2021 Foundation Challenge: Tag Your Complexion Routine Then vs. Now

[TeamBIC]

As Team BIC welcomes in 2021 with open arms, we can’t help but notice how much our “MOTD” (makeup of the day) – especially our complexion routines – has changed over the past year. With many of our social engagements gone virtual, bedrooms turning into home offices, and maskne becoming a new skin obstacle we never thought we’d have, we’re so curious: How has your foundation routine changed from a year ago compared to now?

Maybe you’ve ditched your full primer-concealer-foundation-powder routine and switched to something a bit simpler. Maybe you’ve found a new favorite tinted moisturizer or lightweight skin tint to match your pared-down schedule. Or maybe your foundation go-tos haven’t changed at all – anything to keep up some kind of routine, ya know?

For this Challenge, we want you to tag your typical complexion routine from a year ago – aka “THEN” (primers, concealers, setting powders count too!), and then below that, tag your current typical complexion routine “NOW.” We can’t wait to see how your makeup has changed to suit the times – and also see how many of you are still staying faithful to your same holy grails! It’s all fair game.

Click the “Reply” button below and tag your favorite foundation/complexion products THEN vs. NOW! Just type the “#” symbol before each product!

[itsfi]

Interested in reading through everyone's then vs. now foundation/complexion makeup routines. This is such a great idea for a post @TeamBIC - thank you!! 😁

THEN: Primer + foundation + concealer + setting powder / spray

* Primer: Too Faced Hangover Replenishing Face Primer 1.35 oz/ 40 mL all over and when needed Touch In Sol No Poreblem Primer on lower portion of my T-zone.

* Foundation: depending on what type of coverage I needed that day, Armani Beauty Luminous Silk Perfect Glow Flawless Oil-Free Foundation or IT Cosmetics CC+ Cream with SPF 50+ or Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua Ultra-Light Skin Perfecting Sunscreen Makeup

* Concealer: Armani Beauty Power Fabric Concealer or NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer 

* Setting Powder / Spray: Urban Decay All Nighter Long-Lasting Makeup Setting Spray Standard Size - 4 oz/ 118 mL or Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Finish Setting Powder 

NOW: I wear foundation on days that I have videoconferencing meetings for work, which is typically 2 - 4 days during the week. On all other days, no makeup. 

* Primer: I typically just use my sunscreen for my primer

* Foundation / Concealer: usually just a BB cream around my mouth / chin area to cover up redness or  hyperpigmentation from maskne and/or just Armani Beauty Power Fabric Concealer (or another concealer I may be trying out) to cover blemishes

[lnum]

THEN 2020 (excluding eyeshadow, blush, lipstick etc.):

MILK MAKEUP Hydro Grip Primer 1.52 oz/ 45 mL 

NARS Pro-Prime™ Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base 

Dior Dior Forever Matte Foundation 

NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer 

HUDA BEAUTY Easy Bake Loose Baking & Setting Powder 

Hourglass Ambient® Lighting Powder 

Urban Decay All Nighter Long-Lasting Makeup Setting Spray Jumbo 

NOW 2021: I wear no makeup at all. I went completely cold turkey with makeup after March 2020 and have worn it about 5 times since then for special occasions. Once I return to work in person I will probably start up again. Even though it’s a big change because I used to do a completely full face, I am glad for the break because I have my best skin ever. 

[eshoe]

then vs. now:

In early 2020 I was going for a very soft, fresh and bare-faced look. No foundation, a bit of cream blush, Glossier Futuredew for some glow...basic brows and mascara. Always lip gloss. 

Late spring and it’s been a full-face almost everyday since. I guess it’s my way of feeling dressed for the day. Lately I’ve been using the SEPHORA COLLECTION Clean Glowing Skin Foundation with ILIA Color Haze Multi-Use Pigment on my cheeks, with just enough Laura Mercier Mini Translucent Loose Setting Powder Honey to help everything stay put. While I have been playing around with different primers, I always, always slather my face with Biossance Squalane + Zinc Sheer Mineral Sunscreen SPF 30 PA +++ 1.7 oz/ 50 mL first. I only started wearing daily sunscreen about a year or so ago, but now I never go without. 

On days when I need more coverage, I blend  Yves Saint Laurent All Hours Longwear Natural Matte Foundation and Armani Beauty Luminous Silk Perfect Glow Flawless Oil-Free Foundation and apply with the SEPHORA COLLECTION PRO Foundation Brush #70 (the brush was gratis) or my trusty Rouge 56.5 brush which I 💗! I always thought it would be a pain to have to blend two foundations, but as my skin color changes throughout the year, I’ve found it to beneficial; I don’t have to buy a summer/winter foundation. 

The Chantecaille Perfect Blur Finishing Powder softly sets and doesn’t cake or appear over-done; it has been one of my favorite 2020 purchases. I love it. If I don’t use that, I use the Hourglass Veil™ Translucent Setting Powder Standard Size Translucent - .36 oz / 10.5 g. It was one of my first Sephora purchases, this might be my fourth pot. The shade has changed over time but the coverage happily, has not. Soft, yet steady:)

[Titian06]

Then:

• Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer 
• Cover FX Cream Concealer 
• Cover FX Color Corrector 
• Cover FX PowerPlay Foundation 
• Cinema Secrets Ultralucent Setting Powder 
• Guerlain Meteorites Birthday Candle Pearls --you know, magic balls 😁 (not these, from a few summers ago)

Now:  No makeup; skincare only.

