The Best Foundations For Any Budget

Finding the perfect foundation can be a real pain in the butt. There are so many to chose from, first of all; drug store brands and high end lines, all offering a flawless complexion. But, how many of them actually deliver? And, once you settle on a brand, the task of finding your shade begins. I mean, who hasn't spent money on a foundation that ended up making them look either like an Oompa Loompa or Casper? I have had a tough time finding foundation with a good level of coverage that won't cause my acne-prone skin to freak out. But, I feel as though I finally have it down. Here are my picks for the best foundations fit for any budget!

(From left to right)

1. Flower Beauty About Face Foundation ($14): I have been a huge fan of Drew Barrymore's Flower Beauty since its debut a few years ago. Their products are sold exclusively at Wal-Mart (perhaps the only downfall), and are meant to offer luxurious, high-quality cosmetics at prices that won't break the bank.. Their foundation is perfect for all skin types, offering light to medium coverage. They have a great shade range, so it's easy to find your perfect match, and it has a really fresh, dewy finish. My skin has hit a bit of a rough patch meaning I need a bit more coverage, but I definitely plan on using this product again once my complexion settles down. It's my number one pick!

2. it Cosmetics Your Skin But Better CC+Illumination ($38): I recently went to Ulta to try out some higher-end brands since my skin has been so troublesome. I explained to an employee that I was interested in "clean" lines that would be more gentle on my skin, and she went straight for it Cosmetics' line. She matched me for this CC cream, and I was amazed at the coverage it offered. It also had a really dewy finish that looked so natural. I was super hesitant to invest that much into make-up, as I have been a drug-store shopper since my teens. But, I ended up going back for this foundation the very next day. And, I'm so glad that I did! This is perfect for the days that you want coverage, but don't want to do a full make-up routine. It wears like a foundation, but just feels like moisturizer. Plus it has SPF 50! The "CC" stands for color correction, and that is exactly what this product offers; covering redness and adding a beautiful brightness to your complexion. The shade range is pretty small, so I'd definitely suggest getting matched by an employee.  I started using their finishing powder, too, and the combination is uhh-mazing! Totally worth the investment. 

3. Rimmel Lasting Finish Foundation ($6): This is my holy grail full-coverage foundation. And, when I say "full coverage", I mean FULL COVERAGE. I picked this up from Target on a whim one day, and boy am I glad that I did! This product promises to wear for 25 hours, and it really does stand true. It goes on smooth and sets matte. I didn't need to use any concealer with this foundation; it's high-pigment formula really did cover everything that I needed it too. My only complaint on this line is its limited shade range. But, at such a low price, I really can't complain!

4. Revlon Colorstay Foundation ($12): This has become my new everyday foundation, as it offers medium to full coverage. The shade range on this line is the best I have ever seen from a drug-store brand. From the lightest ivory to warm olives to the deepest browns, Revlon really does have everyone covered. The Colorstay foundation does just that: stays. It's very similar to the Rimmel foundation, but has more of a dewy finish. This line comes in either "normal to dry skin' or "oily/combination'. I picked up the "oily/combo" formula from Ulta during a sale, and loved the coverage and creamy feel, but it later set into fine lines and blemishes, and made me feel like a flaky biscuit. I exchanged it for the "normal to dry" kind, hoping it would offer more moisture, and it really did the trick. The two really are like completely different products, and I'd recommend that you go for the "normal to dry' variety unless your skin is super, super oily. This foundation has great build-able coverage that looks very natural. Perhaps it's only negative is that is has seemed to give me a few more pimples than the other three foundations above. But, part of that is just my pesky skin. 

After searching for what seems like forever for products that work with my skin, it feels pretty good to know which lines to go to. Hopefully this helps some of you struggling with the same thing! Of course, I know there are tons and tons of make-up lines with beautiful products to offer, so if I missed any of your favorites, please leave them in the comments below!

-Heather