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Best foundation for photography, foundation coverage for acne, foundation for dark skin, foundation for oily skin, How durable is Illamasqua's Skin Base, Illamasqua Skin Base Review, Illmasqua Skin Base vs Studio Fix Fluid, Skin base #15 vs Studio Fix Fluid NC 45 50, Studio Fix Fluid for photography?
It’s time again folks for a third round of the Foundation FIIIIIGHT! series. Last week, I reviewed Illamasqua’s new Skin Base Foundation (#15). Skin Base will go up against MAC’s popular Studio Fix Fluid (NC 45 + 50). If you are unfamiliar with this foundation face-off series, I wear two foundations at the same time, one on either side of my face for 10-12 hours. The purpose is to test the finish, coverage and durability in a real world situation (no sitting around the house all day). Wearing two foundations on separate sides of your face is a good way to compare products in real time instead of relying on your memory and photographs. Of course I’ve taken lots of photographs so that I can share my little experiment with all of you 
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The two foundations I tested were MAC’s Studio Fix Fluid (NC 45 + 50) and Illamasqua’s Skin Base Foundation (#15). The former is marketed for oily skin and the latter claims to be suitable for all skin types. I wanted to test how these foundations would fair against each other on my super oily, acne-prone skin. Here are the products’ descriptions:
Studio Fix Fluid (30ml / 1.0 US fl oz, £19.50) :
The liquid version of our all-time classic Studio Fix foundation. Provides medium buildable coverage and flawless natural-matte finish. Includes SPF 15 for everyday sun protection. Oil-free and long-wearing. Best applied with a M•A•C brush.
Illamasqua Skin Base Foundation (30mL/ 1.0 US fl oz, £25.00):
Inspired by the cult Asian market Beauty Balm creams, Skin Base Foundation is a brand new, refined formula unlike anything on the UK market. Easily blendable, it effortlessly creates a perfect complexion, and like the entire Illamasqua foundation range, is undetectable in a professional HD environment. Suitable for all skin types, it smoothes, softens and conditions your skin whilst providing natural, buildable coverage.
They are both water-based (Illamasqua’s does contain common cosmetic ingredient, mineral oil); provide medium buildable coverage; and claim to provide a natural finish. So how did they fare against each other? Stay tuned for images of both foundations, side-by-side over several hours.
This time, I did use a pore refiner to create an even and smooth surface for both foundations to counteract any differences in texture or problem areas on either side of my face. After testing out several different primers (including Illamasqua’s Matte Primer), the best I have found to work with Skin Base is Loreal’s Studio Secrets Professional Primer. The only products I used (besides mascara, blush, etc) are pictured above:
I applied one layer of both Illamasqua Skin Base (#15) and Studio Fix Fluid (NC 45 + 50) with my favourite brush, Illamasqua’s Blusher Brush 1. (Side Note: I ran out of NW43 so I had to mix NC 45 + NC 50 to get close). I set both foundations with a light dusting of MAC’s Mineralize Skin Finish Natural (Dark).
Both Skin Base and Studio Fix Fluid deliver medium, smooth coverage as promised. SFF however, is more matte while Skin Base is a bit dewy. Although both formulas give a silky smooth finish, looking at the side by side photos in artificial light, you can see the slight greyish cast from the Studio Fix Fluid due to an SPF of 15 being present in the formula. This is absent from the Illamasqua Skin Base formula, so it’s much more suited to professional photography. In natural light you cannot detect the SPF.
Coverage is usually not an issue for me unless my skin is spinning out of control. My biggest concern is always durability in a foundation. I am an oil slick from the moment I wake up in the morning. Below are photos of Illamasqua’s Skin Base and MAC’s Studio Fix Fluid after six hours and eleven hours, respectively.
On my forehead, the Illamasqua Skin Base side was slightly more oily than the Studio Fix Fluid side, but perhaps that’s because the SB formula is dewy. I also just felt oilier sooner on the Skin Base side. Neither of the foundations showed signs of aggravating my skin’s allergies.
Final Thoughts: For a long day that doesn’t involve photography, MAC’s Studio Fix Fluid held up better on my oily skin. However, the finish is matte so I believe that has a lot to do with it. Illamasqua’s Skin Base on the other hand gives a beautiful finish that looks great on camera and with flash photography (see tomorrow’s FOTD). For really oily skin, the dewy formula is not as durable for long days without needing to touch up. Both foundations will remain in rotation.
Do you use either of these foundations? Which do you prefer?
The Illamasqua Skin Base Foundation is NOT oil-free. If you read the list of ingredients you will see that it contains PARAFFINUM LIQUIDUM AKA MINERAL OIL, as its SIXTH INGREDIENT. That is why you felt more oily with the Illamasqua Skin Base.
