Photo Credit: sephora.com
INTELLIGENT BEAUTY: MENSA AWARD-WORTHY FOUNDATIONS
There are perfectly good foundations and then there are those that are brilliant—almost genius. Mensa-award worthy products have a special sixth sense, a certain je ne sais quoi. While your reliable old foundation may do a great job of giving you sheer or full coverage (and nothing more), a new breed of foundation is upping the ante in a big way.
Celebrity makeup artist Andrew Sotomayor, whose clients have included Juliette Binoche, Kerry Washington, Emmy Rossum, says, that foundations have definitely upped the intelligent quotient. “Those who were unhappy with formulas of the past can find superior options today.” Every accomplished makeup artist carries a few indispensables, including Yves Saint Laurent’s Touche Eclat in their kit to brighten the under eye area, as well as its associated foundation.
Here are a few of our Mensa-award worthy picks to own this season:
Shiseido Radiant Lifting Foundation ($45)
Featuring broad spectrum UV protection, this foundation offers a world of benefits. It uses innovative light technology to eliminate shadows and therefore give your skin a true glow, and while this may seem like high-tech mumbo jumbo, it really and truly does work. It contains Radiance Reflecting Powder, which gives skin a soft-focus effect and a real luminosity, as well as a hydrating factor that lasts for up to 12 hours. Since it’s also anti-aging, you can apply and rest easy about your wrinkles. Ingredients include smooth wrap oil, hydroxyproline, and rose apple leaf extract.
Urban Decay Naked Skin Weightless Ultra Definition Liquid Makeup ($38)
Photo Credit: Sephora.com
Talk about a second skin! This intelligent liquid makeup is one of the best foundations I have used in a very long time because it looks like you’re wearing zilch on your skin (which is as it should be). Virtually invisible, it creates a luminous demi-matte finish and comes in a variety of shades that can precisely match your skin tone (kiss your matching woes goodbye). This gradient of shades also accommodates skin undertones (warm tones end in .0 and cool tones end in .5), which is a stroke of genius. The finish is a gorgeous, gorgeous matte that is luminous, not shiny or greasy. If there were Olympic medals to be given for matte foundation, this one would bag the gold.
Clinique Even Better Foundation ($27)
Photo Credit: Sephora.com
This foundation, developed by a dermatologist, brightens and evens skin tone while providing a delicious matte finish. The oil-free formula with SPF 15 is not your average full coverage liquid makeup; it works to improve skin clarity and diminish age spots. This foundation works for all ethnicities and the transformation takes as little as 4 to 6 weeks. It also helps prevent future discolorations with its proprietary blend of antioxidants. An anti-aging foundation must!
Bobbi Brown BB Cream ($42)
Photo Credit: Bobbi Brown Cosmetics
Trust Bobbi Brown to do everything better, including her latest BB Cream, which covers imperfections, evens out skin tone, and brightens dull skin. As if this were not enough, this product gives a nice dose of moisture to skin that’s overly tired or suffering from jet lag. Plus, it has SPF 35 and promises to smooth out wrinkles. This BB Cream is fiercely intelligent! It’s available in five shades to suit all skin tones, which is always important when considering foundations. “With BB creams, you get benefits including skin soothing, skin protection, and blurred imperfections,” says makeup artist Sotomayor. For the best looking finish, he suggests applying with a damp foundation brush.
Yves Saint Laurent Le Teint Touche Eclat Illuminating Foundation ($55)
Photo Credit: Sephora.com
Sotomayor’s go-to foundation of choice, Touche Eclat is a smart foundation with a translucent formula. “It uses a gel base and golden pigments to brighten the skin instead of just covering it,” he says. “They managed to eliminate the traditional powder base, which can make skin look dry or dull.” This foundation also has the added benefit of SPF 19 protection, targets the shadowy areas, and highlights contours of the face, instead of just simply covering imperfections. Use with the Touche Eclat Radiant Touch pen to cover under eye circles.
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