Best Budget Foundations features various foundations. Some press samples are featured and are marked with an asterisk. Disclosure policy here.
I’ve tried so many budget foundations that punch above their price points. It’s a grand aul age we live in, when you can get a base that does the job of luxe products for a fraction of the price.
My collection is big, mostly because Irish beauty blogs are wonderful enablers, but I’ve whittled it down to the top five. Full reviews on all foundations are available by clicking their individual headlines below, but I’ve done speedy reviews here too.
Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum Foundation (full review here), €14.99
You know when you look in the mirror and know, inarguably, that you’re screwed? Utterly screwed. The oft-spotted frazzled face usually crops you when you’re in bits and exhausted but have to go somewhere, and have to go there looking good.
Healthy Mix Serum is my budget fix for those days. It’s a proper beautifying base. Its finish is satiny, and it settles on the skin in a magic plumping way. All of the buzzwords that are trotted out when a foundation is lauched genuinely apply here; fresh, glowing, healthy, youthful. Aesthetics aside, it feels lovely. Its skin-care infused formula is cushion soft and hydrating.
Revlon ColorStay Foundation (full review here), €17.79
This is serious foundation. No frills full coverage with a matte finish. If the job is concealing and lasting, this gets the job done.
With coverage that would probably make a tattoo look hazy, you might run into problems with looking a bit plastic. I make sure to add more highlighter and bronzer than usual, which puts dimension back. That’s my only issue, and it’s easily solved.
In the full review I posted, the first comment from Emma & The Beauty Blog summed up my thoughts pretty well; ‘a high coverage foundation that will last forever‘. That’s not the gist, that’s the whole story. It’s simple, but it’s good.
L’Oreal Infallible 24HR Matte Foundation (full review here), €11.99*
This is matte without compromise. No exacerbating the appearance of creases in your skin, no sucking all the moisture out of your face, no flat finish. It’s brill.
Coverage is full, but the non-flat finish complements that well. You just have to add some colour back in with blusher, and you’re set. There’s nothing mask like about it. If you’ve gotten fed up with that sort of matte before, you need to check this one out.
Other points of greatness – incredible longevity and comfy feel. At the end of the day, this looks like it did when I applied it and feels just as breathable as my CC creams.
L’Oreal True Match Foundation (full review here), €14.99
This is one of the older foundations that I love. New base technology is rolled out all the time, so what’s a lovely base in 2010 might seem lacking in 2015. True Match is an exception.
It’s got the feel of the new serum foundations – rich, creamy and smooth. That sits well over dry skin, and it feels totally comfortable. That creamy texture doesn’t affect longevity too much. I haven’t found that it lets through too much oil or fades at the end of the day.
Coverage is on the heavier side of medium, what I consider to be the sweet spot. You can layer it over skin issues, or blend it out where you don’t want as much concealed. Since I bought it again, I’ve worn it most days.
Rimmel Wake Me Up Foundation (full review here), €14.99*
This looks great, but that’s not the main reason it made the top list. Wake Me Up Foundation lives on a manor, smack bang in the middle of easy street. You can buff it on with small regard, it blends and settles smoothly. When I’m short on time, I reach for this without fail.
The finish is luminous satin – no dewy glow, but brightening and miles from flat. That, combined with its creamy texture, makes it perfect for dry, tired skin.
It’s an all rounder, and the foundation I recommend most to friends who want medium coverage, reliable longevity and no fuss.
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Becca
I love Rimmel Wake Me Up. That Bourjois one sounds fab though – ‘Healthy Mix’. A healthy foundation?! That’s a new one on me 🙂
Becca | theBeautyInbox
LindaLibraLoca
I only tried the Revlon Colorstay one, but several of the others are on my list, too.
Beti
I love the L’oreal True Match and Bourjois Healthy Mix foundation. I really want to try the new L’oreal foundation, it looks perfect for the summer months.
Shireen L. Platt
I absolutely love Rimmel Wake Me Up and surprisingly I love it even more than Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum. I have not tried the others but I as I said in my previous comment, I’m planning to pick up True Match son. Your other post on it really convinced me that I need to add that in my collection…not like I need lots of convincing. LOL!
Shireen | Reflection of Sanity
Sharon Leavy
The other Healthy Mix is one of my favourites. Haven’t used the L’Oreal True Match in years, I must pick up a bottle of it again at some stage. Rimmel and Catrice are my go-to everyday ones when I don’t need the Doublewear mask, that Rimmel is nice as is the one with the blue lid!
Corinne
I really want to try the Revlon colour stay, I def need something with a bit more coverage than my current foundation!
Corinne x
Jo
Great review (and blog name btw). Could you list which ones were fragrance free? V sensitive skin so need an unscented one. Thanx 🙂
Lorraine Haigney
Hi Jo, thanks!
I think both L’Oreal foundations listed are fragrance free. The others definitely are not. Hope that helps 🙂
Jo
Thanks
Lorraine Haigney
No worries!
Emma Buttimer
I really like all of these,adore Wake Me Up,but the only only one I can’t seem to get on with is the True Match.It just seems too drying or something on me?
The new reformulated Rimmel Match Perfection is lovely too,I think I’m going to mix that in with a little Doublewear for my brother’s wedding next week.It really gives a lovely soft focus effect to your skin.
Hayley W
Hey chick! I bought Rimmel Wake Me Up for a wedding last summer but got a shade which is now far too dark for me. I’m trying to work out which shade I’d be now, which one do you use? 🙂
Lorraine Haigney
Hello! I use Light Porcelain 010, which is one of the new shades added. It’s very pale and cool toned, so I’d give it a swatch in the shop before you buy it!
Sarah
Great picks! Colourstay is my all time favourite foundation