider. The best part is, it doesn't actually feel thick when you blend it onto your face.
Despite the thick formula, I was amazed at how thin and breathable this foundation felt on my face considering it had a very high coverage. I'm someone that likes to wear quite a lot of foundation, and this one felt really smooth and soft on my face.
It gave my skin a really nice glow considering it had a matte finish, and the shade 'Cashew' matched my skin tone perfectly. I've had a fair few people ask me what foundation I use and nine times out of ten I'm wearing this one.
Find out more about the Collection £6.49 foundation here.
The pros
It made my skin look flawless
It didn't budge all night
There's a vast selection of shades
It looks smooth on the face
The cons
It's a very thick formula
It can look cakey if you apply too much
L'Oréal Paris Infallible 24hr Freshwear Liquid Foundation - £11.99
This was actually my holy grail foundation a few years ago, and now I remember why. It’s absolutely perfect for me. The water based consistency makes it feel quite refreshing and almost moisturising on my face, but it still manages to dry matte and flawless.
It’s a really buildable product and doesn’t collect on your face, but it still lasts for hours. I wore this foundation all day at work, and although I got a slight shine to my nose after five or six hours, it still gave my face that airbrushed appearance.
If you choose this foundation for the races, I’d recommend bringing some powder with you for a top up to stop that shine from happening.
Find out more about the L'Oréal £11.99 foundation here.
Pros
It lasts for ages
It is water based so feels quite dewy
Gives my skin a flawless appearance
Cons
It did leave a slight shine to my face after a few hours
You have to apply a couple of layers if you want a flawless look
L'Oréal Paris True Match Liquid Foundation - £10.99
Described on the LookFantastic website as a ‘lightweight liquid foundation with skin-perfecting pigments’, I've loved this foundation for years. I was a little dubious about its shade matching promises, but believe me, it actually works.
If you're a bit rubbish at picking the right shade (like me) even if you're not absolutely spot on, this foundation manages to blend and match to your skin tone after oxidising onto your skin. Oxidising means when the pigments and oils in your makeup react to the air, causing your foundation to turn slightly darker.
I'd always advise testing this foundation out first to get the perfect shade, but as a whole, the formula is beautiful. It gives your skin a flawless, airbrushed effect and doesn't sink into fine lines at all.
Find out more about the L'Oréal £10.99 foundation here.
Pros
Gives an airbrushed aesthetic
A huge range of shades
Blends seamlessly into your actual skin tone
Cons
The coverage can be quite light
Applying the foundation with a sponge can result in some layering
Doesn't last as long as the others
BPerfect Cosmetics Chroma Cover - £19.95
Although this foundation is slightly more expensive than the others, my oh my is it full coverage! It leaves a beautiful finish on my skin.
For someone that struggles with blemish prone skin, this foundation covered them with just one layer, and it didn’t feel cakey in the process. This foundation went viral on TikTok for quite some time, and it's pretty easy to see why.
This probably isn't a foundation that I'd wear on a daily basis, because it is quite thick. However, for a special event like a wedding or the Grand National, it's a winner in my eyes.
Find out more about the £19.95 BPerfect foundation here.
Pros
It covered my blemishes completely
You only need one layer
It lasted hours
Cons
Quite thick on the skin
Not the most breathable foundation
Has a bit of a 'clinical' scent
Alternatively, if you'd rather spend a little more money on a custom-built foundation, beauty band DCYPHER allows you to create your own foundation coverage and finish tailored to your skin tone and skin type. Find out more here.
Receive the latest shopping news and reviews straight to your email by signing up here
