I woke up and all of a sudden stick foundations are everywhere. It’s not surprising considering we’re living in the time of effortless fashion and minimalism. Everyone wants easy, simplistic and no fuss. The stick foundation is a no-mess solution to what some women (and men) consider to be a daily must have for their beauty routine. I am one of those women. You will rarely find me out and about without foundation on, and not because I am necessarily insecure with my skin, but mostly because I’m an all or nothing type of girl. If I’m going to wear makeup, I’m going to wear makeup.
As someone who reaches for the product on a daily basis I’m obviously always on the hunt for the best formula and the easiest application. Which leads me to my love affair with stick foundations.
I’ve been loving the Make Up For Ever stick foundation for months but wanted to try something new. So I picked up a few of the foundations on the market with the best reviews and put them to the test! Here is how they did:
1. HOURGLASS VANISH SEAMLESS FINISH FOUNDATION STICK ($46)
After watching a Jaclyn Hill video and seeing her rave about this and then doing some research of my own I was very intrigued to try this. I love Hourglass highlighters and blushes and was sure I would love the foundation just as much. Unfortunately this does not have a good ending. Sigh.
In the store I was delighted to see that they had a shade that seemed perfect for my ghostly complexion (Blanc) and after doing the neck test and seeing that it blended in seamlessly I knew I had made the right choice. Fast forward to the next morning when I applied it to my face for the first time and it’s an entirely different story.
Never in my life have I found a foundation that was too pale for me. I know it seems like I’m being dramatic but you guys I’m not joking, it’s snowing 24/7 up in here. This shade made me look lifeless and scary. That being said I knew that my usual bronzer/blush/highlighter combo would bring me back to life so I didn’t hold this fact against it. I did however, become increasingly more discouraged as I blended it in with my oval brush. It. Does. Not. Blend. If anything it felt like I was smearing and even removing the product every time I attempted to buff it into my skin. I was so tempted to cheat and apply a different foundation!
The consistency is quite thick, leaving you to believe it will be a full coverage option, but don’t be fooled; it’s not. As you can see in the pictures above, I was not having the best skin day and thanks to this foundation everyone was going to know it.
Within two hours it began to break up on me and separate, leaving me feeling blotchy and confused. Was it me? Did I apply it wrong? Do I suck?
I tried it a second day with the same results, even after applying it with my beauty blender since a dense brush was not working. Still blotchy and cakey and not at all what I would ever want in a foundation.
This guy is sadly heading back to Sephora to be traded in for some lipsticks. Not worth the hype. If you had any luck with this foundation and think I’m a big idiot please tell me! Teach me your ways! I want to like it but I just don’t. #sorrynotsorry
If you’re still curious, get it here!
2. MAKE UP FOR EVER ULTA HD INVISIBLE COVER STICK FOUNDATION ($43)
I feel like I was kind of cheating with this one, considering I already love it and use it almost everyday. But I swear when I wore it and took these pictures I really looked at it critically and well…still love it.
I’ve been a fan of the Make Up For Ever Ultra HD Invisible Cover Foundation (essentially the same thing in liquid form) since it came out and I realized that they actually carried a shade to match my ghostly complexion. Once the stick foundation came out and I heard rave reviews I knew I had to pick it up.
My favorite part of this foundation is not only the great color match (115 if you’re curious), but also how buildable it is. It is not thick or heavy and can be applied in layers if you’re having a bad skin day and need extra coverage. I usually opt for just one layer and find that the coverage is more than enough to conceal any blemishes or redness. It looks glowy and natural and it lasts for around 8-10 hours before it begins to separate.
This is a foundation I will always have to have in my collection because not only is the formula fabulous but it is my favorite foundation to travel with! It’s easy to carry and I know that it will give me the coverage I need in any situation. Highly recommend! Get it here!
3. ANASTASIA BEVERLY HILLS STICK FOUNDATION ($25)
As a huge ABH fan I was really excited to see her release these sleek looking foundations and even more excited about the price. $25 is such a steal for a high end foundation! I was really rooting for this one and I am happy to say, it did not disappoint.
It is very comparable to the MUFE stick foundation in terms of formula and finish. It claims to give a “natural matte finish” and delivers just that while also providing excellent, full coverage. It is also very buildable and easy to layer on without appearing cakey. It is less product than the MUFE one (.32 oz vs. .44 oz) and therefore the actual stick itself is smaller. This means I had to use more of it to obtain the same coverage, but it certainly wasn’t anything excessive. It lasts for about 7-9 hours.
I picked the lightest shade (duh) in Porcelain and was really happy with the color match. It’s extremely blendable and easy to work with, making it a new contender for my favorite stick foundation. Get it here!
What’s your favorite foundation? Tell me in the comments!
Xoxo,
She
