Foundation is probably the most important item in your make-up kit. Foundation is famous for hiding blemishes and skin imperfections, creating flawlessly even skin tones, and protecting the skin from sun damage, chapping winds and even pollution. Choosing the right foundation for your skin can sometimes be a difficult task, but with a little know-how and understanding of your own skin’s needs, choosing the right product should become much easier. There are a few things to consider before chosing the right foundation for your skin. First, it makes sense to be able to identify the TYPE of skin you have, in most cases your skin type will fall under one of these categories,
OILY - Oil is noticeable on the face first thing in the morning, and may feel oily after cleansing. The pores of oily skin types appear larger and tend to clog easily.
NORMAL - Normal skin does not have an oily or tight feel, and pores are usually unnoticeable.
DRY- Dry skin feels and looks dry. Tending to be noticeably dry around the eye and cheek areas. Fine lines or wrinkles near the mouth and eye area are also signs of a dry skin type.
There are some exceptions in skin typing where a skin type may fall under a combination of Normal to Dry or Normal to Oily type skin. In these cases, choosing a foundation requires some common sense thinking. If you have dry skin on your forehead and an oily chin, one product of foundation might not be right for you. Some foundation make-up lines have the same shade of make-up for different skin types. Making sure they are the same shade, you can use the one for oily skin on the dry areas, and the same foundation shade in the dry skin formula on the oily areas. Usually, balancing the skin using a good skin care routine of cleansing , toning and moisturizing helps to balance skin types to a normal state before applying foundation. However, many of the latest foundations on the market today have enough moisture boosters added to the product, that applying a facial moisturizer before the foundation seems almost senseless. There are many types of foundations to choose from, so here is a guide of the most common types of foundation to help you decide which one might be right for you and your skin type.
Liquid Foundations - Great for dry to normal skin, the fluidity of liquid foundations makes them easy to apply, giving the skin a fresh face look.
Cream Foundations - Usually best for very dry skin, or skin needing heavier coverage for scars or any other imperfections.
Cream-To-Powder Foundations - Best for slightly oily or combination type skins. Provides good coverage with benefits of oil absorbing powder.
Lasting Foundations- Best when used on oilier skin, these foundations are transfer resistant, they have greater wear, and will not rub off easily.
Mineral Foundation - Mineral foundation feels light and can be used on most skin types, not usually recommended for heavier coverage needs.
Age Defying Foundations - Mainly intended for dry or aging skin, these foundations have added face lifting ingredients and illuminators to give the skin a more lifted and youthful appearance.
Foundation products are very popular, and forever improving their formulas, prices vary depending on ingredients used to make them. Try before you buy is still a golden rule when selecting foundation. Testing them on your hand to feel the texture of the product is fine, but testing for the right shade of foundation is not. Foundation shade should be tested on the back of the neck, understanding this may be difficult to see, this area is best for finding the true tone of your skin. This would be a great time to take that trusty friend along for skin tone typing, or let someone help you. Another area that can be tested for shade selection, if your friends are all busy, would be directly on the cheekbone. Looking for a foundation with an added bonus of sun protection such as SPF 15, is always a good choice. Otherwise, be sure to protect your skin by wearing a moisturizer containing sunscreen, when necessary.
Shade Selection - When selecting a foundation shade be sure to choose the shade is exactly like your own skin tone. Choosing one too light to try and brighten your skin, will not look suitable. If you are aiming for a brighter look, a lightening face powder as a second step is recommended. Lightening the skin should not be the job for foundation, this will cause your skin tone to look different from your neck area. The same is true when opting for that glowing tanned look, wear the right foundation for your skin tone, then dust that special bronzing powder softly over top. A great professional trick of the trade is to remember that skin tones change throughout the year, usually darker in the summer or lighter in the winter. It is best to find your skin shade at least twice a year, Fall and Spring are best. This way you’ll be able to mix a little of each if necessary to achieve the right tone all year!
