Affordable Products Fight For Your Love: Best Foundations of 2013

I know that we have a brand new shiny year to look forward to but let's take a look back for a moment. Because 2013 was a good year for cosmetics, especially those down in your local chemist shop.

More affordable offerings are getting ever more impressive. There's always a good quality dupe of the latest high-end foundation to be found in pharmacies at a reasonable price. Most of the foundations in my top five were released this year, but one in particular is on the list because nothing released this year has topped it for me!

• Maybelline Fit Me Shine Free Foundation Stick (€13.79)

This matte offering reminds us why stick foundations are underrated. This won't work for you if your skin is dry or flaky but if you have genuinely oily skin, it could be exactly what you're looking for! The gel formula makes for a lightweight  texture and good coverage. It also doesn't commit the cardinal sin of affordable foundations - ignoring the darker and paler skin tones. This foundation comes in twelve shades.

• Rimmel Stay Matte Liquid Mousse Foundation (€7.95)

Another matte formula, this foundation is also best for oily skins as it will sit in dry patches. However, it does keep oil at bay, provides nice coverage, and does cater for the very palest skin if neglecting deeper skin tones. If you have oily skin and are lucky enough to find a shade to match, you certainly won't find a better oil-free foundation at this price!

Read here for a more thorough review

• No.7 Instant Radiance Foundation (€16.25)

No. 7's recent rebranding improved all of the brands foundations enormously. This foundation comes in twelve shades and has a beautiful, dewy finish. I'd especially recommend it for drier or more mature skin. It brightens skin and leaves it looking fresh.

• Rimmel Match Perfection Foundation (€9.95)

I'm cheating a little here, because this foundation was actually released in 2012. That said, no other affordable foundation tops this one for me. It is beauteous in the extreme. A great dupe for YSL's cult Le Teint Touche Éclat Foundation, this dewy lovely comes in ten shades, and one of them is good for milk bottle skin, which is always going to be a good thing for Irish women in January! Also, at under ten Euro, my love for this foundation just will not cease.

• Max Factor CC Colour Correcting Cream (€15.25)

Frankly, the BB, CC and DD monikers give my posterior a headache. But I know what I like in a foundation, and I like this one. It evens out the complexion as naturally as makeup can. Yes, the packaging is boring, it only comes in three shades (enraging!) and it could definitely cost less, but for the few lucky people who can find a shade match in this foundation, it looks beautifully natural and subtly radiant.

Have you tried any of these picks? Is your local pharmacy a treasure trove of foundation-y goodies? Tell us in the comments!