The Best Budget Foundations, According To Makeup Addicts On Reddit
Any person who frequently wears makeup knows that it’s all about the base. Good makeup starts with skincare and choosing the right foundation can make or break a look.
When it comes to foundation, there are countless options and price points. Foundations can start from around $5 from budget brands, all the way up to paying hundreds for luxury products from the likes of Chanel and Lancôme. However, paying more doesn’t always mean you’re getting a better product. In fact, there’s a bunch of foundations you can pick up at your local Chemist Warehouse or Priceline that have a cult following for being super high quality and long-lasting.
Subreddits like r/Makeup, r/MakeupAddiction and r/AustralianMakeup contain pages of forums dedicated to people sharing reviews of the foundations they’ve tried. The below foundations are the overwhelming drugstore faves across some of the most popular makeup subreddits.
The best budget foundations, according to makeup addicts on Reddit:
(Some responses have been edited for clarity.)
L’Oreal Paris, Infallible 24Hr Fresh Wear
RRP $31.95
“My face looked fucking flawless. I haven’t seen a foundation look this good on my skin in so long. I finished my makeup around 6:30am. I put this foundation to the test. I was running around the hospital running labs and stuff, walked in the super cold, did errands, took my dog to the vet, and had a family party today and THIS SHIT STILL LOOKED LIKE WHEN I APPLIED IT — 16 HOURS AGO.
“The foundation did not spread, did not crack, did not even move from 6:30am to 9:30 pm. It still looked flawless, my pores didn’t even peak through, NOTHING MOVED! And the best part I didn’t once feel like I was wearing foundation. It felt like skin from the beginning to end and was not tacky feeling at all. If you’re on the fence, get it,” @-chickenwings wrote.
And @nercimetamorpho added, “The staying power on this foundation is insane. Some days I have to put my foundation on at 4am and it ends up lasting until I take it off around 9pm. The real test though was after I’d had it on for about seven hours one day, I had kind of a nervous breakdown and sobbed for like 30 minutes. I wasn’t wiping at my face or anything, but I did have tears streaming down it for a while, and was just dabbing at it. By the time I calmed down and looked in a mirror, expecting to look like a train wreck, I was shocked. My foundation still looked perfect.”
Maybelline, Fit Me! Matte + Poreless Foundation
RRP $21.95
“This is without a doubt the best foundation I’ve ever used. It covers spots and evens out tone, while still looking beautifully natural. It’s one of the only foundations that doesn’t slide off my nose (my oiliest spot), and it looks exactly the same at 7pm as it did when I applied it at 7am. My only complaint is that I wish the bottle had a pump! But that’s a minor whinge,” wrote @mirihawke.
Another wrote, “I’ve been using Maybelline Matte and Poreless for a few years. The shade I buy seems to match my skin even if I am a bit darker or paler than usual, and I love that it does stay matte for a while (my skin tends to oil up throughout the day). I tried to ‘graduate’ to Fenty but it just wasn’t the same. I had a hard time colour-matching and it just looked patchy in comparison.”
Flower Beauty Light Illusion Foundation
RRP $13.99
“So far, I really like it! It is dewy which is great for me, because of my dry skin. I don’t set it but if you aren’t dry, I probably would. It hasn’t broken me out either which is a plus,” wrote @lemonparty4.
“Their foundation has legit become my HG — medium but buildable coverage, satin finish, wears well throughout the day,” posted @havewegotavideo. Another added, “I was pretty impressed with the Light Illusion foundation, I would say medium/full coverage, works really well mixed in with facial oils or illuminators. Kind of a satin finish. For the $13 (I think? thereabouts) I paid for it, it’s been perfect to take with me travelling when I’ve gone interstate for weddings, rather than taking some of my other foundations.
“I’ve applied with a Kmart blender. Long-lasting wear, doesn’t settle too much into creases — I’ve found a lot of foundations really catch the fine lines in my forehead but this one has done no such thing. Don’t know if I’d go so far as to say it’s a HG [holy grail], but for such a cheap purchase, I’d definitely buy it again because it’s good for work or days I can’t be bothered with faffing around with really full coverage makeup.”
Revlon Colorstay Foundation
RRP $34.95
“Why does nobody talk about this anymore?! I wasn’t sure about it since I don’t see dry skinned people discuss it ever but it’s one of the best foundations I’ve tried. It lasts so much longer than any other foundation I’ve tried! It’s not super dewy but it’s not matte either. It’s basically a perfect natural finish,” @gmwrnr wrote.
“I’m really enjoying the Revlon Colorstay oily/combo,” @hez_lea wrote. “Probably the best oil control I’ve had. I like I waaaay better than some higher end foundations. Can’t believe it took me so long to try it.”