5 Fabulous Foundations For Winter

Winter is (almost) here and this means the following: comfort food, cosy pyjamas and vital updates to our fashion and beauty regimes. It is hard to bemoan the chilly Irish weather when we’re being spoiled with so many gorgeous A/W make-up collections, so we’ll hold our tongues for the time being. There are new eye palettes, autumnal nail shades to love?and Bobbi Brown‘s gorgeous Christmas collection, which deserves a stand-alone spot.

We’ve previously spoken about the importance of updating your moisturiser for the colder season, and now it’s on to the next big thing: your foundation. The premise of a flawless, perfectly made up face is all down to having a solid base, so a good foundation is hugely important. Finding the perfect foundation for winter can often be akin to searching for the Holy Grail, but thanks to many brands broadening their range to suit a wide variety of skin types, your quest shouldn’t be too difficult.

Once those shorter evenings start to hit, those dewy BB creams are best confined to the back of the?press if you’re looking for something more durable to withstand our Irish climate. There are two issues with winter. One, you tend to be paler (yep, time for a shade change) so you need to tweak your colour choice, and, two, since the air will inevitably become dryer (aside from the outpours of rain) both outside and in, you’ll need coverage that packs in hydration. We have five foundations that would be ideal for this season, and there is plenty of time to add these to your Christmas wish lists:

Estee Lauder Double Wear Stay-in-Place Makeup, €38

This one has earned a cult-like status among the masses for a very good reason and is this writer’s favourite winter foundation. This is heavy-duty, so it means a fuller coverage, but it doesn’t budge from the skin. Come rain or shine, in place it will stay. It is nicely moisturising and you only need a few drops to cover the entire face. Just as well, as this one (annoyingly) doesn’t come with a pump, but here is a tip: that pump from your MAC foundation will fit perfectly atop it. They have also just brought back their palest shade, Bone1W1, which is a superb match for those with Celtic hues.

Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation, €45

This is pricey, but worth the investment. Not only is the formula hydrating, but it’s reflective pigment also adjusts to the skin’s tone, so the coverage is balanced. It comes in a huge variety of shades so even those of you blessed with translucent tones should find a great match. Be sure to get colour-matched if you’re unsure which shade to opt for, though, as it’s a very expensive mistake to make. It’s also a favourite of Kim Kardashian, FYI

MAC Studio Fix Fluid, €31.50

This is another that offers medium, buildable coverage and thanks to the brands induction of paler shade choices (NW 10 and NW 13), this is another favourite among the Irish masses. The foundation is oil-free but provided you moisturise accordingly before application, it should sit smoothly and evenly on the skin. Don’t be put off by its odd smell, it’s a good one and looks very natural when applied, even if you opt for a full coverage.

YSL Le Teint Touche ?clat Foundation, €40

Though this would be classed as a more lightweight fluid, don’t be fooled. If you’re looking for a foundation that works completely in tandem with your skin, well this is it. Its unique perfecting texture evens the complexion and helps conceal imperfections, all while looking completely natural. It’s moisturising but doesn’t have a matte finish, so if you’re prone to an oily t-zone, a dab of powder should sort this. I’ve bought a new bottle of this every time I’ve run out (bottle five at this point) and it hasn’t disappointed.

Rimmel Match Perfection, €9.99

Our IMAGE.ie Editor Ellie raved about this recently, and we’ve joined the ranks of the seriously impressed. It has a silky, satin texture finish with a medium coverage and plenty of glow-giving properties, all for just €9.99. It’s our new hero foundation and contains an SPF of 18 too. That’s all the boxes nicely ticked off.

Do you have a favourite winter foundation that hasn’t made our list? Tell us about it in the comments!