I figured there's no bigger challenge than listing all of the foundations I've tried to date. Afterall, I currently own more than my fingers and toes can count, so you could say I have a real addiction that's also kept in the fridge.
When living in Southern California, my skin was normal and leaned combo to oily in the summer months. Now that I have moved back to Northern California, my skin has returned to normal with occasional patches of dry skin on my nose and around my mouth. In the winter or vampiric moments of weakness, I am around an NC20-25 and can wear very cool yellow foundations if I cannot find a pale olive. In the deepest depths of the SoCal hell of summer, I can be a true olive NC40, but I can pull some products with a tinge of honey tones. I am not peachy whatsoever and warm foundations that lean even a little bit peach will look orange on me.
I have no prejudice against sheer or heavy coverage foundations. I love it all! My biggest qualm is staying power (doesn't break up, slide off, or clump on the face) and how "natural" the product looks on the face when its opacity and formula is taken into consideration.
Keep this list in mind if you're shopping around for a new foundation to try and around my shade range.
For Dry to Normal Skin
Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua in B30 and B40. Light to medium coverage and relatively natural looking. Not long lasting on me. Leans warm but peach.
Make Up For Ever Face and Body in 32 (Alabaster Beige). My go to foundation for "no makeup" days or days when my skin is flakey and dry. Buidable. Leans peach if built up in too many layers. Very long lasting for sheer to light coverage.
MAC Face and Body Foundation in C2, C3, or C4. Another favorite: very lightweight and dewy and forgiving to flakes and dry patches.
L'oreal Visible Lift Blur Foundation in Nude Beige and Sun Beige. Nude Beige is too light and leaning pink, but is still relatively yellow for most people. I liked the formulation and coverage, but it wasn't very long lasting.
MAC Studio Sculpt in NC20. This foundation runs dark, but it's a full coverage gel that's actually moisturizing and does very well with mature or drier skin without slipping off or clumping. I go back to this every winter. I make sure to set with a loose powder because it can transfer onto shirts.
MAC Mineralize Moisture Foundation in NC25. I liked this when I had drier skin in San Diego, but it was a transferring fiend! Light to medium coverage and nothing to write home about.
Neutrogena Healthy Skin Foundation in 60 Natural Beige. A peachy NC30 with light to medium coverage and good for drier skin types. I didn't care for it too much because it wasn't long lasting.
Smashbox CC Cream in Light. Matches NC25-30. Very kind to dry skin and can be worn with a light moisturizer. Light to medium coverage.
Buxom Show Some Skin Foundation in Dim the Light and You're A Natural. NC25 and NC30-35, respectively. Both can be worn as a tinted moisturizer with SPF 30 (it's too dewy with a lotion underneath!) I love this one when I'm rushing out the door or aiming for a natural look. HG.
NARS Tinted Moisturizer in St. Moritz. Sheer coverage, a little slippy, and too orange for my taste at NC30. I wore about half the tube before determining it wasn't doing my skin any favors. Doesn't hide even the lightest of broken capillaries. Overhyped.
Benefit Hello Flawless Oxygen Wow Foundation in Petal. Matches me at NC25-30. Very cool yellow. Ultra hydrating formula that can look wet if not set down. It's a perfect shade match for me, but it does need to be set well otherwise it will break up on the skin.
Koh Gen Do Aqua Foundation in OC2 (old formulation). Very cool yellow for NC30. Very long lasting and photogenic for a moisturizing foundation. It's a light to medium coverage with a lot of luminosity.
L'oreal True Match Lumi in W3 and W4. NC25-30 and NC35+. Not long lasting and cool yellow enough for my taste. Not to mention, it gave me huge clogged pores. Sad life.
Bobbi Brown BB Cream SPF 35 in Medium. Hot mess. It had very sheer coverage and did nothing to hide slightly uneven skin tone. Could be used as an expensive foundation primer.
Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum Foundation in 53. Runs light and can match NC25. Sheer to light coverage and only lasts 4-6 hours maximum. Very lightweight and natural looking on the skin.
Covergirl TruBlend Foundation in M4 Sand Beige. A great yellow toned match for NC35, but this foundation did not feel hydrating even though it slid off the face without powder. Unimpressive.
