Are you looking for a long-lasting foundation that will get you through from day to night whilst providing you with all the coverage you need yet still look like you’ve just applied it? With so many foundation releases over the last 12 months, it’s easy to get overwhelmed especially as many don’t come cheap. Fear not though, I’ve rounded up the cream of the crop: the top 5 best long-lasting, full coverage new foundations launches of 2017/2108 for all skin types.
If you just want to read about a particular long-lasting, full-coverage foundation, click on the link below to take you straight to the relevant review. I have also included my own colour match for those of a similar skin tone to myself (for reference I have a light to medium warm skin tone with yellow undertones, am of south-east Asian descent and a MAC equivalent to NC25-NC30 when not tanned i.e. in the winter months and an NC35-NC40 when tanned i.e. in the summer).
- Armani Power Fabric Longwear High Cover Foundation
- Laura Mercier Flawless Fusion Ultra-Longwear Foundation
- NARS Natural Radiant Longwear Foundation
- Yves Saint Laurent All Hours Full Coverage Matte Foundation
- Hourglass Vanish Seamless Foundation Stick
1.Armani Power Fabric Longwear High Cover Foundation – BEST FOR ALL SKIN TYPES (For reference, I use the shade 6)
The Power Fabric Longwear High Cover Foundation is the latest base offering from Armani and it sure has made a big impression since its launch in early 2017. Hoping to follow in the footsteps of the brand’s other coveted bases such as the Luminous Silk and the Maestro, the Power Fabric Foundation claims to deliver ‘full coverage with a matte, lightweight second skin finish’ and comes in a whopping 20 shades, catering for different undertones.
This is not the type matte finish often associated with ‘cake-face’ due to the ultra-thin, oil enriched (sans greasiness) formula and achieves more of a velvety-soft matte effect that is virtually undetectable on the skin. The coverage provided sits somewhere between a medium and full, and it offers an SPF of 25 so it’s a great choice if you’re out and about during the day.
2. Laura Mercier Flawless Fusion Ultra-Longwear Foundation – BEST FOR NORMAL to OILY SKIN (For reference, I use the shade Dusk)
The Laura Mercier Flawless Fusion Ultra-Longwear Foundation is the brand’s most long-wearing base offering and claims to be ‘sweat, humidity, water and transfer resistant’ whilst providing ‘flawless full coverage and 15 hours of wear’. Its high performance, oil-free formulation delivers a matte, weightless second – skin finish that is neither flat or cakey and is easily buildable from a medium to full coverage (a little product goes a long, long way). It covers a wide spectrum of skin shades and undertones with 20 shades available in the range. This foundation is a must for those who struggle with keeping their base in place all day particularly during the warmer months where things tend to slip and slide within mere minutes of application. Whilst some opt to go without foundation when on their summer vacation or swap for a lighter base, for those that still want the coverage but without the weight then the Laura Mercier Flawless Fusion Ultra-Longwear Foundation will have you covered. For dry skin types, prep skin well beforehand by making sure it’s well moisturised.
3. NARS Natural Radiant Longwear Foundation – BEST FOR DRY SKIN (For reference, I use the shade Stromboli)
If a matte finish isn’t your bag and a more naturally glowing and radiant appearance is more your cup of tea then look no further than to the NARS Natural Radiant Longwear Foundation which comes in an impressive 33 shades! If you tend to find that foundations are more favourable to those with more of a pink or neutral undertone to their skin, then you’ll most certainly find your warm match amongst Nars’ shade selection (I’ll eat my hat if not). This foundation boasts of a 16-hour wear time and claims to be fade-resistant. It’s also infused with fruit extracts like raspberry, apple, and watermelon which supposedly helps to smooth and improve the look of skin for that ‘full-powered radiance’ effect. Its lightweight formula blends easily on the skin and leaves behind a ‘lit from within’ radiance that isn’t overly dewy that its borderline greasy, just a naturally glowing complexion that stays put. Whilst this base is suitable for any skin type, those who have a drier complexion and are constantly on the search for glowing, radiant skin that lasts, this is a match made just for you.
4. Yves Saint Laurent All Hours Full Coverage Matte Foundation SPF 20, – BEST FOR NORMAL/COMBI/OILY SKIN TYPES (For reference, I use the shade BD35 Warm Caramel)
The Yves Saint Laurent All Hours Full Coverage Matte Foundation claims to provide the perfect, flawless complexion that lasts an incredible 24 hours! YSL’s new liquid foundation offering is available in 22 shades and is said to be both waterproof and transfer-resistant (which makes layering products on top such as concealer and powders very easy – no lifting product or powdery patchiness which can be super annoying). Its oil-free formulation is also said to be infused with a black tea antioxidant complex for added skincare benefits, combatting the appearance of any dullness and fatigue all the while protecting the skin from pollution and environmental aggressors. The foundation builds very easily to achieve its full coverage promise and its matte appearance veers more on the side of a soft-focus satin rather than flat, dry and cakey. The end result is a finish looks like skin that has been flawlessly air-brushed whilst remaining light and fresh for hours.
5. Hourglass Vanish Seamless Foundation Stick – BEST FOR NORMAL SKIN TYPES (For reference, I use the shade Nude)
The Hourglass Vanish Seamless Foundation Stick is the travel-friendly base that promises the ‘coverage of a concealer, fluidity of a liquid, and weightlessness of a powder’ for a finish that is full in coverage yet totally invisible on the skin. The stick foundation has come along way since its conception and Hourglass has hit the nail on the head with its super creamy formulation that practically melts on the skin upon application so makes blending an absolute breeze. Very little effort is needed to go from zero to 100 and a little product goes for absolute miles. Despite its high coverage, the finish is a soft satin leaving the skin looking very natural (rather than mask-like) for up to 12 hours. Available in 32 shades, its unique triangular tip also makes application easy especially in the crooks and contours of the face. Also, because of its stick packaging, the Hourglass Vanish Seamless Foundation Stick is a great product for touch-ups on the go. A word of warning though, the foundation can cling to dry patches so if you have really dry skin or flaky patches, you may want to avoid or prep the skin very well beforehand. And those with more of an oily skin type, be prepared to blot and powder during the day.