No Bullsh*t Beauty: Stick Foundations Aren’t Actually As Scary As You Remember

The words ‘Pan Stik’ will strike a deep terror in the hearts of many Irish women.

Greasy, fuller-than-full coverage stick foundations were a makeup bag staple in the 90s and 2000s – we covered our faces in them, regardless of if they matched our skin tone or not, and ran them over our lips and eyebrows too. The collars of our school shirts were permanently stained with brown muck. We looked like a pack of beige ghosts, but we didn’t care! It was the done thing, and we were happy. Orange, but happy.

It’s understandable then that we would be very fearful of anything in a stick these days, considering our history. But the stick foundation has made a bit of a resurgence as of late, and – shockingly – they’re not as scary as they used to be. Come, let me show you.

YSL Beauty All Hours Foundation Stick, €39.50

This is the newest member of the All Hours base range – a matte stick foundation that feels surprisingly weightless on the skin. Wear it alone for a medium coverage, or combine with a liquid foundation for something fuller. The packaging is super sleek and chic, too.

Revolution Base Stick Foundation, €5.99

Way down at the other end of the price spectrum is the Revolution Base Stick Foundation, which has a dewy rather than matte finish and is more suitable to dry skin. At €6, it’s well worth a punt.

Make Up For Ever Ultra HD Stick Foundation, €40

Our social media manager Jen is a huge fan of this foundation stick – she says it’s “super light on the skin and gives a gorgeous glow”. Plus, it wears really well and can be either a light, medium or full coverage base, depending on how you build it.

L’Oréal Paris Infallible Stick Foundation, €11.99

This right here is being heralded as a pretty good dupe for the Make Up For Ever one, and at just €12, it’s no harm to give it a try if you’re not 100% sure about committing to the stick again. Like MUF, it has more of a glowy/dewy finish, and ideal for those with dry or combination skin.

Hourglass Vanish Seamless Foundation Stick, €47

OK, she’s pricey. She’s VERY pricey. But this one comes with rave reviews from just about every blogger in the world, gorgeous packaging, and full coverage that still manages to look like skin. Once you use it, you probably won’t want to go back.

• foundation
• stick foundation