If you were a preteen in the 2000s, chances are one of your core memories is going to the Clinique counter at your local department store. I remember watching my mom get shade-matched while I browsed the different types of makeup, pining over rich lipsticks and luxe eye shadows. In fact, Clinique was the first makeup I ever wore—I vividly remember my mom giving me Clinique mascara and teaching me how to apply it.
For one reason or another, I stopped using Clinique makeup as I got older. But recently, I stumbled on the legacy brand again and thought to myself, Have I been sleeping on Clinique this whole time?
Unfortunately, the answer is yes, particularly when it comes to its tried-and-true foundations. I didn’t start wearing foundation until I was in my 20s, so I never tried the formulas when I was younger, and now I know that I’ve been seriously missing out. Clinique foundations blend smoothly, blur pores and imperfections, and wrap skin in lightweight coverage that looks effortlessly natural. I gave five of its best-selling foundations a spin by applying a different one to different parts of my face and ranking them, saving the best for last.
If I were a fuller-coverage-foundation type of person, I’d be all over this formula. It provides a fuller-coverage, more matte finish. It goes on more like a concealer than a foundation, in my opinion. Because of this, the formula is a bit heavier and less easily blendable than some of the other Clinique foundations, but the end result is flawless, full-coverage makeup.
I found this foundation to be in between full and medium coverage. It covers imperfections flawlessly and requires minimal blending to do so. It’s formulated with salicylic acid, so it’s a great option for anyone hoping to fight acne while wearing makeup.
I like this foundation because it makes me look like I’m not wearing any makeup at all. Even after closely inspecting my skin, I noticed it didn’t leave a trace. Formulated to help brighten skin with continued use, it evens texture and tone, blurs pores, and leaves skin with a dewy, natural-looking finish.
This formula is tough to beat. It might be, dare I say, the best serum foundation I’ve ever used. It’s a light, liquid serum consistency with coverage that just keeps going and going. It evens imperfections so well and sinks in for a flawless skin finish that looks incredibly natural. This foundation is more matte than I usually opt for, but I found the finish to be an approachable, natural-looking matte. Not only does it look amazing on skin, but it’s also formulated with hyaluronic acid, vitamin C, and salicylic acid for major skincare benefits.
Here it is: my absolute favorite Clinique foundation, hands down. This unique formula adds hydration and minimizes oil wherever you need it, so it truly works with your skin, creating the natural finish of dreams. It blurs pores, covers everything you want it to, and glides onto skin seamlessly. This foundation requires minimal blending to look absolutely amazing and mimic your natural skin. It’s tough to find a foundation that makes you look like you were just born with airbrushed skin, but this one does it. See below for how it looks all over my face.
My favorite foundation brush for an airbrushed finish every time.
This silky sunscreen offers tons of protection against UV light and creates a smooth base for makeup.
This highly pigmented blush has become my go-to for a natural-looking flush.
I love this brow pencil for creating natural, hairlike detail and accentuating my brows.
I love this brow gel for keeping my brows in place all day long.
Charlotte Tilbury’s chubby eye shadow sticks now come in its iconic shade, Pillow Talk, and I can’t get enough of it.
An excellent mascara for tons of natural-looking volume.
I love this dual-ended eyeliner for giving me a wide-eyed appearance.
These Tom Ford lipsticks are my ideal formula—buildable, pigmented, and easy to diffuse.
