Hello Beauties!
You may not have perfect skin, but nobody has to know, all you need are the makeup foundation fundamentals. The right foundation should make you look like you have flawless skin while making you look like you are not wearing any foundation at all. There are many different foundation formulations, which means there’s at least one that’s perfect for you! If you are someone who struggles with finding the right foundation, these tips will help you choose that perfect formula.
First, determine your skin type. Do you have oily, dry, sensitive, normal or combination skin?
- If you have oily skin: typically, powder-based makeup foundations look best on you. Some favorite brands are: MAC, Cover Girl Queen Collection, and Make Up For Ever (can be worn wet or dry).
- If you have dry and acneaic skin: usually cream-based foundations look best on you. Some favorite brands are: Illasmasqua, Giorgio Armani, and Cover FX.
- If you have sensitive skin: mineral makeup looks best on you. A favorite brand is Bare Essentials.
- If you have normal skin, the the sky’s the limit. Some favorite brands are: Giorgio Armani, Lancome, Revlon Photo Ready and L’Oreal True Match.
- If you have combination skin: oil-control moisturizers can be applied to parts of the face to counterbalance the foundation choice.
After you’ve determined your skin type, then you need to choose the color that’s best for you based on your skin tone and your undertone. This is normally where most women go wrong. A general rule of thumb when trying to determine your undertone is- if you have yellow, orange or a red-orange undertone, then your skin tone is considered warm, which means your perfect foundation should have a yellow base; if you have blue or a blue-red undertone, your skin tone is considered cool, which means your foundation should have a slightly pink base; if you cannot identify your undertone, it’s safe to use a yellow-base foundation. The majority of people have yellow undertones in their skin.
Makeup artist tip: Always test foundation in natural light. Match the foundation color that closley matches the collar bone or chest. You can also match your foundation at your jawline. Swipe a line of foundation along your jawline and if it disappears quickly (2-3 swipes), it’s the correct color; double-check on the forehead. Some women have darker skin on the forehead and if the foundation matches here, it should work for the whole face.
Your makeup foundation color and/or formulation should change during the seasons (typically summer and winter). Generally, your skin darkens in the summer which will require you to change to a darker foundation. In the winter, your skin will lighten and you will need to change to a lighter foundation. Also, the formulation may need to change during the seasons. In the summer, you want to wear less because of sweating. During the summer, it’s a perfect time to use a tinted moisturizer. Tinted moisturizer is a combination of foundation and moisturizer, so you get the best of both worlds. There are some that are formulated with SPF so you also get sun protection. Tinted moisturizer can create flawless skin with minimal makeup. One of the best tinted moisturizers is Laura Mercier. Giorgio Armani Face Fabric is also a favorite.
Makeup artists spend a lot of time mastering foundation, so no matter who sits in their chair, they can successfully achieve a flawless look. If the foundation isn’t right, everything is off. Foundation selection can be challenging, but if you apply the tips and suggestions given, you should have no problem securing a foundation that’s perfect for you and will give you a flawless, natural look – each and every time!
Have you tried any of these foundation tips? What did you think?
Contributor | Holly Miller |