BareMinerals Complexion Rescue Tinted Hydrating Gel Cream in Buttercream. An instant HG. This tinted moisturizer has light coverage, decent SPF, and doesn't break up on the face after a few hours of wear. It's almost undetectable on the face with one layer and very kind to dry spots, textured skin, and general winter malaise.
Too Faced Born This Way Foundation in Light Beige and Sand. While Light Beige is too neutral for my skin, Sand seems to be much more golden/yellow for NC35-40 skin. This foundation is medium to full coverage, so expect some bunching to peach fuzz on the face. I noticed some settling into pores with this foundation, even if it didn't cake up around dry spots and flakes.
MUFE Ultra HD Stick Foundation in Y245 (120) and Y365 (123). An instant holy grail in terms of color match, coverage (medium-full), and lasting power (flawless through an entire work day once set!). This stick is easy to blend out with any application method and you can spot conceal or cover large areas. It's NOT for oily skin and combination skin types will need to blot in their problem areas. It's expensive (0.44oz of product for $43) but worth it.
Hourglass Illusion Skin Tint in Warm Ivory and Nude. This is yet another instant holy grail item. Warm Ivory is a cool yellow (around NC20 to NC23) and Nude is a peach leaning yellow at NC25-27. This product is divine for truly dry skin with flakes and dry spots and holds up all day with a light setting of powder. It has a very dewy finish if you do not set it down.
Dolce and Gabbana Perfect Reveal Lift Foundation in Caramel. Although blogs online led me to believe that Caramel would be the most olive color in the range, it's actually a VERY peachy foundation in the NC23-25 range. The formulation is liquid but creamy and sits well on dry skin. It has the potential of an HG foundation if only with a perfect shade match and reasonable price point.
L'oreal Lumi Cushion Foundation in N3.5. I am strangely a "neutral" in this line. W2 seemed too light and W3 is too peach (it's the same for the Lumi line for me) but N 3.5 is a decent match for me at NC25. It's more beige/grey than my neck but can be blended down. Very dewy finish and lasts only 4-5 hours on the skin with an oil control setting powder.
For Normal Skin
Revlon Nearly Naked Foundation in Shell. Light coverage and very natural, since some shades have more yellow tones than other drugstore foundations. It's not moisturizing, but it's very kind to drier normal skin that may have some dry patches. Not long lasting and needs to be set.
Dior Diorskin Nude Foundation in 31 and 21. Holy Grail. Ultra natural looking (like skin!) and long lasting.
NARS Radiant Cream Compact Foundation in Stromboli. Another great match for yellow olive NC35. Very kind to drier skin and lasts through a work day. Buildable coverage.
L'oreal True Match in W4. Surprisingly, my skin gets along with this foundation. It's a medium coverage but looks like makeup. Wears well but can transfer because it's on the thicker side.
WnW Coverall Cream Foundation in Medium/Tan. Matches me at NC30-35. Full coverage and non-cakey. Perfect satin finish. Lasts all day, but may have given me clogged pores.
Revlon Lifting and Firming Foundation in 30 Tender Beige. Great medium coverage foundation that's somewhat forgiving on dry skin but not textural issues. Leans very yellow for a drugstore foundation.
Yves Saint Laurent Le Teint Touche Eclat in B30 and BD40. Medium Coverage that's a little light but I could not find an absolute match for yellow-olive tones. BD40 matches me at NC35.
Skin79 Hot Pink BB Cream. My very first liquid face product. Medium coverage of a grey toned paste that adjusts to your skin color after several minutes, but only if you're around NC15-25. It didn't do much for me, and I threw it away when I moved from San Diego.
Lioele Beyond the Solution BB Cream. Matches me at NC25. It's a beige leaning yellow with light to medium coverage and good lasting power. It can look cakey around the sides of my nose if I don't blend well.
Liole Triple the Solution BB Cream. An even more neutral shade with light coverage that can match N20.
Laura Mercier Silk Creme Foundation in Medium Ivory and Bamboo Beige. NC25 and NC30, approximately, but can both lean a little beige. Medium full coverage and very long wearing. Kind to drier skin.
