I can still remember the first time I went to the drugstore to buy a foundation. As I was about to enter high school I had zero ideas of what I was supposed to be looking for, but after spending the entire summer flipping through Cosmo and seeing tons of glossy Covergirl and Maybelline ads for foundation, I knew I wanted to give the bottle of liquid goodness a try. I can recall how overwhelmed I felt walking down the beauty aisle and seeing that while there were plenty of brands to choose from, the selection of shades were dismal. To my surprise, some brands only carried ten shades at the most.
As someone with an olive complexion, it was easier to find a shade that worked for me, but that wasn’t the case for so many others. Thankfully things have improved in the beauty industry and progress has been made when it comes to inclusivity and diversity.
Today, you can walk down any beauty aisle and find an expansive range of foundation shades from brands that are truly making an effort to be more inclusive by appealing to all skin tones.
And while ten or so foundation shades used to be adequate, thankfully, 30 or more is the new norm.
Read on to learn about our favourite brands that offer the best foundation shade ranges.
Articles You Might Be Interested In
I Tried Creating A Full Beauty Look With MINISO Makeup For Under $50 — Here’s How It Went
10 Fascinating Celebrity Makeup Routines To Watch
15 Of The Best Serums To Add To Your Beauty Routine At Every Price Point
I Tried Lise Watier’s New Korean Beauty Products — Here’s What I thought
10 Canadian Beauty Brands To Add To Your Routine
One thing everyone can love about the beauty industry is its move towards inclusivity and diversity, especially in terms of shade ranges.
While a mere 10 colours or so used to be adequate, 40+ is the new norm.
Ever since Bad Gal RiRi stepped into the market, makeup lovers everywhere have been rejoicing — no more painstakingly mixing shades together again…because who has time for that?
Now, we are truly spoiled as the foundation arms race hits its peak, with some brands unveiling 50+ shades — and in a range of prices to boot.
Take a look at 8 of the best foundation brands with wide shade ranges below and get ready for flawless skin.
Maybelline Fit Me Matte Poreless Foundation, $10.99
Instagram/@maybelline
Maybelline has to be one of the best drugstore brands out there, not only creating holy grail products, but also wide shade ranges. The Fit Me foundation has a total of 40 shades and will cost you less than 20 bucks, proof that you can find the perfect shade, even on a budget.
Morphe Fluidity Full Coverage Foundation, $24
Instagram/@Morphe
Morphe gets major brownie points for its balance of selection, quality, and affordability — plus the brand just opened two Canadian brick-and-mortar stores: one in Mississauga and another in Edmonton! Its recently released 60-shade foundation range sits at a reasonable price point of $24 and features six different shade levels, each with 12 different hues to match your cool, warm, neutral, or olive complexion.
Fenty Beauty Pro Filt’r Soft Matte Longwear Foundation, $42
Instagram/@fentybeauty
No listicle featuring inclusive beauty brands is complete without the OG, Fenty Beauty. Rihanna and her magnificent 40-shade foundation line forced beauty brands to start thinking outside of the 10-shade box. The Pro Filt’r foundation will always be known as the game changer, not to mention, it actually works to provide flawless coverage, too.
Make Up Forever Ultra HD Invisible Cover Foundation, $52
Instagram/@makeupforeverofficial
Makeup Up Forever’s Ultra HD Foundation might be pricey, but it’s one of the most popular foundations at Sephora, with 4,600+ five-star ratings and a boasted about natural finish. Clocking in at 40 different shades, it is definitely worth it if you’re in the mood to splurge.
Estée Lauder Double Wear Stay in Place Foundation, $50
Instagram/@esteelauder
Estée Lauder is one of the older players in the game, so it’s refreshing to see the brand keeping up with the times. For the Double Wear Foundation they did not 40, but 56 beautiful shades for every skin colour out there. This is a great full coverage foundation for those with combination or oily skin, and it’s also an Allure Best of Beauty award winner.
