LORAC – Breakthrough Performance Foundation SPF 14
LORAC Breakthrough Performance Foundation
I was a HUGE fan of LORAC’s oil free foundation – until I realized it didn’t really cover all that well and it may have broken me out – hence the need for coverage. Whatever, the shade match was perfect! Because of my semi-positive experience with the line, I always check out the new products that LORAC introduces. The latest LORAC entry is the Breakthrough Performance Foundation. Like most foundations these days, it’s promising to do some of the anti-aging work that used to be expect only of creams and lotions. Of course, there’s nothing wrong with pampering your skin with anti-aging products. But be aware that you’re probably not going to apply as much foundation to your skin as you would a moisturizer. So the benefits are limited.
I was really disappointed when I checked out this foundation at Sephora. Usually LORAC is very conscious of providing a range of product for a wide range of skin shades. I was surprised to see that the darkest shade in this foundation was #7. It basically looks like it will work on women with parchment colored skin with a yellow undertone. I wouldn’t be able to use this foundation anyway because it contains titanium dioxide, but it’s sad to see that the option wasn’t available to me from the get-go.
Active Ingredients: Octinoxate 5%, Titanium Dioxide 8.57%.
Other Ingredients: Water, Cyclopentasiloxane, Butylene Glycol, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Isononyl Isononanoate, Behenyl Dimethicone, Titanium Dioxide, Cetyl PEG/ PPG 10/1 Dimethicone, Talc, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Glyceryl Ethylhexanoate/ Stearate/ Adipate, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Methicone, Retinyl Palmitate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Propylene Glycol, Methylparaben, Disodium Edta, Ethylparaben, Propylparaben, Butylparaben, Tripeptide-3, Trisodium Inositol Triphosphate, CI 77491 (Iron Oxide). , CI 77492 (Iron Oxide), CI 77491 (Iron Oxide).
Cost: $38
MAC:Face and Body Foundation
MAC Face and Body Foundation
Face and Body foundation is a longtime favorite in the MAC cosmetics line. It’s touted as a long-lasting product that photographs well. As a water resistant foundation, it should also still be doing its job of evening out the skin tone at the end of a sweaty summer day. For a long time, the darkest shade available in this foundation was C4. MAC has extended the line, as it has with many of its foundations, to include C5, C6, N5 and N9. Ostensibly that sounds great, but N9 looks extremely orange and even the darkest C shades look very light.
Unfortunately for me, MAC cosmetics have always broken me out. Since this one contains Talc, I would pass on it. But this would be a great foundation for women with less sensitive skin to try.
Ingredients: Purified Water, Cyclopentasiloxane, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Butylene Glycol, PVP/Hexadecene Copolymer, Polyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate, Ethylhexyl Hydroxystearate, Tea-Stearate, PVP/Eicosene Copolymer, Stearic Acid, Talc, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Oil, Santalum Album (Sandalwood), Tocopherol, Xanthan Gum, Dimethicone, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Zinc Stearate, Cetyl Alcohol, Disodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, Butylparaben. May contain:
Titanium Dioxide, Iron Oxides, Chromium Oxide Greens
Cost: $32
YVES SAINT LAURENT: Matt Touch Foundation
Yves Saint Laurent Matt Touch Foundation
The latest rage in cosmetics seems to be releasing foundations that have a primer-like quality to them. Giorgio Armani’s Face Fabric is one example of a silicone-heavy, primer-like foundation. Now Yves Saint Laurent has released its Matt Touch Foundation, which also contains the silicones that help primers control facial oil. The new foundation basically seems to be the company’s Matt Touch primer with some pigment in it.
Of course these foundations are a mixed blessing. Some women tend to break out if they use a lot of silicones on their face. Silicones tend to be hard to remove, so they build up on the skin. Another ingredient, Isododecane, is considered a skin irritant. Matt Touch also contains Silica, Zinc Oxide and Titanium Oxide, which can bother some sensitive skin.
YSL did do a good job with shades. I often find this company’s foundations to be rather heavily orange, particularly in the darker end of the shade range. In this line shades Gold Beige, Pink Beige, Amber, Honey, Cinnamon, Hazelnut, Caramel look like they will work for a wide range of women of color.
Active Ingredient: Octinoxate
Other Ingredients: Cyclopentasiloxane, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Isododecane, Cyclomethicone, Polymethyl Methacrylate, Polyvinylalcohol Crosspolymer, Silica, Aqua (Water), Caprylyl Glycol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Dimethicone, Lauryl Methacrylate/Glycol Dimethacrylate Crosspolymer, Parfum (Fragrance), Polydodecanamideaminium Triazadiphenylethenesulfonate, Butylene Glycol, Propylene Glycol, Glycerin, Hydroxyapatite, Dicaprylyl Ether, Zinc Oxide, Cassia Angustifolia Seed Polysaccharide, Titanium Dioxide, Enantia Chloranta Bark Extract, Nymphaea Alba Flower Extract, Gellan Gum, Polyglyceryl-2 Dipolyhydroxystearate, Oleanolic Acid. [May Contain: CI 77891 (Titanium Dioxide), CI 77492 (Iron Oxide), CI 77019 (Mica), CI 77491 (Iron Oxide), CI 77499 (Iron Oxide), CI 77007 (Ultramarines), CI 77742 (Manganese Violet), CI 77510 (Ferric Ferrocyanide), Talc, CI 75470 (Carmine), Synthetic Fluorphlogopite.]
Italics=potentially comedogenic or irritating ingredients.
Cost: $48
L’OREAL: Bare Naturale Mineral Foundation
L'Oreal Bare Naturale Mineral Foundation
This product at least attempts to reflect what a mineral foundation has come to mean in the cosmetics industry. It has both Titanium Dioxide and Zinc Oxide as active ingredients. However, it also contains Talc, which can be a troublesome for some women (for instance, Talc breaks me out). Most mineral foundations also don’t include silicones, another ingredient that can negatively affect women with sensitive skin. In fact, many women turn to mineral foundations to get away from silicones.
As for for matching skin colors and undertones, this is a product that looks like it will work for only some women of color. The shades Sand Beige, Sun Beige, Classic Tan should look good on light-skinned women with varying undertones. But medium and dark skinned women only have Cocoa. L’Oreal provides a see-through plastic card at the drugstore so potential users can get a sense of how the various shades will look on their skin.
Active Ingredients: Titanium Dioxide (3.0%), Zinc Oxide (5.0%)
Inactive Ingredients: Talc, Boron Nitride, Dimethicone, Copernicia Cerifera (Camauba) Wax, Cetyl Dimethicone, Trimethyl Siloxysilicate, Trisocetyl Citrate, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Tocopherol, Panthenol, May Contain: Titanium Dioxide, Zinc, Zinc Oxide, Bismuth Oxychloride, Iron Oxides
Italics=potentially comedogenic or irritating ingredients.
Cost: $14.99
GIORGIO ARMANI: Face Fabric SPF 12
Georgio Armani Face Fabric
Shades 4, 5, 6 and 7 will work for a wide range of women of color, but I did think that shades 6 and 7 had too much orange in them (a recurring theme lately!). The very simple formula is silicone heavy, which may cause problems for some women. Also, Aluminum Hydroxide may irritate the skin. It’s definitely a foundation I’ll be eager to try in the future.
Active Ingredient: Octinoxate 2%.
Inactive ingredients: Cyclopentasiloxane, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Disodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Aluminum Hydroxide. May contain: Mica, Red 36, Yellow 5 Lake, Iron Oxides, Titanium Dioxide.
Italics=potentially comedogenic or irritating ingredients.
Cost: $45
MultiFACEted Cosmetics 