MUFE HD Foundation in 120 and 123. 120 is NC25 and 123 is a very olive NC30-35. Both are great color matches but the medium coverage can sometimes pill and bunch on my drier skin and highlight flakes dramatically. Works well with combo to slightly oily skin.
EX 1 Invisiwear Liquid Foundation in F200. Perfect match for olive NC25-30. However, the formula was too similar to MUFE HD for my liking. It tends to sit on the skin and can move around on the face, even if you set it with powder.
ByTerry Cover Expert in #7 Vanilla Beige. Very natural looking medium coverage foundation that's very long lasting. No caking or bunching whatsoever around drier patches. This shade matches me at NC23 and is very cool yellow.
Tarte Amazonian Clay Foundation in Medium Sand. Matches me at NC30. This one is a great full coverage foundation that works the best with a huge and dense kabuki brush to buff it into the skin. It's very nice to drier or oilier skin types and my go-to whenever I have a big event to attend.
Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation in #6. The best match for an NC30 olive, period. It's VERY green in the bottle. I found it to be medium coverage on myself with decent lasting power (but does not wear off in clumps or patches). Yes, it's very luminous and photographs beautifully.
Laneige BB Cushion in Light and #23 (Korean version). Very lightweight and sheer to light coverage. Light is around NC15-20 and #23 is NC20. I enjoy this compact for touch ups throughout the work day if my skin is feeling tight.
Bourjois Healthy Mix Foundation in #53. NC25-30. Holy Grail. Medium coverage, good wear time, and a flawless satin finish that can be dewy if not set with powder. It's more neutral with a hint of yellow but isn't off by any means.
Bobbi Brown Foundation Stick. I don't remember my matches, but I remember it was way too thick to be used as a foundation and much better as a spot concealer.
MAC Prolongwear Foundation in NC25. This runs a tad peach on me, but the formulation is excellent for normal to combination skin. It is indeed very long wearing without feeling cakey, heavy, or tight on the skin. It doesn't settle into pores or deeper lines for me, and the coverage is medium buidable to full. It's very comparable to NARS Sheer Glow. I found that it looks best applied with a Beautyblender but a brush also works.
Shiseido Sheer and Perfect in O40. This is a match for NC20-23. Great for slightly oily combination skin with no dry patches or flaking skin. Medium coverage but feels ultra lightweight on the face. Needs to be shaken violently before application. Applies best with fingers.
Laura Mercier Silk Creme in Oil Free and Moisturizing Edition (2015) in Sand Beige. A great olive toned color for NC27-30. Medium Ivory is a good yellow toned color for NC20-23. The moisturizing reformulation is semi-matte but not flat, wears well throughout the day, and doesn't require powder touchups. The oil-free version is very matte. I would not advise either for dry or dehydrated skin, and the oil free version is excellent for very combination/oily skin with no dry patches or flakes.
CoverFX Cover Drops in G40. This shade matches NC35+, but I use it to mix in with other foundations and tinted moisturizers to adjuster the color, coverage, and finish. It's very matte (almost unusable) by itself, so I recommend mixing it with a substance for hydration or oil control depending on your needs.
MAC Prolongwear Nourishing Foundation (Waterproof) in NC30. A beefy version of Face and Body, this formula doesn't lean quite as olive but is still a solid contender. It looks freshly applied all day, doesn't have to be set down with a powder, and doesn't accentuate dry spots or cause you to become more oily as the day progresses. Coverage is medium with one layer.
Covergirl Outlast Stay Luminous Foundation in Buff Beige. This is a rather neutral match for N20-25 and it needs to be mixed with a darker (and correct tone) foundation in order to match me. The line is definitely less beige/peach/pink than the original Outlast formulation. Without setting, it stays tacky on the face but lasts through 8-10 hours without fading. Although it doesn't settle into pores and fine lines, it can pick up on flakes and dry spots. Medium-full coverage.
Maybelline SuperStay Better Skin Foundation in Warm Nude. This is a perfectly olive match for NC25-30. It's a medium coverage and satin foundation that needs to be set down or misted, depending on your preferences. I don't think very dry or very oily skin types would find it as ideal. While it's a solid foundation, the one thing I dislike about it is how it looks like foundation on the skin.
