Back in August I went to Sephora and tested out their Color IQ, a new technology that they launched in conjunction with Pantone to make matching your foundation easier (I wrote about my experience here.) After testing out products, I decided to go with the Sephora Collection 10 HR Wear Perfection Foundation (in Medium Almond) ($20) bc I liked both the coverage and the way it felt on my skin.
An oil-free, lightweight formula, the buildable coverage helps conceal dark spots and blemishes while soft focus pigments help blur fine lines and wrinkles. It contains Vitamin E and hyaluronic acid, so it also treats and protects skin while you wear it. It has a velvety finish, so skin looks soft and slightly matte, but not flat.
I have combination skin (my t-zone can get really oily sometimes), so I needed a foundation that provided good coverage without looking like a mask, and would also last. While it didn’t last 10 hours on me, I got a good 5-6 hours of wear before I noticed it fading, which is good, especially considering it’s been 80+ degrees & humid here for most of the time I’ve had it. I’m sure come Winter it will go to 8-10 hours. It was also great on nights out (when it REALLY counts!)
If you’re someone that doesn’t like to wear a lot foundation but needs more coverage than a BB cream or tinted moisturizer, I’d definitely recommend this. It’s really lightweight, it has a pump dispenser so you can measure it out (1-2 pumps will do), and the color match is almost flawless. It comes in 17 shades, but definitely use the Color IQ system for matching; it uses your undertones to match and you don’t want to wind up with a color that is too yellow or pink.
If you’re an MUA and can’t quite afford MUFE or NARS but need something a little heavier than a drugstore brand, this formula is a great next step for your kit.