CoverGirl Trublend Matte Made Foundation, $11.94
Instagram/@covergirljamaica
CoverGirl is another affordable drugstore brand that has upped its game by adding a 40-shade foundation range. Sticking true to its brand DNA, historically, CoverGirl’s campaigns feature women of all complexions — CoverGirl was also one of the first makeup brands to feature a male spokesperson. While prices between retailers may vary, the Trublend Matte Made foundation can be found on Amazon for just $11.94.
Cover FX Power Play Foundation, $52
Instagram/@coverfx
While the Power Play Foundation by Cover FX is in no way cheap, the luxury product has a dedicated fan base and claims to be good for almost all types of skin (combination, normal, oily). The 40 wide shade range is meant to be good for shine control and is a lightweight alternative to some of the heavier, full coverage foundations out there.
MAC Studio Fix Fluid SPF Foundation, $35
Instagram/@maccosmetics
While MAC might not be the OG in shade ranges, the brand is still a boss, being a favourite amongst makeup artists for many years. Most recently, MAC became available at Sephora (yay!) and extended its shade range to feature 60 different varieties. If you’re looking for professional quality, the Studio Fix Foundation has great value.
Featured image: Estée Lauder
Articles You Might Be Interested In
8 Places To Buy Affordable Designer Makeup
Why Counterfeit Makeup Is Never Worth The Bargain
Inside Canada’s First Morphe Store At Square One Shopping Centre
The 10 Best Places To Get A Bouncy Blowout In Toronto
9 Canadian Brands To Shop At Sephora Right Now
Wouldn’t it be great if you could spend a little less time in front of the mirror getting ready in the morning, clear some space on your bathroom counter and maybe even save some money along the way? Say hello to multitasking beauty products.
When have you actually had the luxury of being able to do just one thing at a time? Probably not that often. We’re a generation of multitaskers; we watch Netflix while we cook dinner, we answer emails while brushing our teeth, we call our mothers while commuting home from work – we do it all simultaneously. And our beauty routine should be no exception.
From lipstick that doubles as blush to moisturizer that becomes primer, multitasking beauty products are perfect for those always on the go. Consider these products your secret allies, ready to save the day. Here are 8 of the best multitasking beauty products that are sure to save you time.
Benefit’s Benetint
Benefit’s Benetint is a go-to among makeup experts and beauty lovers alike. It’s a kiss-proof and smudge-proof sheer tint that gives you a perfectly flushed look. It’s rose-tint provides lips and cheeks with an innocent yet provocative glow that will keep everyone guessing.
NARS The Multiple
Arguably NARS’ most iconic invention, The Multiple is its cream-to-powder multipurpose stick for eyes, cheeks, lips and body. You can literally do a full face of makeup with just this stick. It’s quick and easy to apply with its creamy texture and sheer colour to create fresh, glowy effects anywhere and everywhere.
Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream Skin Protectant
Created back in 1930 by Elizabeth Arden herself, this award-winning cream does more than just hydrate skin. It can soothe sunburns, rehydrate chapped lips, heal rough elbows and calluses, keep eyebrows in place, make your eyelids shiny and even maintain the health of your cuticles. There are so many different ways to use this classic cream.
Pantene Flexible Hold Hairspray
Hairspray is a lifesaver, but not just when it comes to the matters of your hair. No eyebrow gel? Spray on a toothbrush and tame away. Fashion emergency? Spray it on the ends of a run in your tights to stop it from spreading. Static cling? Spritz on areas of your skirt or dress that are bunching. Using a flexible hold hairspray option ensures little residue and no crunchy aftermath.
Maybelline Master Contour V-Shape Duo Stick
Contouring has never been so quick and simple. Maybelline’s Master Contour V-Shape Duo Stick creates the illusion of shape and highlight in just two easy steps. Apply and blend the dark shade along the jawline and the hallows of your cheeks for structure then use the light shade to enhance the high points of your face.
