My Foundation Collection - Pale Oily Skin Foundation Reviews and Recommendations featuring MAC, Estee Lauder, Bourjois, L'Oreal, Revlon

Foundation can be an endless struggle as your skin tone and texture and skin type change throughout the year. I often find it hard to match a foundation to my ghostly white skin, so I've trialled and tested a few to help a sister out. Hopefully this may help the oily skinned pale girls out there find the right foundation for them.

Please note, this is what I use and how my skin behaves just to give you an idea:

Skin Type: SUPER oily

Problems: Prone to spots and oily skin

Primers: Max Factor Face Infinity Primer, Bourjois Happy Light Matte Primer, Smashbox Primer

I've left the image as unedited as I could to give you an idea of shades. 

Revlon Colour Stay Foundation for Combination / Oily Skin in 110 Ivory

Texture and Formula

This heavyweight foundation is like marmite in the beauty community. Its thick texture has often been compared to a mask by those who do not favour this product. For me, I do agree with the comments of a heavy coverage but I don’t feel like I’m wearing a mask.

I really do not recommend applying this with a brush, the texture is slightly sticky until it sets so it just smears; I advise a sponge. I use the Real Techniques sponge currently and I find this is the best application.

The drying time of this foundation is a downside, it takes a minute or two to properly set.

Colour / Undertone

I would say it’s the thickest formula from the bunch but also the palest. This Ivory shade is on the pink side so be careful if you already have a pink undertone in your skin.

Longevity

It’s intended for the oiliest of skins, and honestly I feel like this does a good job of keeping my oil at bay. On my more challenging days where I may have been hot and bothered or running about, I do find that Colour Stay does start to a tiny bit patchy, it’s fixable with a little powder and hardly noticeable.

Overall

I thoroughly recommend this to those who really suffer with oily skin, I mean SUPER oily skin, then the thick formula isn’t such an issue as it’s mattifying properties far outweigh the heavy feeling. For just ‘normal’ oily skins, I think you should avoid this and go for MAC Studio Fix.

MAC Studio Fix Foundation in NW10

Texture and Formula

MAC Studio Fix Foundation has been a long term friend, it’s been with me for a number of years. It’s seen months of love then months of neglect, all depending on how my skin is behaving.  I would say this is a mid-weight in the oily skin foundation ranks, it sits between the buildable coverage of L’Oreal True Match and the heavier textures of Estee Lauder Double Wear and Revlon Colour Stay. I find this easy enough to apply and blend.

Colour / Undertone

It’s almost as pale as Revlon Colour Stay but just a tiny, tiny touch darker, and on this skin this is not noticeable. Thank the Lord that MAC brought out NW10 as NC/NW15 was just too orangey and dark on my ghost like skin. NW if you didn’t know is nude warm and NC is nude cool.

Longevity

On average Studio Fix lasts around 4 hours on me, staying relatively matte. After that my super oily skin starts to seep oil and imbalance the foundation and create a funny patchy look. For those days that I don’t want to slap on Revlon Colour Stay, I just blot on top of this, it gets me through work and looks passable. As I said people with ‘normal’ oily skin will love this foundation and find it would last so much longer than it does on my skin.

Overall

I will always have Studio Fix in my arsenal, it’s something that’s easy to apply and is good enough for a day at work. It doesn’t have the best longevity but the colour for me is pretty spot on!

Estee Lauder Double Wear Foundation in 1C0 Shell and 1N1 Ivory Nude

Texture and Formula

A few weeks ago I claimed this foundation to be my Holy Grail and I stick by this claim. It’s not an everyday foundation for me as it has the same feel as Revlon Colour Stay so I’d rather save this expensive version for best.

It’s easier to work with then Colour Stay but again I suggest you use a sponge so give the best coverage. It definitely creates a flawless matte finish, that’s why it’s my Holy Grail.

I think it’s a little less sticky than Revlon Colour Stay, but like its rival, I do think it takes a while to set, I wait a minute or two before I apply powder.

Colour / Undertone

I have two of the palest shades, 1C0 Shell has a pink undertone and 1N1 Ivory Nude has a more orange hue on my skin. I can get away with both as long as I blend well!

Longevity

Double Wear wins on longevity hands down, it trumps both Colour Stay and Studio Fix. I can go up to 6 hours without shine and it lasts a whole night of partying! No patchy fading throughout the day and lasts well on the skin.

Overall

I could gush about this foundation all day, if I was made of money this would be my everyday go to. If you have the cash to splash this long wearing flawless coverage foundation is worth a buy. If you are strapped for cash then consider Revlon Colour Stay as an affordable option.

L’Oreal True Match in N1 Ivory

Texture and Formula

I’ve heard many Youtubers and Bloggers sign praises of the L’Oreal True Match foundation, but I doubted the claims as most of them have perfect skin anyway! I went to a Boots points event and got suckered into a 3 for 2 offer on L’Oreal.

I find this foundation to be the most fluid of the bunch, it has a watery consistency but don’t let that put you off. With my troublesome skin I would normally avoid formulas like this, but I’m glad I gave it a go. I would say this is a lighter texture than Studio Fix and on the same par with Bourjois Healthy Mix. Again I use my sponge to apply this foundation, one layer isn’t enough coverage for my liking so I pat on another and leave to set. I do still have to go in with heavy duty concealer for scarring and dark circles but overall it covers the worst of it.

Colour

This foundation is one of the only products I’ve seen in the drugstore that carries a warm, neutral and cool shade of each skin tone. This is the palest shade in the range but it is still a touch darker than Revlon Colour Stay.

Longevity

This is on the lower end of the longevity scales of my foundations. Studio Fix sticks around longer, True Match lasts about 3 hours before shine appears. I use this foundation if I’m just popping to town for a bit to do some shopping, it’s quick and easy and does the job for those few hours.

Overall

This would be more suited to those who have oily combination skin, it would probably last a lot longer on your than my skin. I think the shade range is great for drugstore but I’d pick Studio Fix over this.

Bourjois Healthy Mix in 51 Light Vanilla

Texture and Formula

I’ve never really LOVED this foundation, it only really works on me when I have drier skin than normal. I think the key with this foundation is layers and powder. It does have a ‘lit from within’ finish but this can soon turn to oil on my face.

It’s a pleasant texture, which is light and easy to work with. I normally use my Real Techniques Buffing brush but you could also use a sponge if you wanted a super light coverage.

Colour

This is the darkest foundation in my collection, and is the palest shade in their shade range. I feel Bourjois haven’t caught up to the times, a uniform beige colour as the palest shade is unacceptable. I don’t recommend this shade for really pale girls like myself.

Longevity

This has next to no longevity for me, it last around 2-3 hours maximum without shine but when 5 o’clock comes round I look like I’ve been dipped in chip fat. It also oxidises as the day goes on, leaving you with a tangoed face.

Overall

I really do not recommend this for oily skinned girls, although it would be okay for those with drier skins.

I know this was a lengthily piece from me but I really wanted to help out the pale and oily skinned girls out there.

Have you tried any of these foundations? Which is your favourite?