ELLE Review: We put 3 new foundations to the test

"The Maybelline New York Fit Me! range claims to match your exact skin colour – a claim I was particularly excited to test. I used a pea-sized amount of the product (be careful not to spill out excess – a pump cap would’ve been nicer) and applied majority of it under my eyes (as suggested by Maybelline New York’s official make-up artist Elton Fernandez) and then spread it outwards to cover my entire face. It settled in almost instantly – no stickiness, the ideal matte finish I was looking for. It definitely covered my dark circles a lot more – I only followed up with a tiny bit of concealer. The shade was just right for my skin tone and I didn’t need to dab on any powder to set it in. The texture felt just like a lightweight cream, without the chemical smell that foundations sometimes come with. If I (someone who hates having make-up on for longer than 4-5 hours) can wear this all day and not get cranky, so can you."

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"The Lakmé 9 To 5 Weightless Mousse Foundation claims to be super light and matte while still giving you flawless skin. As much as I love working in the field of beauty, I’m a believer of less is more – the less make-up I have on my skin, the happier I feel. My skin type is normal with dark circles being my only real concern. On application, the consistency of the product felt a little weird to come to terms with. The mousse is super airy and lightweight which can make you feel a bit awkward because it seems like you're not using enough product. I recommend blending it immediately – the matte finish is almost instant. I had the foundation on for an entire working day and the longer it stayed on, the closer it felt to my natural skin. By the end of the day I had almost forgotten I had make-up on for two reasons: One, I couldn’t feel the weight of the product and two, I could see my dark circles once again. While the foundation was helpful in giving me an almost even skin tone with a beautiful matte finish, the one thing it failed to conceal was my dark circles. Use it along with your concealer or corrector for extra under-eye coverage and you’re set for the day."

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"Chanel’s Les Beiges range is known for its illuminating products; always delivering a natural shine, and so it does. I used a single pump of the product along with a sponge to apply it evenly all over my face, followed by a concealer under my eyes. To be honest, I’m not the biggest fan of shine anywhere on my face – I’m a matte lipstick addict too – so I was a little apprehensive about this one. It feels almost as lightweight as Maybelline does, but richer, more illuminated. I wore it to a Sunday brunch that stretched into an evening coffee without complaints. While I would save this one for occasions when my skin could use more of a glow, it’s perfect for the upcoming summer. It’s supposed to withstand all weather conditions and even protects your skin from the sun with its SPF 25 content. I’d vote for it – we could all use a rosy glow that doesn’t melt away before we’re past our second mimosa."

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