Shiseido Translucent Loose Powder
Loose, colourless powder can be used for much more than blotting shine. First off, it’s like the Magic Eraser of makeup, toning down bronzer, blush or even eyeshadow if you’ve applied too much. It can also help to blur the edges of a smokey eye, matte your lipstick, can thicken lashes between coats and even be substituted for dry shampoo in a pinch.
CoverGirl LiquilineBlast Eyeliner Pencil
If you’ve only been using your eyebrow pencil for your brows, you’ve been underestimating its power. With a creamier eyebrow pencil, lining your lashes is just the start. Scribble it all over your lids for a cream eyeshadow effect or you can blend it along your cheekbones for a little bit of contour. Eyes, brows and contour all in one.
MAC Mineralize Skinfinish
MAC’s Mineralize Skinfinish is a luxurious pressed powder with multi-mineral complex that adds highlights to literally anywhere you want. This velvety soft powder has a radiant finish and comes in six glowy shades. You can use it as a highlighter on your face or body, on your cheeks as a soft-focus blush or blend eyeshadow looks.
Did we miss any great multitasking beauty products? Let us know in the comments!
Featured image: Instagram/ @sephora
Posts you might be interested in:
22 Beauty Hacks to Get the Most Out of Your Makeup
Here’s Why Counterfeit Makeup Is a Real Threat to Your Health
6 Korean Beauty Products that People are Freaking Out About Right Now
8 Genius Beauty Products that will Help Banish Acne, Wrinkles
5 Awesome Dupes for High End Beauty Essentials
The phrase, “try it before you buy it” not only applies to big-ticket purchases like cars, clothing, and eyewear but cosmetics, too! With the price of drugstore and high-end makeup constantly increasing, it’s always great to start off with a sample before committing to the full-size of any beauty product. The benefits to starting off with a sample include learning whether the product’s formula works for your skin type and figuring out your correct shade. For Canadian consumers, however, cosmetics and skincare samples are a bit tricky to come by. We did our research and found out where to score some awesome makeup freebies. Here’s how to get free beauty samples in Canada.
Free Samples at Nordstrom
Not many people realize that Nordstrom‘s beauty section is a haven for samples. With hundreds of fragrances and skincare products, there are plenty of samples to be had. Small take-home containers and perfume sample bottles can be found next to full-size offerings and filled with the product of your choosing. Sales associate’s can even help you label your takeaways so that you can remember what’s what.
Free Samples at Sephora
Sephora makes scoring free samples of any beauty or skincare item super easy in-store. Simply ask an associate for a sample of the beauty item(s) you’re lusting over and they’ll put some into a take-home container along with all of the product’s info. Online Sephora shoppers can select up to three free beauty samples to add to their shopping cart upon checkout.
Free Samples at MAC
Hit up a MAC store or MAC beauty counter in the Hudson’s Bay to request a sample of your favourite liquid beauty product (think primers, foundations, and skincare items). Associates will gladly scoop some up into a container for you. When placing an online order at MAC, select a free premium beauty sample to add to your online order.
Free Samples at Shoppers Drug Mart
Visit a Shoppers Drug Mart Beauty Boutique location for free pre-packaged samples of the newest beauty items to hit store shelves. Store associates have a ton of cosmetics and fragrance samples on hand at the checkout – all you have to do is ask! When shopping online at the Beauty Boutique, select up to three free samples to add to your cart before completing your online order.
Deals Forums and Blogs
If you’re at your computer and not looking to make a purchase in order to get a free sample, there are still plenty of websites to help you out. We found a ton of websites that specifically round up the active free samples giveaway from various beauty brands all in one section. The trick is finding websites that compile samples that can be mailed to Canadian residents. We found Free.ca, CanadianSavers.ca and WomenFreebies.ca to be the best at rounding up (active) promos for free beauty samples which typically ship within 7-10 business days of submitting your mailing information.
