Where to shop

Although there are many wonderful foundation options available at the drugstore, the almost universal lack of testers is incredibly frustrating. For budget-conscious consumers looking for a reasonably priced foundation this can be quite a challenge, as you’re often left standing in the aisle (under horrendous lighting and with no mirrors in sight) to guess which shade is best for you. For this reason, I encourage you to begin your foundation search at a department store or cosmetics boutique (like Sephora) where testers are the rule, not the exception. You will end up spending more for foundation, but the convenience of testers, mirrors, take-away samples, and (at times) professional guidance is worth it. Once you become more skilled at knowing which shades work for you and which do not, you can venture back to the drugstore to try again. It can be helpful to bring along the foun­dation you are currently using—assuming the color is a great match—to compare with the drugstore options. Last, since you will still not be able to see the color on your skin until you purchase it and test it at home, be sure you buy only from drugstores or mass merchandise stores that allow you to return opened cosmetics. Safe bets in this regard are Rite Aid and Walgreens.