I prefer Illamasqua’s Skin Base Foundation, however I find I have to mix it with a mattifying or transfer-proof foundation to counteract some of its properties.
Thanks for catching that. I’ve updated the post to say they are both water-based but that SB does contain the common cosmetic ingredient, mineral oil. I don’t like the quality of my skin once I’ve removed SB, so I’ll only wear it for photographic purposes. I don’t have this issue w/ other foundations, including Illamasqua’s Rich Liquid foundation.
Hello, I live in the US and I am interested in the Illamasqua SB foundation. I just wanted to know what the conversion of a mac studio tech NC50 would be. Thanks in advance.
Hi, Kayla. I will check out in person for you and email you. I’ll get swatches
)
Thank you so much for your help.
My pleasure!
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Hey thank u soo much for ur suggestions since I’m a begginers it was really useful knwing da stuff… I’m an indian basically a southindian I hv a wheatish complexion n vry oily skin im planning to use mineral foundation from oriflame n maybelline compact need ur help for da primer or da base… plz do rply early I hv functions in a row aftr 2days n i want to look awsm plzzz help wud b really thankful…
Hi, there. Thanks for stopping by my blog. I’m glad you found that post helpful. I did a post about my favourite foundation primers for oily skin, as mine is very oily. Here’s the link. I hope you find it useful:
Hey sry again for da trouble cn u plzzz suggest me sm primers which are affordable fr me within 500bucks which yet suits my skin tone… thanks a ton fr ur quick rply n plzzz recommend da brands which r easily avaialbe here… sry again
Hi There,
I love your blog by the way, its hard to find a blog thats dedicated to thorough makeup reviews, tutorials AND geared towards darker skin. I am looking for the correct shade match, you seem to be my color but I just wanted to double check…I usually just wear the MAC Moisture Tint Tinted Moisturizer in deep dark, or a drug store brand (MAC tends to break me out), with MAC MSFN in Dark to set. The brand/shade that matches my skin perfectly is MAC Studio Sculpt/NC55 (for some reason the NC55 is darker than the NC50, but i think in another MAC foundation line I would be closest to NC50). I want a foundation to wear at night, that gives flawless coverage that blends into the skin very well. I usually only wear real foundation on my cheeks where I need coverage so I need something that is very blendable. What shade do you suggest? I have yellow undertones, with a tint of red…I think SB15 would be the correct color…but in your pictures it looks like you may be a touch lighter than I am…NW43 tends to look a little orange after a few hours, NC45 is too light but the correct undertone, and NC50, I honestly havent tried…only the Studio Sculpt NC55…if you could tell me what would be best for me that would be great. I apologize for being so long winded.
THANK YOU IN ADVANCE!
Hi! Thanks for your lovely compliment on my blog. I’m happy to know I can be of some help. As for your question, without being able to see a photo of you, I’ll do my best to make a recommendation based on the comparisons you’ve given me. I usually have to mix NC45 & NC50 in order to get a good shade and undertone match for myself (45 is too light and a bit yellow, 50 is a bit dark but more neutral than yellow). You mentioned that you were thinking of Illamasqua’s SB15 as an option, which I actually recommend. Although I wear SB15, I feel it is slightly dark for the centre of my face, so I usually use it around the perimeter of my face and then mix it with SB 12 for the centre of my face. SB 15 is also a good match for several of the NC 50 shades in MAC foundations. Additionally, depending on the opacity of coverage you need, Armani’s Luminous Silk Foundation (shades 10, 11, 11.5) looks gorgeous and flawless for those who don’t need their foundation to go on thick. I hope that helps
).
Hi!
Thank you so much for getting back to me! As it turns out, my local Sephora only has the Rich Liquid. Based on your assessment I plan to order the SB15, I’m pretty good at mixing so if it’s too light or dark I’m sure I have something to blend it with (I actually planned to mix with a little MAC F&B anyway). I will let u kno how it works out once I receive my order from the Illamasqua website! I look forward to seeing what else you post! I LOVE the brand and I love the blog, so thanks for feeding my passion with urs.
Michelle
im now going back to using MAC studio fix fluid. i have combo skin so its a pain. i found that illamasqua is amazing for photo work. but on myself up close it seemed to make my pores look sooo big. with mac SF my skin looks smoother and with a lil dust of the mineralize skinfinish natural it takes enough shine away. on the other hand rich liquid illamasuqua foundation had amazing cover as i didnt need a concealer. just didnt stay on my skin after i layered it up. bit of a =O when i kissed a guy and he walked off with my makeup on him lol. need to buy fixing spray tomorrow =).
kira
Lol, that sucks about your makeup coming off when you kissed that guy. Rich liquid is pretty much a ride or die foundation for me.
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