Where do you get free beauty samples?
Featured Image: Instagram/@MACCosmetics
Posts you May be Interested In:
Can’t Afford the Gym? This Website Rounds up all the Best Free Fitness Classes in Toronto
Where to Score Free Stuff on your Birthday
5 Beauty Products You Should Never Spend Your Money On
The Truth About “Free Shipping” and Online Shopping
This is the Best Beauty Treatment in Toronto for Softer Skin
Over the years I’ve worked with StyleDemocracy, I have become a big fan of warehouse sales. The deep discounts and the thrill of the hunt get my blood pumping and my adrenaline high, so when I was given the opportunity to attend the Estee Lauder and MAC Warehouse Sale in Toronto, I couldn’t say no.
The event happens four times a year (March, June, September and December), but tickets can be hard to come by – they are usually given to people associated with Estee Lauder: employees, companies, or clients. If you’re really eager to go, you can typically find tickets on Kijiji for around 20 bucks a pop, though it is frowned upon as tickets are not for resale. Fortunately, I was able to score my tickets from a friend who works in the industry and has been attending the sale for years.
The Estee Lauder and MAC Warehouse Sale happens at the Markham Fairgrounds, which was a bit of a trek (a 30-45 minute drive) for me as I was traveling from downtown Toronto. Once I arrived at the sale, there was a big line that moved fairly quickly. I only had to wait 30 minutes. Once inside the sale, it was even busier than outside. The sale took place in 3 buildings and each building held a different variety of products from brands like Mac, Estee Lauder, Bumble and Bumble, Bobbi Brown, Clinique, Smashbox, Coach, Michael Kors, and more.
Despite the chaos, and to my surprise, the sale was pretty well organized. Gift sets, lotions, and boxed items are available for grab on the floor while items like eyeshadow, mascara, eyeliner, lipsticks, lip glosses, and compacts were taped to tables for testing.
If you find something you like taped to the table, you write down the number (be sure to bring your own pen/pencil!) of the item and take it to a pick-up area where an employee will collect your items and put them in a sealed bag. If you change your mind about an item, you can take it to a sorting station where employees will collect the items you don’t want and reseal a bag with the items you do want.
At the sale, shoppers are allowed to spend a maximum of $600. I spent around $150 and walked away with more than enough! My purchases include an Estee Lauder Stay-in-Place Gel Liner (reg. $30, sale $9), an Estee Lauder Hydra Lustre Lipstick (reg. $25, sale $10), 2 MAC Lipsticks (reg. $20, sale $10/each), MAC Fluidline (reg. $19.50, sale $9), a Smashbox Lip Enhancing Gloss (reg. $20, sale $10), Smashbox ‘Rock a Legendary Lip’ Set (reg. $45.50, sale $30), and a Clinique 3-Set Cleansing Kit with travel pack (reg. approx. $95, sale $45).
So would I go back to the sale? Probably not. Overall, I was happy with my purchases (especially my Clinique 3-set Cleansing Kit,) and extremely impressed with how well organized the sale was, however, there are a number of reasons why I would not go back:
- Travel & time. For me, personally, the sale was a bit far. Without a car, getting to the Markham Fairgrounds can be a bit difficult. The savings & product selection would not convince me to travel the distance again. I found I was buying things just because it had taken me so long to get there and because I had waited so long.
- Lines. There are a lot of them. I’m talking lines to get into lines. Lines one after the other. Patience is a virtue.
- Product. Though there was a HUGE amount of product, I’m not as dedicated a beauty maven I once thought I was. My selection was limited as I don’t actually wear that much makeup, but true beauty addicts would have a blast.
I would suggest the sale to make up artists & addicts, anyone with a lot of patience, anyone looking to pick up Christmas gifts, and anyone looking to score deals on eyeshadow, lip and fragrance sets.
Featured Image: Instagram/@maccosmeticscanada
Have you ever been to an Estee Lauder & MAC Warehouse Sale? Share your experience in the comments below!
