ace of base: face atelier ultra foundation

Foundation is one of those things that I'd kind of given up on a while ago – I'd never really met one that gave good enough coverage without looking mask-like, and truthfully, I've become hooked on dabbing on a spot concealer only where I needed it. But in the warmer months, my trusty concealer often does that dreaded slip n' slide and just doesn't have the lasting power I need to get me through the day. So, since I'd been hearing the buzz about Face Atelier's wonder foundation that's beloved by celeb makeup artists like Billy B (coupled with the fact that it has Madonna's seal of approval – she used it on her Confessions tour), I decided to give its star product, the Ultra Foundation a whirl. It's dubbed a high definition foundation (but it's still useable by us mere mortals) with a silicone base that's said to float on top of the skin. And yes, refreshingly, it does what it says it does. You might think that because it contains silicone, which is typically used in foundation primers, that this stuff would be ultra-thick and chalky, but it's surprisingly light and airy, yet covers just as well as my usual concealer and gives a lovely satin matte finish. So it's basically two products in one – a foundation and a primer – so it keeps oil at bay and stays put throughout the day (even after a workout, I still looked fresh).