Free base

It won't get you high or set you on fire, but it will cover blemishes.  I happened to be walking through Robinson's May on my way to Lenscrafters this a.m., and noticed that Lancome is giving away a 10 day supply of base for the asking.  I'm always leery of being trapped at the counter, but there was no pressure-sell.  I now have a purse-sized vial of Renergie Lift Makeup in Porcelaine 20.

Comments

[Maia]

Do you ever use Laura Mercier?

[Donna B]

I have read that they make the most perfect foundation, Maia! I think I read that in In Style, in their yearly roundup of the Bests. It's way too heavy and advert-heavy to subscribe to, but they often have part of the list online..
But my theory about foundation is that it is so subtle, and so important to match your skin - and it really does vary by month or season - and I NEVER go in the sun - that it's more important to match the exact color than the texture. Anyway, I have at least 5 colors to choose from at all times!

[Jack]

Maia, I've only ever used Laura Mercier Secret Camouflage concealer (probably my very favourite) and tinted moisturiser, which was also excellent.

Donna, I'd agree with you on texture, except that an overly dry foundation turns my skin into a white flaky mess - not attractive. I've always had pretty good luck in getting the girls at the Trish McEvoy counter in Nordstrom (at The Grove, LA) to find a good match.

[Hill]

Now I'm deadly curious to try the Laura M, Maia. And Donna is absolutely correct. Foundation is like footwear--the one part of your facial "wardrobe" you should splurge on. If you don't, you risk having Hannibal Lecter say something to you like: "You know what you look like to me, with your good bag and your cheap shoes? You look like a rube. A well scrubbed, hustling rube with a little taste. Good nutrition has given you some length of bone, but you're not more than one generation from poor white trash, are you, Agent Starling?"