Which Lancôme Foundation Is Right for You?

We all want a smooth, even canvas when it comes to our makeup and more specifically, our foundation. If you’re anything like us, you’re constantly experimenting with new products and know that there’s no shortage of foundation formulas (and textures) to choose from. Whether you’re a fan of foundation in liquid, powder, cream or even stick form, Lancôme has a product in its portfolio that is sure to help you achieve perfect-looking skin. Need a little help deciding which one you should try next? Below, you can find our reviews of a few of our favorite Lancôme foundations.

Lancôme Teint Idole Ultra Longwear Foundation Stick Review

Love a good multi-use product? Then you’ll fall head over heels for the Lancôme Teint Idole Ultra Longwear Foundation Stick. The oil-free, highly pigmented long-wear makeup stick is super versatile — as in it can be used as a foundation, for midday touch-ups, as a spot concealer and to contour. The result is buildable coverage with a natural-looking matte finish. The formula — made with porous polymers that absorb excess oils — feels lightweight and blends easily for a second-skin look. Best of all, Teint Idole Ultra Longwear Foundation Stick is transfer and smudge-resistant, so you don’t have to worry about coverage fading early in the day or worse, getting on your clothes. It also offers broad-spectrum SPF 21 sun protection and is available in 27 shades. 

How to Use It: Prep your skin with your favorite primer before applying the Teint Idole Ultra Longwear Foundation Stick with a brush, beauty blending sponge or your fingers. When using a brush, lightly feather the product, starting at the center of the face and blending outward. When using your fingers, blend in a cross-hatch pattern. To use as a concealer, apply in a stippling motion on problem areas or, to use as a contour stick, pick a shade two-to-three shades darker than your base complexion, apply and blend to sculpt your cheekbones and facial features.

Lancôme Teint Idole Ultra Cushion Foundation Review

New to the cushion compact trend? Let us help: Cushion compacts are a beautiful fusion of BB and CC cream stored in a snap-lock compact instead of a traditional tube or glass container. Not only do they provide great coverage and a dewy finish, but they are also perfect for use on-the-go thanks to their small size and portability. The LancômeTeint Idole Ultra Cushion Foundation has an oil-free, longwearing formula that is the result of three years of research. The ultra-innovative cushion foundation boasts buildable coverage, refreshing hydration, SPF 50 and a natural skin finish. The customized puff applicator included with the product feels soft on the skin and blends well without streaking. Unlike some cushion compacts that are difficult to dispense, Teint Idole Ultra Cushion Foundation features a touch-activated filter that dispenses the perfect amount of liquid every time. Best of all, the texture feels super comfortable and lightweight on the skin. It’s available in 18 shades.

How to Use It: Take the included velvet sponge applicator and lightly tap the middle of the cushion to release the liquid foundation. Lancôme recommends using this custom applicator to achieve a high-coverage result, but you can also swap in your favorite foundation brush or beauty blending sponge. Next, gently pat the applicator onto the skin in tapping motions, beginning at the center of the face and continuing to other areas of skin. Continue to tap and repeat as much as desired until sufficient coverage is achieved. When finished, be sure to close the inner lid tightly to preserve freshness. 

Lancôme Renergie Lift Makeup Foundation Review

Wish your foundation could help make your skin appear younger-looking, as well? Consider your wish granted, thanks to the Lancôme Renergie Lift Makeup Foundation. The age-defying foundation, available in 20 shades, features Lancôme’s Micro-Lift technology, where an extra-fine dispersion of waxes forms a shaping network on the surface of the skin. Flexible micro-bubbles act like nanoscopic pockets of air that can help skin breathe and prevent makeup from settling into lines and wrinkles. The formula of energizing botanicals — a blend of caffeine, ivy and corn extract — and SPF 20 helps protect skin from environmental aggressors known to cause premature aging, while micro-pearls and vitamin E catch the light to create a radiant glow.

How to Use It: Apply with your fingers, a brush or makeup sponge over freshly toned, treated and moisturized skin. Follow up with concealer (if needed) and powder to set it in place.

Lancôme Teint Idole Ultra 24H Longwear Foundation Review

For comfortable, velvety-smooth coverage that won’t budge, the Lancôme Teint Idole Ultra 24H Longwear Foundation is a great choice. It boasts full coverage with a shade range of 50 for that second-skin look that can last up to 24 hours. The formula, which contains SPF 15 to protect your complexion from UV rays, is also oil-free, non-comedogenic and safe for even sensitive skin types. The result: a satin matte finish that gives your skin an even glow. 

How to Use It: Prep your skin with a makeup primer to create a smooth canvas. Dab the liquid foundation onto the areas you want to cover in the center of your face. Using a makeup sponge or foundation brush, your choice, begin blending the product outwards.

Lancôme Dual Finish Powder Foundation Review

We love a good multitasking product, like the Lancôme Dual Finish Powder Foundation. It’s a long-lasting powder and foundation all in one with customizable sheer-to-full coverage. Thanks to its versatility, it can be applied wet, like a liquid foundation, or dry, like a powder, for a weightless, natural matte finish that doesn’t cake or crack as the day goes on. Keep it in your bag for on-the-go touch-ups or use it over your base makeup for a midday makeup refresher. It’s suitable for all skin types and comes in 36 shades. 

How to Use It: First, pick your desired application method. If you want to apply the product wet, use a damp makeup sponge and blend the product in a stippling method to your entire face. To apply it dry, use a powder brush and gently puff or dust the powder over your complexion.

Read More:

5 Water-Based Foundations for Flawless-Looking Skin

The Best 5 Makeup Primer and Foundation Pairs

How to Get Rid of Redness Without Makeup

Photo: Chaunte Vaughn