Quick version: Out of the 384 foundations at Nordstrom, these are the very best four! (psst. all on sale, 3x the points too, and free shipping!)
Foundation has come a LONG way since the days of cake-face and orange demarkation lines along the jaw. We think seeing the bad foundation application jobs in high school scared so many of us (us included) away from using a liquid foundation for YEARS!
Thankfully, cosmetic technology has improved drastically, and now we can count on foundation to conceal, but not take over. You still get to look like YOU, but with a little foundational help. 🙂 We’ve tried so many foundations over the years and these are our tried and true, go-to’s that we always have in our makeup drawer, plus expert tips on how to choose and apply them!
PLUS, don’t miss out on an amazing sale where you can save on ALL the foundations in this post!! Keep reading for details.
In a hurry? Shop our top picks below:
Table of Contents
DEAL details!
First thing’s first, a deal! Right now, you can get 15% OFF select foundations at Nordstrom. There are 226 foundations on sale at Nordstrom rn and we can’t wait to share our top 4 with you today! You can also get FREE 2 day shipping for a limited time. Shop the sale HERE!
PLUS there is a 3x points event going on for beauty items right now! That means you can earn 3 points per dollar if you are a Nordy club member, 6 points per dollar if you are a Nordstrom Cardholder, and 9 points per dollar if you are an icon and ambassador cardholder. Who wouldn’t want to take advantage of that?! We definitely are!
How to choose the right foundation
Skin Type
First, let’s talk about HOW to choose the perfect foundation for your skin. The most important thing to keep in mind when choosing foundation is your skin type! Most people are either dry, oily, both or neither. What does this have to do with foundation? Depending on your skin type, foundations have certain ingredients that can help control oil, add moisture, etc!
As a rule of thumb, if your skin tends to be oily, choosing a matte foundation or one with fuller coverage usually works best. We would also suggest topping your foundation with a setting powder, like this one! It will keep your makeup in place longer, as well as help absorb oils throughout the day.
If your skin is more dry, look for foundations that have words like “glowy” or “luminous” in the description. Lots of times these foundations will include ingredients like shea butter, natural oils, or hyaluronic acid which boost your skin’s moisture content!
Color and Undertones
Warm, neutral, cool undertones, what does it all mean and HOW do I find out what my skin is?! IT Cosmetics’ website gives a really informative tutorial on how to choose your foundation color, based on undertones! You can also head to Ulta’s site and take their test on how to choose a foundation shade. Simply enter the brand shade you’ve been using and it’ll suggest what shade to get in a new foundation!
Favorite Foundations
Giorgio Armani
This award winning Luminous Silk Foundation from Giorgio Armani has over 4.8K perfect reviews!! Glowing reviews and glowing skin? That’s a win-win. It is on the pricier side, but if you’re determined to find the very best foundation out there, this is a must. It’s weightless and hydrating and makes your skin look totally flawless and natural! Corrine wears the color “7.”
If you tend to be more oily, try its sister product Giorgio Armani Power Fabric Longwear High Cover Foundation! It gives the same look, but with a slightly matte finish to help combat oils throughout the day.
Get this on sale rn for only $58.65 (reg. $69)!
Estée Lauder
Estée Lauder’s Double Wear matches Corrine’s skin flawlessly (she wears the color Tawny)! We cannot even say enough good things about this foundation. It really does last 24 hours and gives you the BEST, prettiest coverage without looking thick or cakey at all. It’s also AMAZING for our oily-skinned sisters out there because it’s not only oil-free, but oil CONTROLLING!! Yes, please.
Get this Estée Lauder’s Double Wear foundation for only $44.20 (reg. $52) at checkout.
IT Cosmetics CC Cream
IT Cosmetics CC cream is straight-up MAGIC. It’s SEVEN products in one!! That means you can literally skip your moisturizer, primer, color corrector, anti-aging serum, dark spot concealer, full coverage foundation, AND SPF 50 because this bottle whips it all up into one easy little formula.
This stuff is a CULT FAVE of soooo many beauty bloggers and beauty professionals. IN FACT, when Corrine was at QVC a while ago, their professional makeup artist used this exact stuff on her. She picked it over the bottles and bottles of every brand of full coverage foundation we know and love (and some we haven’t even tried) and when she pulled it out to use it on Corrine, she was like “oohh I love that stuff,” and she goes “I KNOW isn’t it the best?!” Plus it’s so easy to color-match! Corrine wears Medium Tan.
And guess what?? Not only is there an original IT Cosmetics CC Cream, but it also comes in Illumination and Matte formulas as well! There’s literally something for everyone and each foundation is just as good as the last.
Don’t forget you can get all three on sale for 15% OFF at checkout! That’s only $39.95 each (reg $47)!
DIOR
This Dior foundation is dewy done right! It has incredible coverage but somehow manages to be natural looking at the same time. Such a win win if you want to avoid looking cakey but also are on the hunt for something with solid coverage. You’ll seriously forget you’re wearing makeup when you have this on. Plus it boasts 24 hour wear, so if long lasting is important to you this is definitely worth trying. It gives that perfectly hydrated, glowy look without having to add a ton of products on top to achieve it.
Grab it on sale rn for only $48.45 (reg. $57)!
How to Apply
Depending on what tools you use to apply your foundation, you can achieve different looks with the same product. For example, if you want your foundation to be more full coverage, use a densely packed, natural fiber or fluffy brush!
You can also use that same foundation with a synthetic brush (the ones that look almost like paint brushes!) to create a totally natural look! Brushes are the BEST way to get the most out of every product because they can change the usage, application, and finished product.
Our favorite ways to apply foundation is with a fluffy brush and a beauty blender! Especially when it comes to IT Cosmetics foundations, the ONLY way to apply it is using their brushes. Their Heavenly Luxe Complexion Perfection brush is our favorite way to apply the CC Cream. We love the fluffier end to buff in the foundation and the smaller end to blend in around our nose or to use with concealer. When using a brush, start in the middle of your face and blend outwards. Grab this brush on sale for only $42.50 (reg. $50)!
You know that we looooove our beauty blender sponges. It’s one of our MUST HAVE makeup products, often imitated, never duplicated! We rely on it for buffing out foundation, oftentimes just dabbing our foundation on different parts of our face and then stippling (a fancy word for the pressing and blending motion) the foundation all over. If you haven’t tried one, you are missing out on airbrushed smooth perfection! Get it on sale rn for 15% OFF!
Solid foundation – ON SALE!
We think choosing foundations can be a little daunting, especially with all the options and price points out there! Don’t forget you can get 15% OFF these foundations, 3x the points, and free 2 day shipping for a limited time!
What is YOUR favorite foundation?! Let us know in the comments!