Hello, beautiful creatures! I’m excited to share fair foundation swatches, along with a few concealer swatches today. I recently bought several new foundations for wear tests. However, with my upcoming surgery and recovery period, I’m not sure when these tests will happen. So, I’m bringing you these swatches now. I promise not to buy any more foundations until I complete wear tests for the ones in this post, unless it’s a stick foundation.
PR + Purchased by me.
About My Skin
My bare face from today. Taken with my iPhone 15 Pro Max forward facing camera. No retouching done, You can see that my rosacea is flaring. I also have hyperpigmentation, texture, and fine lines that I want minimized. And yes, my face appears darker than my neck and chest.
At 45, my skin is dry with rosacea. I have a very fair, neutral-cool tone that shifts to muted yellow or yellow olive in the sun. My main skin concerns include blurring fine lines, reducing hyperpigmentation, and evening out my skin tone. I aim for a radiant, glowy look, avoiding dryness or cakeiness. My quest for the perfect foundation leads me to explore various options, which is why I’m excited to share these fair foundation swatches with you.
What do I Want in Foundation?
In my ideal foundation, I look for one that seamlessly blends with my skin, becoming virtually indistinguishable. It must be long-lasting, enduring at least 12 hours of wear. I prefer a light to medium coverage that expertly blurs imperfections, giving a natural, flawless appearance. Foundation sticks are my go-to choice due to their customizable coverage, ease of application, and handy portability. As for the finish, I adore a glowy look, ranging from radiant to skin-like, capturing that perfect balance of natural luminosity and coverage.
See more of my foundation features.
My current best complexion product matches include:
Fair Foundation Swatches
Taken outdoors in overcast natural light
This photo was taken outdoors on an overcast, cloudy winter afternoon
Taken indoors in indirect natural light
I took this photo indoors in indirect natural light on an overcast cloudy winter afternoon
Products Featured
Fair Foundation Thoughts
Below, I share my insights on these fair foundations and concealers.
Missha Glow Cushion Foundation in 17 Ivory
I’ve worn the Missha Glow Cushion Foundation in 17 Ivory twice and am impressed with its light-medium coverage and glowy formula. It effectively minimizes my rosacea redness. Although it claims superior hydration, weightless finish, and full coverage, I question if there’s some mistranslation here. For me, its coverage is ‘full enough’, but it might not satisfy those who prefer 100% opaque foundations. Fortunately, it didn’t irritate my sensitive skin. However, Missha’s limited shade range, catering only to fair to light skin, is a significant drawback.
Missha Perfect Cover BB Cream RX in 17 Light Beige
I’ve been wearing the Missha Perfect Cover BB Cream RX In 17 Light Beige for years. Missha touts it for 30 hour wear, strong coverage, and ample hydration. This BB Cream suits my skin well, and its ease of wear impresses me. My muted undertones favor a desaturated neutral to cool yellow, and this shade matches perfectly. Interestingly, it’s available at a reasonable price on Aliexpress, though curiously absent from Missha US. Like before, Missha’s limited shade range is a notable shortcoming.
See Missha BB Cream Swatches and comparison with shades 13, 17, and 21.
Thread Face It 3-in-1 Stick in 00 Very Fair Neutral
I’ve yet to try the Thread Face It Stick in 00 Very Fair Neutral, a versatile 3-in-1 weightless cream complexion stick for foundation, concealer, contouring, and cream bronzing. Available in 26 shades, including online and at Target, I chose shade 00 for foundation and concealer purposes. Its coconut oil formulation makes it cruelty-free and vegan, although it might not suit every skin type. As a fan of foundation sticks, I’m eager to conduct a wear test on this product soon. How do you feel about their shade range and how it compares to the rest of these fair foundation swatches?
Thread Face It 3-in-1 Stick in 20 Light Olive
I haven’t had the chance to use the Thread Face It Stick in 20 Light Olive yet. It’s specifically for contouring my face. I decided on shade 20 following the Thread website’s advice to select a contour shade two levels darker than my skin tone. Considering I develop an olive hue in the sun, I thought 20 Light Olive would be an interesting choice to try out.
Smashbox Halo Healthy Glow 4-in-1 Perfecting Pen Concealer in F10N
Smashbox sent me Smashbox Halo Healthy Glow 4-in-1 Perfecting Pen Concealer in F10N, along with a few other shades. It’s available in 26 shades. This is a nice, light concealer.
Smashbox Halo Healthy Glow 4-in-1 Perfecting Pen Concealer in F20C
I was sent Smashbox Halo Healthy Glow 4-in-1 Perfecting Pen Concealer in F20C in PR, presumably to use as a contour. I have not tried it as a contour.
Smashbox Halo Healthy Glow 4-in-1 Perfecting Pen Concealer in F10W
I purchased Smashbox Halo Healthy Glow 4-in-1 Perfecting Pen Concealer in F10W when this line launched.
Smashbox Halo Healthy Glow Tinted Moisturizer SPF 25 in Fair
I recently received the Smashbox Halo Healthy Glow Tinted Moisturizer SPF 25 in Fair from Smashbox, a product I’ve purchased before. With 20 shades available, I still struggle to find a suitable match – the lightest shade, Fair, appears too orange for my skin. I often wish American beauty brands would offer more desaturated shades, similar to Missha’s 13 & 17. Despite the poor shade match making it uncomfortable for me to wear, I know several friends who absolutely love this tinted moisturizer.