[txcatx]

Before the pandemic, I used Smashbox Photo Finish Oil & Shine Control Primer , NARS Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturizer , Glossier concealer under eyes, Shiseido stick concealer for blemishes, and Givenchy Prisme Libre Loose Powder . 

Since the pandemic, I've found that wearing makeup gives me mask acne, and I really only use concealer for Zoom meetups and meetings. I focus mainly on skincare these days!

[missjeanie]

@txcatx I think a lot of people are in the same boat.  Working from home sure changes things eh!

[PrettyPaint]

@TeamBIC  This is a real challenge to me, because I seriously had a hard time remembering my routine one year ago. 

Before:
(I'm not much of a routine person, but these were in my rotation when going to work)..
Armani Beauty Luminous Silk Perfect Glow Flawless Oil-Free Foundation 
Charlotte Tilbury Light Wonder Foundation 

Too Faced Peach Perfect Comfort Matte Foundation – Peaches and Cream Collection Natural Beige 

Shape Tape Concealer

Now:

Umm...I actually haven't been wearing foundation on a daily basis (only if I have a zoom meeting). Lately here, my skin has been looking better without wearing foundation for some reason.

Sometimes I just throw on a bit of concealer as needed.
Marc Jacobs Beauty Accomplice Concealer & Touch-Up Stick Light 26 

-Sometimes I'll just add a bit of this. I'm honestly still looking for the perfect concealer. Nothing will save me from the dark circles. 😓

I just purchased this to try out:

SEPHORA COLLECTION Best Skin Ever Liquid Foundation 

[missjeanie]

@PrettyPaint  If you find that perfect concealer let me know lol... Struggling with the same over here. 

[PrettyPaint]

@missjeanie  I'll definitely let you know if I ever find something magical! I feel like I've tried them all. I actually ordered the new ones from "the ordinary." I haven't received them yet, but I'm hoping they are nice. 

[Ispend2much6]

Mine has stayed the same. I do alternate cleansers, depending upon how my skin is feeling and how deeply I need to clean. My skin is dry, but my nose and forehead can get oily, and I have some enlarged pores.  The Boscia, Tatcha, and Erno Laszlo really help with that, although I use them sparingly. They do help clear my skin even more. The Kiehl's cleanser is just so thorough and calming!  Love it.

I can't live without the Alpha H Beauty Sleep Power Peel- everyone should try this.  I kid you not.  I get lazy and won't do much to my skin except clean it, and in two uses of it I am mostly back on track for improving its condition.

Biossance Squalane + Omega Repair Cream 

#Biossance Squalane + 10% Lactic Acid Resurfacing Night Serum

Kiehl's Since 1851 Ultra Facial Cleanser 

The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution 

boscia Clear Complexion Cleanser 

Biossance Squalane + Vitamin C Rose Oil Original 

Alpha-H Beauty Sleep Power Peel with 14% Glycolic Acid and 0.5% Retinol 

Erno Laszlo The Famous Black Bar 

Tatcha The Deep Cleanse Gentle Exfoliating Cleanser 

[Malissa1]

Verb Leave-In Conditioning Mist 

[dancingwoman]

Then Benefit Cosmetics The POREfessional Pore Minimizing Primer FENTY BEAUTY by Rihanna Pro Filt'r Hydrating Longwear Foundation NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder Translucent 

NOW - Skincare is best makeup.  Youth To The People Super Glow Kit #Bobbi Brown Skin Foundation Stick  #glossier serum

[WinglessOne]

I'll go back further than a year because my "base" makeup routine changed drastically, thanks to my intro to retinoids and last-straw frustration with liquid/cream foundations. I mean I've never been a frequent foundation wearer anyway, but I finally stopped playing the shade chasing game and switched to sheer tints that just blur the lines between my different skin tones, while my skincare routine balances them out. 

[ EDIT: I feel obligated to say I don't use daily every item you'll see in the spoiler tags. Most days, I just use concealer + setting powder and omit everything else I listed. 😄 That's how I've approached base makeup for years. I do find myself using tinted moisturizer or powder foundation more often (on unmasked parts of my face) nowadays, since my skin's getting blotchier due to hyperpigmentation lifting. ]

Mid-2018 and earlier: 

Spoiler

Primers 
Lancôme Blur & Go Stick  just on my oily zone 
Lancôme La Base Pro Perfecting and Smoothing Makeup Primer 
La Base Pro Hydra Glow (discontinued) 

Foundations I alternated 

Lancôme Teint Idole Ultra Cushion Foundation 

Lancôme Teint Idole Ultra Longwear Foundation Stick SPF 21 460 Suede W 

Concealer (used only on my undereyes and occasionally to spot conceal) 

NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer Amande; also shade Truffle as a color corrector 

Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder Translucent (which I kinda hated, but kept using til I tried HG’s powder) 

Hourglass Veil™ Translucent Setting Powder Standard Size Translucent - .36 oz / 10.5 g 

Foundation setter  

Skindinavia Setting Spray 

Late 2018 - 2019: 

Spoiler

I quit liquid and cream foundations when I found tinted moisturizers that actually worked for my skin tone(s). They include the relaunched (expanded shade range) Laura Mercier tinted moisturizers. I also found a powder foundation that works well for me, especially over sunscreens that leave a white/grey/purple cast. 

