We all lead busy lives, makeup needs to reflect our on-the-run schedules. Think about it. Can you imagine yourself picking your children up from school, meeting a friend for lunch or running to your next meeting wearing heavy, suffocating makeup? Didn't think so:-) Thank goodness for us, thick, pore-clogging creams are definitely in the past. Hurray!
Don't be fooled by all the magazines or tv advertisements. The photographs presented to us are "doctored" and do not refect reality. Unless you are willing to wear a thick layer of face makeup (ie, theater makeup for example), no makeup foundation is ever going to completely cover all your skin imperfections. If you have patchy skin or pimples, they will still be there after applying your foundation. They'll just look better and your skin will be more even.
1. Know what type of skin you have. Before you shop for the right foundation shade you need to determine first what formulation is right for your skin; is your skin dry? Oily? Or a combination of both?
2. Remember to go without any foundation on. Your face should be clean so that you can easily test a shade on your face and see clearly whether it matches your skin tone or not.
3. Pick out three or four shades that you think match your skin tone. They need to look as natural as possible. Usually, the yellowish based shades will give all skin tones a natural look. For a very light or fair skin, a pink shade of foundation will be best. To determine your skin tone, see here
4.Test the foundation by applying a small amount near your jawline (not on your wrist!), then decide.
5. Study the shade of your foundation on your jawline. Examine it carefully with a mirror in an open window, where there is natural light. The shade to choose is the shade that you can not see, as it blends well on your skin. It is best that you buy a foundation in a small container first. Once you're home, try it out again. Return it if you feel the shade isn’t right. Then if it is perfect for you, you can go ahead and buy a bigger container.
2. What types of makeup foundations are available?
Creme foundations Creme foundations are usually the top choice of most makeup artists. Available in sticks and compacts, these provide very good facial coverage. The consistency and texture deliver a rich and perfect finish that can be applied easily resulting in a near flawless finish.
Liquid foundations Offering sheer and complete facial coverage, it gives the face a very natural appearance. Available in oil based and water based formulations, this is preferred by most women since it can be easily applied and matches the skin well, almost resembling the skin itself. To get a makeup foundation that will perfectly match your complexion, make sure to select one that matches your skintone.
Powder foundation These are so called quick fix foundations, that spread over the face easily in a loose powder form. This type of foundation will give you the most natural looking makeup and is excellent if you have problem skin, ie, oily, blemishes, rosacea etc... I personally use this type of foundation, mainly because I prefer natural cover. A very popular powder foundation is mineral powder makeup.
Facial foundation for normal skin In the selection of a makeup foundation for normal skin, there are a lot of things to be considered, as there are so many lines of cosmetic foundations available, and in various shades. Often, their main difference is their price. The label will be your best guide. Read the label and make sure it is for dry to normal skin and that it is nonacnegenic so that it will not clog your pores.
=> Cremes, liquid and powder foundations can be used for this type of skin
Facial foundation for acne prone or oily skin For oily skin, the best makeup foundation to use is water-based. These usually come in liquid form, and they offer sheer and total facial coverage, with the downside of lasting for only a maximum of four hours. This problem can be very well addressed by using a loose powder after application of the foundation to help the foundation last longer as well as absorb excess oils. A product labeled as oil controlling is great for oily skin. Again, choose a product that is nonacnegenic, as this will ensure you of unclogged pores and will not worsen your acne condition. Read about makeup for acne here.
=> Powder foundations are best for this type of skin
=> Cream or liquid based is often recommended, the ones with most moisturizing benefits.
Foundation for combination skin For combination skin, select a product labeled as skin balancing, which would be perfect for this kind of skin type. If you can’t find such a product, a combination of liquid foundation and a powder in translucent form will help take off the shine on your T-zone. For combination skin, you have to know if you have skin more on the oily side, or the dry side and select the appropriate formulation - foundations that are cream-to-powder based are recommended for this type of skin.
=> Choose either a powder (if more on the oily side) or cream and liquid (if more on the dry side).