Recommended Makeup Brands - Base Products

In my makeup bootcamp classes, I'm asked a lot to suggest products, so here are my recommendations (both for expensive and cheaper brands) that I own, use personally and in class, for makeovers, on shoots... Note that (with a few exceptions) I'm mainly speaking of a brand product, rather than a specific shade.  This is the first post in a series of five, and covers "base" items (ie Primer, Foundation, Concealer, Powder).

Base
PRIMER   |   FOUNDATION   |   CONCEALER   |   POWDER

Base Product Recommendations

Primer / Corrector

It's a good idea to use a primer to give you a flawless base, to help your makeup last longer and apply more easily to your skin.  It can smooth-out fine lines and wrinkles, and also provides a barrier between your skin and your makeup.  You can always choose one with an SPF if your foundation/moisturiser doesn't contain SPF.

• L'Oreal Studio Secrets Anti-redness Primer  Best applied using a sponge or fingers.  Use judiciously and only where needed.  A sheer coverage is usually sufficient.  Allow it to set and make sure to pat your foundation on top, so you don't wind up moving it all over your face and blending it away to nothing
• Clarins Instant Smooth Primer  My overall favourite for brides and day-and-night-long makeup.  Suits all skin types, long lasting and gives a really great flawless base under foundation
• L'Oreal Studio Secrets Resurfacing Primer  A cheaper alternative to the Clarins one, works almost as well
• MAC Prep & Prime Face Protect SPF50  A great primer but not good for oilier skins.  The tube is irritatingly stiff so it can be hard to get the last few applications out of it

Foundation

I don't tend to recommend cheaper foundations, simply because I haven't found any yet.  These are my overall favourites, depending on the type of finish and look I am aiming for.

• MAC Face & Body  Sheer, but buildable up to medium coverage.  Dewy finish.  Keep it in the fridge and decant into smaller containers for everyday use, as the container is quite large and it's not uncommon for Face & Body to have "gone off" before you manage to finish it
• Chanel Perfection Lumière  Medium coverage  Matte but luminous finish
• Illamasqua Skin Base  A genuine "second skin" foundation.  Medium coverage.  Translucent/luminous finish.  A real "wow" product
• MAC Studio Fix Powder Plus Foundation  Medium-full coverage.  Matte finish  Can be used on its own or over liquid foundation, it's also brilliant for "later on touch-ups" in lieu of powder and concealer

Concealer / Corrector


For more information on concealers and correctors, click these blog links (Concealers In General, Concealers - MAC).

• Bobbi Brown Correctors  (eg Bisque)  For correcting dark circles prior to concealing
• Illamasqua Cream Pigments  (eg Emerge)  For correcting very dark circles prior to concealing - this can be a little drying though, so not as suitable for more mature/dryer skins
• MAC Studio Finish Concealer  Great for blemishes, use NC to cover red tones and NW to cover blue tones (also ref links above)
• MAC Pro Longwear Concealer  Great for under-eye concealer, use NC to cover red tones and NW to cover blue tones (also ref links above)

Powder


Finishing powder is an important last step, to make sure you don't look shiny (especially if you're going to be photographed), and/or to make your makeup last longer.  There are a lot that can be recommended, but in general I would say go for a translucent powder.  HD powders (eg Makeup Forever HD Powder) have to be used very carefully to ensure they're properly buffed-in (to avoid a white "flashback" on the areas of your face you've powdered, in flash photography).

• Rimmel Clear Complexion Clarifying Powder  A really inexpensive but great translucent finishing powder
• Laura Mercier Loose Setting Powder  A loose powder, very finely milled, lasts forever, also translucent
• MAC Studio Careblend  My current favourite powder; it's cashmere-soft, super finely milled, however it's not translucent, so you need to get the correct shade for your skin

Face
BRONZER   |   CONTOUR   |   BLUSHER   |   HIGHLIGHTER   |   ILLUMINATOR
These product recommendations are listed here.