Want to see more posts like this? Get your fix of news, shopping tips, sales and event information on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Sign up to be a StyleDemocracy Insider here.
Calling all makeup enthusiasts! This is one sale you’ll definitely want to know about. Later this month there is a massive sale featuring top brands, like Estee Lauder and MAC. We know how expensive makeup can be, especially when you have to replace it so often. Imagine the prices with up to 80% off – yes, we feel the same way.
MAC and Estee Lauder own a lot of makeup companies, so you’ll see a lot more variety of brands than you can imagine. If you’re a fan of Clinique, Bobbi Brown, and other famous brands, then this is the perfect sale for you! Think makeup, skincare and more with up to 80% off! There will also be bags for sale from Michael Kors, Coach, and DKNY alongside the makeup products. The sale is set to be a huge success and follows a L’Oreal Warehouse Sale that starts today and runs until April 8th.
In case you were waiting, there is a catch though – The event is not open to the public. You don’t have to stress though. Thank you Narcity, there is Kijiji but shhh. Keep that on the down-low.
Now it’s time to shop until you drop with amazing deals and products to match. The sale is open from March 23rd until March 25th and will be at Markham Fairgrounds. Get there early (with tickets) to grab the best stuff.
Source: SalesCollection.ca
Your summer savings begin here! There are tons of warehouse sales on the roster for this season and this weekend is no exception. From shoes and sunnies to home decor and cosmetics, there’s a warehouse sale with deals on deals for you to shop. Take a look at a few of our favourites below.
Harman Spring Warehouse Sale
If you’re looking to spruce up your home for summer, this is the sale to do it at. The Harman Warehouse Sale in Mississauga is taking up to 80% off home decor like door mats, bathroom accessories and more! Get full sale details here.
Sunglass Safari Summer Tent Sale
While not technically a warehouse sale, the deals are too good to miss. There’s a heat wave headed to Toronto and you’re gonna want to be prepared! For a limited time, our friends at Sunglass Safari are giving big discounts on designer eyewear from brands like Ray-Ban, Michael Kors, Prada and more. Get full sale details here.
Wolverine Mega Shoe Warehouse Sale
If you live by the motto that you can never have too many shoes, you’ll want to visit the Wolverine Mega Shoe Warehouse Sale in Mississauga. They are taking up to 70% off footwear from labels like Hush Puppies, Saucony, Keds, Sperry and more for men and women. Stock up for the summer! Get full sale details here.
Drake General Store Warehouse Sale
The annual Drake General Store Warehouse Sale is in full swing this weekend! Shop home decor, gifts, apparel and more for up to 75% off this weekend only. The sale takes place Fri. Jun. 9 (12-8pm), Sat. Jun. 10 (12-6pm) and Sun. Jun. 11 (12-4pm) at 24 Ingram Dr. in Toronto.
Estee Lauder Mac Warehouse Sale
Arguably one of the best beauty sales of the season is the Estee Lauder Mac Warehouse Sale! As always, invites to this event are super exclusive, but snagging a ticket isn’t too hard – they can typically be found on Kijiji. It’s just the small price to pay for the biggest beauty savings in Toronto. The sale runs this Fri. Jun. 9 to Sun. Jun. 11 at Markham Fairgrounds. Take a peek inside a past sale here to find out what you can expect.
Did we miss any of the best warehouse sales happening this weekend? Share them with us in the comment section below.
Featured Image: Instagram/@manda_0816
Posts you might be Interested in:
COMING SOON: The Nordstrom Warehouse Sale Markham
10 Things Shopping Guide: Tips and tricks for the Best Shopping in Toronto
How to Shop a Warehouse Sale
The Big Reason Why Shopping Warehouse Sales is Better than Outlet Mall Shopping
Enter to Win 1 of 2 $250 Shopping Sprees to the Nordstrom Warehouse Sale Markham