Smashbox Always On Skin-Balancing Foundation in F10W
Smashbox recently sent me their Always On Skin-Balancing Foundation in F10W for PR, but I haven’t had the opportunity to try it yet. This foundation comes in 30 shades and boasts a primer-infused formula for 16 hours of wear without caking, sweating, flaking, or streaking. I’m eager to test its performance soon.
KVD Good Apple Skin-Perfecting Hydrating Foundation Balm in Light 002
I previously thought I had decluttered the KVD Good Apple Skin-Perfecting Hydrating Foundation Balm in Light 002. Although the shade is a good match, it doesn’t suit my dry skin, highlighting dry patches and appearing cakey. It’s been a while since I last wore it.
My current dissatisfaction with KVD as a brand stems from two main issues. First, my favorite Everlasting Refillable Blush in Rosebud was discontinued, and their suggestion to try a warmer shade, Peony, didn’t meet my preference. Secondly, their customer support, managed through Zendesk, seems to handle multiple brands, leading to a confusing service experience as they recommended I sign up for Fenty newsletters for KVD products.
Moreover, KVD’s lack of transparency about the 6-month shelf life of their Dazzle Gel eyeliners, only mentioned on the outer packaging, feels misleading. This might also apply to their Dazzle Sticks.
Overall, the discontinuation of a beloved refillable makeup product and the unclear communication about product lifespans have left me disappointed with KVD.
Monika Blunder Blunder Cover All in One Foundation in Eins
I purchased the Monika Blunder Blunder Cover All in One Foundation in Eins after hearing many positive reviews. I’m impressed by its customizable coverage, similar to a foundation stick, and its unique formula. I genuinely love how easy it is to build up to the coverage I need, specifically where it is needed. So far, I’ve used it 3 or 4 times, but haven’t conducted a full wear test yet. Designed as both foundation and concealer, it allows for adjustable coverage. Being silicone-free and vegan are significant pluses. Choosing the shade Eins, based on Mickey’s recommendation, proved to be a perfect match, blending seamlessly with my skin.
Espoir Pro Tailor Be Glow Stick Foundation SPF42 in Vanilla
Reddit’s recommendation led me to buy the Espoir Pro Tailor Be Glow Stick Foundation SPF42 in Vanilla, a foundation stick. I’ve only used it once so far, so a thorough wear test is still pending. As a Korean beauty brand, Espoir offers a very limited shade range, with just four options. I chose Vanilla, anticipating it would align with Missha’s shades 13 and 17. In my fair foundation swatches, Vanilla matches well.
Graftobian HD Glamour Crème Foundation in Silk Sprite
I previously bought the Graftobian HD Glamour Crème Foundation in Ultra Lights, and recently received it in PR. Graftobian, a professional makeup brand, offers 65 foundation shades. You can apply this foundation with a brush, sponge, or fingers. I prefer cream formulas like this for their customizable coverage, although it requires setting with a powder. The Ultra Lights palette suits very fair, desaturated skin without strong undertones, as evident in my fair foundation swatches.
See my thoughts on this foundation from 2013.
Graftobian HD Glamour Crème Foundation in Nymph
I’ve purchased the Graftobian HD Glamour Crème Foundation in Nymph in the past, but this one was sent in PR.
Graftobian HD Glamour Crème Foundation in Porcelain
I’ve purchased the Graftobian HD Glamour Crème Foundation in Porcelain in the past, but this one was sent in PR.
Graftobian HD Glamour Crème Foundation in Lady Fair
I’ve purchased the Graftobian HD Glamour Crème Foundation in Lady Fair in the past, but this one was sent in PR.
Graftobian HD Glamour Crème Foundation in Ivory
I’ve purchased the Graftobian HD Glamour Crème Foundation in Ivory in the past, but this one was sent in PR.
IDUN Minerals Duo Concealer in Kaprifol
IDUN Minerals sent me their Duo Concealer in Kaprifol Extra Light for PR. The right side effectively neutralizes undereye dark circles, while the left side works well for other facial areas. In my fair foundation swatches, I’ve showcased both sides in the bottom right rectangle.
Final Thoughts
I’m recovering from my blepharoplasty surgery, which I underwent at the end of December 2023. The surgery was almost painless, and I’m pleased with that decision. Although there’s still some swelling in my eye area, it’s gradually improving, and I’m looking forward to seeing the final results once fully healed.
As I continue my nearly year-long battle, my next breast reconstruction surgery is scheduled for the end of January. It’s been a challenging journey since my diagnosis and decision for a prophylactic double mastectomy last year. This choice, though unexpected, has significantly reduced my breast cancer risk, providing much-needed relief. Recovery has been tough, but I’m committed to my physical therapy and exercises, seeing gradual improvement.
I’ll be off work for a week following surgery and unable to exercise for a month. While I won’t have computer access during that first week, I’ll stay connected through my phone for Instagram and emails. I’d love to hear from you if you want to say hi or if you need my expertise.
More to See
