Your foundation is the basis of your entire makeup routine: no matter how great your lipstick or eyeliner is, your makeup won’t look right if you don’t have the perfect canvas underneath. A good foundation will even out your skin tone, conceal flaws and ideally, have SPF to protect you from the sun.
Here are some tips to help you navigate your way through the makeup aisle:
Skin Type
What’s your skin like? If you have acne or oily skin, you’ll need a foundation that offers an oil-free or oil-control formula that won’t clog your pores. If you have dry skin, look for hydrating foundations that contain moisturizing ingredients. Sensitive types should go for foundations that are hypo-allergenic, fragrance-free, or specially designed for sensitive skin. For normal or combination skin (such as an oily T-zone, but dry elsewhere), try a foundation containing an oil-free moisturizer.
Type of Formula
There are three basic types of foundations: liquids/creams, powders, and cream-to-powder:
¢ Liquid or cream-based foundations offer great coverage and a smooth, dewy finish, especially for people with dry skin. However, they can also feel heavy and may become sticky in hot weather.
¢ Powder-based foundations are lighter and offer a matte finish. They work well on oily skin and in humid weather because the powder absorbs excess oil, but they don’t last as long and don’t offer the same coverage as their cream versions.
¢ Cream-to-powder foundations (that go on as a cream and dry as a powder) offer the best of both worlds: a light and smooth finish. Cream-to-powders tend to work well on combination skin.
¢ Becoming increasingly popular are mineral foundations, which are powder formulas made from ultra-fine crushed minerals. They are extremely light, but offer more coverage than regular powder foundations. Plus, because they’re all-natural, they’re considered ideal for people with allergies or sensitive skin.
Shade
Your foundation should be as close to your natural skin colour as possible. It’s meant to conceal flaws and even out your skin tone “ not give you a sunkissed glow (leave that to your bronzer and blush). The only way to know for sure if you have the right colour is to test it out. Blend some foundation along your jaw line and check: the right colour will blend in seamlessly. If possible, check out your reflection under both the store lights and near a window for natural light, to make sure it looks natural no matter where you are.
How to Apply
1. Moisturize. It will help the foundation glide across your skin. If your skin is too dry, your foundation will flake off or give you the dreaded cakey feel.
2. Remember sunscreen. Unless you’ve specifically bought a foundation with an SPF, foundation will not protect you from the sun”so be sure to apply a sunscreen before you apply your makeup.
3. Apply foundation in five dots. Don’t just sweep your foundation across your face. Apply a light dot of it to your forehead, nose, chin, and cheeks. Use your fingers, a foundation brush or a makeup sponge to blend into your skin.