Primer 
Lancome Blur & Go Stick just on my oily zone 
Smashbox Photo Finish Hydrating Under Eye Primer, used occasionally 

Tinted moisturizer 

Lancôme SKIN FEELS GOOD Skin Nourishing Foundation 08N Sweet Honey 

MUFE Ultra HD Perfector, my favorite tinted moisturizer until it was discontinued 

Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer Natural Skin Perfector 5W1 Tan 
Laura Mercier Mini Tinted Moisturizer Broad Spectrum SPF 20 - Oil Free 5W1 Tan 
Beauty Bakerie Flour Setting Powder (translucent) just on my oily nose 

Foundation 

By Terry Terrybly Densiliss Compact 6 Amber Beige, my favorite powder foundation; By Terry might be discontinuing this product 😞 

Concealer (undereyes & spot concealing) 

BECCA Cosmetics Ultimate Coverage Longwear Concealer Cinnamon , my favorite color correcting shade 

NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer Amande 

By Terry Hyaluronic Hydra-Powder (original translucent loose version) used 95% of the time 
Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Finish Setting Powder used the other 5% of the time 

Face brightening 
I never use concealer to brighten the center of my face. Instead I rely on powders that don't completely alter the skin tone of that part of my face. 

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush Collection Brilliant Nude , used sparingly because this is a strobe powder 
Hourglass Ambient® Lighting Palette 

2020 to now: 

Spoiler

I haven't used primers at all, and I don't bother using any makeup under my masks. 

Tinted moisturizer 
Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer Natural Skin Perfector 5W1 Tan 
Laura Mercier Mini Tinted Moisturizer Broad Spectrum SPF 20 - Oil Free 5W1 Tan 

I'm searching for other options because these 2 shades are now slightly off for my skin tone, probably thanks to retinoids and the rest of my hyperpigmentation skincare routine. 

Foundation 
By Terry Terrybly Densiliss Compact 6 Amber Beige 

Or, sometimes I'll blend Supergoop! (Re)setting 100% Mineral Powder SPF 35 PA+++ Dark and Medium shades together as a powder foundation over a white/gray-cast sunscreen. 

Concealer (undereyes & spot concealing) 
BECCA Cosmetics Ultimate Coverage Longwear Concealer Cinnamon , still my favorite color correcting shade 
Jouer Cosmetics Essential High Coverage Concealer Pen Dark Ochre 

By Terry Hyaluronic Hydra-Powder, both the translucent loose and pressed compact versions 

Face brightening 
Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush Collection Brilliant Nude , used sparingly because this is a strobe powder 
Hourglass Ambient® Lighting Palette 

I have Jouer Cosmetics Soft Focus Hydrate + Set Powder coming soon, and can't wait to test it against my rockstar By Terry setting powder. 

[missjeanie]

@WinglessOne I swear you perfectly explained how I feel about colour matching full on foundations versus using skin tints and tinted moisturizers. Frankly as I've gotten older my skin just looks so much better with the lighter coverage as well as being so much easier to match. 

[WinglessOne]

@missjeanie  Isn't it nice to be free from the hassle and effort of full coverage foundations? I wish today's tints (and more inclusive shade range) had been available 15-20 years ago. I'd have happily used them instead of foundation right from the start. 

[missjeanie]

Absolutely @WinglessOne !  I'm still excited when I see new ones coming out to try.  Can't get enough of em these days.  I still remember trying a CC cream for the first time.  It was way too dark for me, and had an odd finish... but dang I remember falling in love with MAC face and body and it was a game changer pushing me to see how much better less coverage could look. Still a favourite for me years later.  I wish Sephora would carry it.

[mmmiu]

Oh this is fun!

Pre-pandemic: Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer ILIA True Skin Serum Foundation Hourglass Veil™ Translucent Setting Powder Standard Size Translucent - .36 oz / 10.5 g NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer 

Now: Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer Hourglass Veil™ Translucent Setting Powder Standard Size Translucent - .36 oz / 10.5 g NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer 

I've stopped using foundation altogether, no point when wearing the mask. I do miss using the Ilia foundation and Kosas Tinted Oil sometimes. Also still waiting for the Ilian Skin Tint to be available in Canada!

[Samtian]

Then- Burberry Fresh Glow Primer, Guerlain magic balls. 

Now- Burberry Fresh Glow Primer, NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer , Guerlain magic balls. 

Basically I just added concealer. 

[WinglessOne]

@Samtian  Now I can't stop thinking "magic balls" whenever I see Guerlain Meteorites. 🤣That's their name now. 

[Samtian]

@WinglessOne @eshoe That also makes me very happy lol.