In our humble opinion, the complexion is the most important step to makeup. Blend your eyeshadow, fill in your brows, or paint your lips as beautifully as you want – if the very canvas, i.e. your base, looks patchy, oxidises way too quickly, or becomes one big oil slick by the middle of the day, that’s going to be a distraction that can’t be ignored.
So that’s why the NYLON Singapore team is kinda obsessed with foundations. We all love trying new ones, and in the process, identifying the ones that work the best for our individual skin types and conditions. Thankfully, each year there are enough new foundation launches for us to find at least a couple we love; all so we can rave all about it to you guys as well. As the below shows, over the past year, it seems like Shiseido is doing something right with their base makeup…
Shiseido Maquillage Dramatic Film Liquid UV
If I had to choose just one liquid foundation to use for the rest of my life (okay, that’s a bit dramatic… let’s say for the rest of the year), it would be this one. It comes out like liquid gold, glides on like silk, and makes skin appear smooth and flawless. Pores completely smooth over and appear smaller in size, uneven areas of skin even out, and there’s a subtle glow where light hits the skin. It’s terrific.
– Adele Chan, Editor-in-Chief
$70, available at Shiseido counters.
Shiseido Makeup Synchro Skin Glow Cushion Compact
Think I’ve mentioned it a few times before, but I’ll repeat it anyway: cushion compacts are my go-to foundation for as long as I remember. As for Shiseido, they won me over with this smooth, lightweight formula, housed in a convenient case that already contains an all-purpose sponge – you don’t even need to whip out a brush! The formula here contains their raved-about intelligent Synchro Skin Foundation, which adapts to, say, oilier skin as the day goes on, though now with a radiant finish that catches the light beautifully. I find that I don’t need much product to cover my entire face – so yay, saves the need for refills – while the sheer texture goes on light, but buildable if I need more coverage. What I especially love is the finish – natural, with a healthy, dewy glow.
– Amelia Tan, Associate Editor
$55 for refill and $20 for case, available at Shiseido counters.
MAKE UP FOR EVER Ultra HD Stick Foundation
My love affair with MUFE’s HD complexion range goes way back, to 2013 when I was a cash-strapped student who one day happened to be gifted a $70 bottle of the HD Liquid Foundation. It was the most perfect thing all the imperfections on my face had the fortune of being covered up with – seamless, flawless coverage that existed on a whole other plane from the drugstore options I had been using all my life prior. Fast forward 4 years, and I’ve tried plenty of other impressive (and way more expensive) foundations, but the Ultra HD (yup, it got upgraded) range will always be an old reliable. When this stick version launched, I eagerly tried it on, and indeed it proved to be pretty magical too.
The formula is closer to a cream, and I apply it by dabbing straight from the stick onto my cheeks, nose, jawline and forehead, then blending with a sponge. Don’t be put off by how it might look thick or patchy upon application, because it blends incredibly easily into a flawless finish with a subtle glow. The coverage is medium-to-high, just the way I like it, and stands up to the closest scrutiny (it was designed for the ultra HD cameras after all). Glad that I’m not restricted by a student budget now, so it won’t be so heart-wrenching when I get to the bottom of the stick.
– Tami Lai, Associate Editor
$72, available at Sephora ION and Sephora Ngee Ann City, and on sephora.sg.
100% Pure Fruit Pigmented Super Fruits Healthy Foundation
I’ve got sensitive, acne-prone skin that reacts to pretty much everything, so it’s no surprise that my general distrust of potential breakout-inducing ingredients led me to greener makeup products. Ever since I made the switch to this foundation, I saw a visible reduction in the cystic acne that plagued my jawline, which is absolutely mindblowing to me. As for the application, the lightweight cream blends to a semi-matte finish and it provides pretty good coverage too, so you can skip the concealer if you please. When I have this on, a number of friends and acquaintances have even commented on how glowy my skin looks – I mean, it must be doing something right.
As someone who possesses oily skin, finding the right foundation that will last me throughout the day in Singapore’s humidity has been a long and difficult task, however now I am pleased to announce that I may have found “The One”. Shiseido’s Synchro Skin Lasting Liquid Foundation is everything I could want: long-lasting and lightweight, but without skimping on coverage, blending right into my skin and hiding those god-awful blemishes from sight. Did I also mention that it’s oil-free? What more could you ask for?
– Patrene Mathieu, Designer
$74, available at Shiseido counters.
Urban Decay All Nighter Liquid Foundation
Sephora was out of stock of my old favourite, Tarte’s Amazonian Clay foundation, and I was on the hunt for a new full-coverage foundation. This one promised a matte finish “perfect for all-night affairs and other scandalous activities”. While I don’t wear this on a daily basis – as it feels a bit too heavy for everyday use – it’s not scandalous to want to be an airbrushed version of yourself that’s not covered in a greasy sheen once in a while.
– Joanne Cheah, Designer
$62, available at Urban Decay stores, Sephora and on sephora.sg
Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum Gel Foundation
My makeup routine includes layers of product, so I prefer to go with foundations that are lightweight and more towards a medium-coverage so that the makeup doesn’t feel like a mask of liquids and powders. The Healthy Mix Serum (not to be confused with the Healthy Mix Foundation!) is incredibly light, but still creamy, and blends out like a dream on the skin, leaving you with a healthy glow at all the right places. The formula consists of radiance-inducing ingredients such as litchi, goji berries and pomegranates, which will probably also explain the fresh fruity scent of the product.
One caveat is that the foundation tends to slip (minimally) if you’re one with oily/combination skin, but that could be easily remedied by properly setting it with powder, and it’ll remain budge-proof for an entire day.
– Chelsea Tang, Editorial Assistant
$34.50, available at major Watsons and Sasa stores, and selected department stores.
