My Top 5 Foundations for Dry Skin

I'm sitting at my desk at work and can't help but feel the Irish autumn weather is slowly but surely creeping in. I'm starting to feel chilly and I know none of us want to talk about it but I have definitely started to feel a change in the weather this week and the Winter cold in the morning time has certainly arrived.

More damning evidence to support this theory is that my skin is already starting to act up. I dunno about anyone else but my skin gets particularly fussy during the Winter months so I really have to be careful what I use on it. So I figured if anyone else finds themselves in the same predicament as me at this time of year this would be a useful article to have. So here are my top 5 foundations for dry skin (in no particular order)

Just keep in mind - foundations can only look as good as the skin that's underneath them so if there's anything you should take from this it's to take care of your skin, especially during the colder months. Remember to moisturize morning and night - using a moisturizer that SUITS YOUR PARTICULAR SKIN TYPE (people seem to neglect this and just buy any old moisturizer) - and cleanse your skin twice a day, again using a cleanser suited to your skin needs.

Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation (€49 - Brown Thomas)

     

Don't hate me. I know this is expensive but the glow it gives your skin just can't be beat, and it's perfect for cold, dry weather! It's a medium to medium - full coverage foundation and buildable. It's very light weight and gives your skin that glow it needs in the dull winter months.

MAC Cosmetics Mineralize Moisture Foundation (€39 - Brown Thomas)

  

 I know, another pricey one but a slightly less expensive yet very similar alternative to the Luminous Silk foundation.They're comparable formula wise but I find the Giorgio Armani one wears a little bit better - on my skin anyway. However I do still really like this one. I find it gives my skin more luminosity than the Giorgio Armani formula does which tends to make it slip off the skin a bit more quickly. But with a good primer and setting powder, it works wonders. If you're unsure about it, you can always pop into your local MAC counter and the lovely staff members will have no problem in giving you a very generous sized sample for you to try at home yourself and see if you like it!

MAC Cosmetics Studio Sculpt Foundation (€36.50 -Brown Thomas)

  

You didn't think I was gonna write this post and not give an option for you full coverage lovers to choose from did you?? Studio Sculpt by MAC holds a very special place in my heart as it was actually the very first high-end foundation I ever bought. I got my makeup done professionally and products chosen specifically to tailor to my needs for the first time for my 18th birthday at MAC and this is the foundation the lady chose for me. It is a medium - full coverage, gel based foundation that gives a beautiful radiance to the skin when it's applied. It is enriched with shea butter which makes it perfect for hydrating dry skin. Because of the fact it is a gel-based formula, it's a little trickier to apply than other foundations in that you have to be very careful with the amount you use. If you over apply it can be difficult to blend out but when applied in pea sized amounts it's beautiful. I wouldn't recommend using a duo-fibre brush when applying this as I find the bristles aren't sturdy enough to hold the thickness of the product, so I tend to use a flat paddle brush like the MAC #190 (available here) or any flat, stiff foundation brush and then if you feel it necessary, buffing out the edges of the face with a duo-fibre brush to blend it all in.

L’Oréal True Match Lumi ( I can’t find it online but I’m pretty sure you can get it in Boots and Superdrug or Ulta if you’re in the States)

The ultimate drugstore equivalent to the foundations I have mentioned above, I absolutely love this stuff I've been using it for years. Depending on where you purchase it, it ranges between €12 and €18 in Ireland. I believe I picked it up in America for about $12 or $13. It's a medium coverage foundation and if used with a very light hand it can definitely be light-medium coverage, so perfect for summertime when you don't want to feel like you have too much product on your skin. One thing I'll say about this is you need to apply a fair amount of powder over it or slightly bake in order to keep it in place all day.  Even I notice it starts to separate a bit on my skin the longer I keep it on, even with a primer underneath and I have very dry skin. But as long as it's set in place properly it's gorgeous.

NARS Sheer Glow Foundation (€43 - Brown Thomas)

What can I say? I'm a sucker for an exceptionally good, high-end foundation. Partly because I'm a complete and utter makeup addict and can't say no to trying a product everyone raves about and this is unquestionably a classic when it comes to foundation for dry skin. Also because my skin is so dry and sensitive, when I find something that works and actually looks good I stick with it and don't mind paying the price. This is a medium coverage foundation with a natural satin finish. The glow definitely isn't as severe off of this foundation as it is with the others I've mentioned but its very hydrating and doesn't dry out your skin. Obviously I love to pair this with it's counterpart, the radiant creamy concealer also by NARS to give me a beautiful, even complexion available here

So there you have it, those are my personal top 5 favourite foundations for my overly dramatic, dry skin. Obviously there are tons more out there that are great as well. Clinique moisture surge is beautiful, MAC face and body is a classic for runway-ready skin and Bourjois healthy mix serum foundation is a good one too. So there's definitely a lot to choose from to suit all your skin needs. And again, if you are unsure about trying a certain foundation, for the most part if you go into the store and ask the sales assistant for a sample they'll have no problem giving one to you :)

If you have any other questions or concerns about picking out a foundation for your skin type that you'd like me to help you with just leave a comment or tweet me @michelley_mc :)

Xo