So, you’re looking for a new foundation, are you?
It would be lovely to be able stroll into Sephora on our lunch break and blow $100 on a top designer foundation like Giorgio Armani’s Luminous Silk ($99) or Nars’ Sheer Glow ($72).
But what foundation shopping can actually looks like for most women is a desperate panic in the cosmetics aisle at Coles trying to decide which cheap product is actually good.
We’ll admit that despite our modest budgets, we often turn our noses up at supermarket foundations. Surely they’re just a bit … meh?
And look, not all of them are worth writing home about, but we’ve found one that is actually really good – and thousands of beauty fans on Instagram say they agree with us.
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Introducing L’Oreal’s True Match Foundation, which officially retails for $29.95 at the supermarket (it’s also sold at most chemists, Adore Beauty and ASOS), but you can usually nab on special for about $20.
The internet actually loves to compare this budget buy to Armani’s top-selling foundation – and after testing them both, we definitely agree!
The L’Oreal True Match Foundation ($20) vs the Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk ($99).
(Credit: Supplied)Just like Luminous Silk, True Match’s coverage is buildable, meaning you can apply a little bit and still let your gorgeous natural skin shine through, or you can pack it on a bit more in those areas you want to cover up.
True Match isn’t super dewy but it’s also not matte. It basically just makes your skin look like skin.
We know that trying to find your right shade is close to impossible – so we recommend using the testers at your local chemist to see what shade fits you best.
Take a current base product that matches your skin tone along with you and pop a tiny pump on the back of your hand. Then when you’re choosing different shades, you can swipe them on your hand next to each other to find the one that matches the best.
It seems we’re not alone in our love for this foundation.
On Instagram, the #LorealTrueMatch hashtag has 34,000 posts and #LorealTrueMatchFoundation has 9,000 posts, with makeup artists and beauty fans alike sharing gorgeous selfies of their flawless skin, all thanks to this foundation.
Stunning!
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This fan shows off her love for the product on the ‘gram.
(Credit: Instagram)
The foundation covers up spots and imperfections, but her skin still looks like skin.
(Credit: Instagram)If you’re looking for other five-star beauty buys from the supermarket, we’ve got you covered.
We’ve actually tried every single high end mascara out there, but it was MCoBeauty’s XTENDLASH mascara, which only costs $10 from Woolworths, that took out the prize for our #1 fave.
MCoBeauty is the new cruelty-free budget beauty brand from iconic Australian beauty company ModelCo, which is famous for their hot pink “Tan in a Can”.
WATCH BELOW: How to create the perfect makeup base. Story continues after video.
Their XTENDLASH mascara is exactly the same formula as ModelCo’s old LashXTend (the one in the pink tube with the silver lid), but it’s just undergone a little rebrand.
This is a tubular mascara, meaning the water-resistant, zero-smudge “tubes” are coated around each lash for maximum length, definition and hold and they are easily removed with warm water. Once applied, the lightweight, glossy black formulation binds to lashes and will not run, smudge, clump, or flake.
XTENDLASH costs $22 on MCoBeauty’s website but the RRP at Woolworths, its other stockist, is $17. But you can usually pick this mascara up on sale at Woolies for $10, sometimes even $8.
And, if you’re looking for a cheap concealer that will cover up dark circles, but won’t settle in wrinkles or fine lines, we’ve found three under $15.
