Makeup With Benefits

Makeup With Benefits

 

 

I’m not sure when it started, but it seems that the sense of entitlement personified by certain undeserving and overindulged reality TV stars has become an epidemic among the rest of us, too. We all want more and more and more. It’s not a noble trait but it does have its virtues when it comes to expecting more from the things that we non-celebutantes throw our hard-earned cash at. Like makeup, for example – our expectations are higher than ever, and beauty companies have really upped their game to stay competitive. A few years ago, multi-tasking products were the buzz, with eye-lip-cheek products like NARS Multiple launching a million imitations. Now that multi-taskers are ubiquitous, we’ve decided that we want our makeup to act like skincare and actually improve our skin rather than just make it look pretty until we wash it off. Who wants to buy a foundation that just covers flaws when the next brand eliminates them entirely, right?

The trend of putting skincare ingredients and benefits into makeup can be found in every price point, including drugstore brands. But, it’s especially evident with the higher-priced brands, which are learning that charging a premium price for exclusivity and ambiguous promises like “radiance” must be amped up with ultra-effective skin clearing or anti-aging or moisturizing ingredients and scientific proof to back up tangible claims. When innovative brands like Tarte and DuWop continually develop new formulations of staple products like foundation, or invent entirely new products (Brand-making best-sellers like DuWop’s Lip Venom and the ingenious Reverse Lip Liner or Tarte’s Vitamin-Infused Lipstick and Lip Gloss are great examples.), the whole industry snaps to attention. And, when companies focus on brainstorming and competing for the next big thing, we all win.

So, the next time you need to replace an old standby, check out one of the juiced-up, more-than-just-color versions of it and see if you notice a difference in your skin. You can find skin boosts in everything from serum-infused lipstick to lid-lifting cream eye shadows, but foundation is the best investment, since it has the greatest ability to affect your skin’s behavior from the inside out.  Following are some of my favorite skin-transforming foundations that live up to their hype.

Clinique Even Better Makeup SPF 15 was designed to work with Clinique’s skin-brightening Even Better Skin Tone Corrector, which is how I’ve been using it. Though my stubborn sunspots are getting lighter, it’s definitely a gradual but a gentle-on-skin alternative to chemical lighteners. Used on its own, the foundation claims to diminish dark spots and deliver more even-toned skin in just 4 to 6 weeks. Gives a natural, dewy finish that covers but looks like real skin. The SPF 15 seems too low to protect from further sun damage, so I layer it over a higher SPF. Oilier skins will likely need to blot shinier areas throughout the day, $24.50; www.clinique.com.

Cover Girl & Olay Simply Ageless Anti-Aging Foundation SPF 22 is that cool swirled-compact that’s in the spotlight thanks to its commercials with Ellen Degeneres, but it’s buzz-worthy on its own merits, too. It gives silky, buildable coverage but may be too moisture-laden for anything but normal-to-dry skin. The downside of any drugstore foundation is the challenge of color-matching, and these colors go on lighter than they appear in the compact, $13.99; Drugstores.

Fresh Umbrian Clay Freshface Foundation SPF 20 is an offshoot of the popular Umbrian Clay skin treatment for facial detoxing. It moisturizes, leaves skin feeling and looking softer and smoother, and makes pores look smaller and de-gunked. It is satiny and ideal for combo or drier skin and not suitable for very sensitive skin, $42; www.sephora.com.

L’Oreal Age Perfect Foundation SPF 12 is a moisture-loaded soufflé for dry skin. Though it’s oil-free, it’s rich enough to use under the eye area without accenting dryness or fine lines, and leaves skin looking very smooth and lifted. Light-reflecting pigments deflect spots and lines while hyraluronic moisturizers leave skin intensely hydrated all day. Comes with a brush for smooth, even coverage, $16.59; www.drugstore.com.

Rimmel Stay Matte Clarifying Matte Foundation doesn’t do the dreaded foundation-slide-off in hot or humid weather. It lives up to its promise of 12-hour shine-free coverage, yet still feels light and clean on the skin rather than “powdery” or coated like some mattes do. It keeps pores clean with salicylic acid, the favored ingredient for blemish-clearing and blackhead-obliterating, but doesn’t dry out the skin, thanks to nourishing botanicals. Great for oily, congested skin, $6.99; Drugstores.

Tarte ReCreate Anti-Aging Foundation With Wrinkle Rewind Technology SPF 15 has a wordy name but it’s not just lip service. It’s a cutting-edge natural (earth-friendly) foundation that ups moisture by over 50% fifteen minutes after application, and brightens skin with micronized minerals. Also impressive are the anti-aging benefits: clinical results showed a significant increase in elasticity and firmness (an average increase of 22% after 2 weeks of use and 43% after 4 weeks of use) and a significant decrease in the appearance of lines and wrinkles (an average of 39% after 4 weeks of use and 67% after 6 weeks of use). Though the long-term effects are notable, I like the instant gratification of the super smooth, natural semi-matte finish, which covers without looking like makeup. Especially great for giving moisture without shine to combo or oilier skin, $37; www.tartecosmetics.com.