MUFE Ultra HD Foundation (2015 Release) in Y365. This is the new reformulation of the old HD foundation, equivalent in shade to #123. It's very olive for light-medium to medium skin depth. The formula is fluid, provides medium coverage, and photographs beautifully. It is NOT long lasting and does transfer, so a good setting powder is needed if you want to wear it daily.
MAC Waterweight SPF 30 Foundation in NC30. Yes, it's peachy like the rest of the NC line. However, its sheer coverage + crazy lasting power makes it a must have for the work week. I always look polished and dewy with this foundation and a swipe of powder on the T-zone takes it from office to happy hour. It's not very friendly to dry patches but glides over fine lines. Close to HG status.
Smashbox BB Water SPF 20 in Light. This is a supposed dupe for the MAC Waterweight formulation, but I found that it had less coverage and lasting power. It's very good for "no makeup" skin days but the hard dropper bottle makes dispensing a hassle. I'm glad I got it on sale at Ulta, because I don't think it's comparable to MAC's formulation at all and not worth full retail value. Pros? It doesn't highlight flakes or slide off the face when set down with a powder.
Shiseido Synchro Skin Foundation in Golden 3. This matches me at NC25-27. While the bottle and cap is absolutely frustrating, one solid pump of this foundation will give me medium coverage in a demi-matte finish (that doesn't require powder) that lasts through the work day. I think it works best with truly normal skin, but won't highlight smaller flakes or slide/pool with excess sebum and oil.
L'oreal Pro Glow Foundation in 205 Natural Beige. This is a good olive match for NC25-30. While it looks good upon initial application, I found out that within hours it settles into fine lines, pores, and textural issues with or without primer. It provides a lovely glow and light-medium coverage, so I think those with good skin that's completely normal will enjoy it.
MUFE Water Blend Foundation in Y305 and Y405. Great formula for even complexion-ed gals or those wanting sheer to light coverage that will last through a long day of heat, sweat, and play. It definitely lets oil break through, so be sure to use a good powder and primer if that's a concern for you. I like the fragrance and ultra light-weight (non)feel on the skin. I also think it's very forgiving on raised spots, rough texture, and generally dry skin, though a heavy duty concealer is needed.
For Combination/Oily Skin
It Cosmetics CC Cream in Medium. Many complain that it's too yellow for them, but it was way too beige for me! It doesn't do well with textural issues like bumps and flakes but is a great medium coverage foundation with plenty of SPF (50!!) and lasting power. It looks great if you have a tad bit of natural oils coming through. Update: The shade Light is VERY olive/yellow and matches me at NC27-30.
L'oreal Magic Nude Liquid Powder. 322 Sand Beige is a match for NC30, but the formula is so sheer and lasts so poorly on the skin that you can be a few shades off and still "match". I didn't care for this at all, especially with having to shake up the bottle before each use.
MISSHA M Perfect Cover BB SPF 42 in #27: Great match for NC35 even if it leans peach. It had good oil control and coverage for a BB Cream.
UD Naked Skin Foundation in 4.0 and 6.0. 4.0 matches me at NC25-30 and 6.0 matches me at NC35-40. Both have very good yellow olive undertones, a lightweight feel, solid medium coverage, and a demi-matte finish. It's not amazing for oil control, but very kind to both drier patches and an oily t-zone. Makes my skin feel like velvet. Former holy grail.
NARS Sheer Glow in Ceylan, Fiji, Punjab, and Stromboli. Fiji is a peach leaning warm tone for NC25 and Punjab is definitely very peachy NC30. Stromboli is a yellow olive for NC35 and Ceylan matches me exactly at NC23. It develops a lovely sheen with your natural oils half way through the day. I loved the formula (former HG) when I had combination to oily skin, but it doesn't do well with textural issues like flakes or dry patches. Normal skin may enjoy it for its medium to full coverage and long wear time.
Covergirl Ready Set Gorgeous Foundation in 210. Matches NC23-25 as a neutral beige leaning yellow. Great at oil control and very lightweight. Light to medium coverage and lasts decently.
FlowerBeauty BB Cream in B200. Matches NC25. Very good oil control, light to medium coverage, and decent wear time.
