I remember a time when my only requirement of a foundation was for it to be dark enough to wear. Now I have my choice of undertones, finishes, coverage, etc. I didn’t find my perfect foundation until a few years ago, but when you live in Florida, you’re bound to have more than one “perfect” shade.
Foundation is the key to creating a flawless face, but it can also spoil a look if the color is off. This is one of the reasons I sometimes skip foundation. You can guess the other reason…
The foundations I chose to review today are all yellow undertone and natural finishes.
MAKE UP FOR EVER ULTRA HD Invisible Cover in Y505
* $43 at Sephora
* Medium-to-Buildable coverage
Ultra HD is the reformulation of the original HD formula in 177 Cognac (pictured on the right). MUFE intended for it to be invisible, even under 4k lenses. There are a few minor changes to the packaging, such as the silver rim on the current bottle and the imprint on the top cap.
The number system has also changed. 
Make Up For Ever posted the equivalent changes for all of the shades (a few were discontinued). Despite looking lighter in the bottle it’s darker than the original, once on the skin.
The newer foundation is slightly thicker than the original. I noticed I still used more pumps than usual to cover my face. Both foundations lasted all day. What I love about the Ultra is that the Hyaluronic acid really works for me. My skin looks smoother and more dewy when I wear it, particularly along my cheeks and jaws. However, if you own the HD and are wondering if you should finish your current bottle before getting Ultra, I’d advise finishing your old one. The improvements aren’t dramatic enough to rush out and get, especially since this change is permanent.
I was surprised to see how many MUFE fans were unhappy with Ultra. In addition to my own observations, other reviewers have said it is cakey, oxidizes too much, and looks oily after several hours. I agree that it can look heavy but Make Up For Ever reps recommend using a tap and spread method with a flat foundation brush or sponge.
I was curious about how much the formula has really changed, so I analyzed the ingredients lists. 6 ingredients were removed, 15 were added, and 11 had their quantities altered as indicated by the order listed. 
Either way, it is still my number one foundation.
Estée Lauder Double Wear Stay-in-Place Makeup in 6W1 Sandalwood
* $38 at Macy’s
* Medium-to-Buildable
I’m part of a beauty group on Facebook and one member said she was looking for a medium coverage foundation, and asked what everyone thought of Double Wear. 
The former Lauder employee is correct that it is listed as medium to buildable, however, this product is the fullest coverage of anything I own. In fact, I use it as my under eye concealer because of how quickly it sets and the fact that it doesn’t budge easily. A dampened beautyblender will sheer any foundation, so for anyone who finds Double Wear too cakey, I recommend using a sponge. Otherwise, this will easily give full coverage to those who want it.
I also recommend using a moisturizer beforehand if you have dry skin, as the foundation has a tendency to cling to dry spots/emphasize uneven textures on the face.
Bobbi Brown Skin Foundation Stick in Golden Almond
* $44 at Bobbi Brown Cosmetics
Unlike DW, this is listed on Sephora’s website as a full coverage foundation but I consider it a medium to buildable coverage. It does transfer if not set well enough with powder, but my main reason for hardly wearing this foundation is that I used to find it a bit too orange. After getting darker this summer, it looks like this color may not be as off as I originally thought.
It’s creamy, blendable, and promises “…eight hours of water-, sweat-, and humidity-resistant wear.” I wish I could have sampled this from Sephora before I purchased, but it’s only available with them online, not in-store.
MUFE and ELDW are what I wear almost exclusively. I have a few powder foundations as well, but liquids will always be my favorite formula type.
❤ Lili
Lili's Beauty Blog 