Smashbox BB Cream in Light/Medium. Matches me at NC30. Excellent oil control and light/medium coverage. Lasts through a work day and isn't paste-y for a BB cream. A former HG in SoCal.
Garnier Oil-FreeMiracle Skin Perfector BB Cream. The darker shade for Medium/Tan skin is very orange, but this BB Cream is excellent for combo/oily skin that doesn't need much coverage but oil control.
Dior Star Foundation in 21. Matches me at NC25. Many enjoy this foundation, but I found it to look too "makeup-y" especially around the nose and sides of my mouth. It's a medium to full coverage but suffocatingly heavy on the skin and never seems to sink in. It photographs beautifully but I didn't enjoy this one at all.
Dior Forever Foundation in 31. I thought it would match NC35, but it oxidized on my skin to be NC40+ Despite this issue, it was very natural looking for a full coverage foundation and toughed through scorching Anaheim summers when I was dripping in oil and sweat. Disgusting.
Sephora Airbrush Foundation in Medium. A slightly peachy NC30-35 with medium coverage and very lightweight. It's not messy to apply and controls oil like a champ, wearing through hours and hours of hot weather. I hear Fawn is a great match for NC25-30 with obvious yellow tones.
MAC Studio Fix in NC35: A little on the obvious side, but very long lasting coverage and wear with excellent skin tone match. It does not do well with dry patches whatsoever.
Revlon Colorstay in Golden Beige. A match at NC25. Felt like paint. Smelled like paint. Stayed on like house primer. Loved it when I had ultra oily skin in the summers of SoCal.
Almay TLC in Buff. NC20-25. Very good cool yellow tones and excellent at oil control. A great option if you're very oily and on a budget. Medium buidable to full coverage.
Covergirl Outlast Stay Fabulous 3 in 1. Couldn't find a true match. 832 Nudge Beige was too...beige even if it was the same depth as NC25. I enjoyed the formula and full coverage otherwise.
Kevyn Aucoin Sensual Skin Enhancer in SX08. This can be used as a spot concealer or foundation if you have the patience to mix it every morning (I don't). SX08 is a very yellow NC35. If you have heavy hyper-pigmentation and oily skin, you will enjoy this product. It stays on very well and feels lightweight. When I want to make my own long wearing full coverage foundation, I mix a tiny dot of this with Hourglass No. 28 Serum Primer and apply with fingers.
L'oreal Infallible Pro-Matte in 104 Golden Beige. A standard medium coverage foundation from the drugstore that's actually yellow and not peach. Long lasting, but can cake up around the nose and gets patchy after 6 hours of wear. Needs to be set with a translucent powder.
Maybelline Fit Me (Normal to Oily) in 120. This is more neutral and lighter than its original counterpart. Very good at oil control if you're combination to oily and lasts all day on the face. Velvety/powdery finish. Light medium coverage.
Marc Jacobs Re(marc)able Foundation in 36 Golden Beige. A great foundation for normal to oily skin types. It's full coverage and lasts all day even in the heat. I didn't see it settling into pores or lines with a good moisturizer underneath. You only need 4 drops for maximum coverage and I find it best applied with a dense buffing brush. This color is ULTRA yellow and matches NC35.
Covergirl Clean Matte BB Cream in Light Medium. This is a good neutral leaning yellow match for NC30. The BB feels ultra lightweight, provides medium coverage, and looks extremely natural on the skin with a soft matte finish that isn't too powdery or drying. I really like it for "no makeup" days. It lasts about 5-6 hours before fading evenly on the skin. Wear can be extended with powder.
Charlotte Tilbury Magic Foundation in 6 Medium. Although this shade is very olive and a great match for me, the formula is extremely reactive to textured skin with any semblance of pores, lines, flakiness, or general human resemblance. I can only imagine it being good for very very oily skin that is not acne prone. The coverage is very full, but my darkest sun spots still show through slightly.
Urban Decay All Nighter Foundation in 4.0. This is a perfect match for NC27-30 who have olive undertones. It's lightweight and you only need one pump for maximum coverage. Oils start to break through on my nose at the 3 hour mark, but a quick blot takes me through the entire work day. It's actually the best "max coverage" foundation I've ever used.
