Applying Foundation (Photography by Cosedicasa)

One of the key elements to any successful outcome is the foundation. Whether that’s laying the foundation down for a new building or the foundation used in the make up world. If you can get this right then it can make all the difference in achieving a successful result. Get it wrong and it can make the end result look odd.

With technology and science advancing on a daily basis cosmetic companies are able to develop and offer so many different types of foundations. As a consumer this can become extremely confusing. But fear not , help is at hand!

I am going to attempt to list the types of foundations available out there and what to look out for when purchasing the right type.

STEP 1 – TAKE A LOOK IN THE MIRROR

One of the most important piece of advice I can offer you is start by looking closely at your face in the mirror for a couple of minutes before you do anything. I know it seems odd but I promise there is a very good reason for this. Take a look closely at your skin and be honest with yourself.

• Is your skin flawless?
• Do you have little or lots of spots?
• Is your skin dry or oily?
• What other imperfections do you have?

The point of this exercise is to develop an understanding of the type of coverage you need – keeping in mind the purpose of foundation application.

Foundation is used to camoflage the skin tone and conceal any imperfections.

It can be so confusing buying foundation these days and we can easily end up with a foundation that is not right for our skin. Just by taking time out for a couple of minutes to recognise what it is we are trying to achieve can make all the difference when we set out to purchase the right product.

Have a look below and see what category you fall into, and see what types of foundations are available:

1) LIGHT COVERAGE:

Iis for women who have little or no imperfections, women with flawless skin. Applying a light foundation is easy to blend into the skin. For you the best foundation types are:

a) Tinted Moisturisers

This type of foundation evens out the skin and is good for dry skin, it is light and adds a hint of colour. The disadvantage for this type is that it gives a shiny appearance and doesn’t cover blemishes.

b) Mineral Foundations

This is the latest thing in make up, it’s popularity is due to the  fact that it contains few ingridients so it is perfect for sensative skin, and it is very light in texture and is often compared to the airbrush in creating a flawless flush.  The disadvantage is it may not cover all blemishes – but then you have flawless skin away right?

c) Mousse Foundations

This is liquid with air whipped in, making it very light in consistency. It provides good coverage and is easy to apply. The disadvantage is the price, it is slightly more expensive because you pay for the added air and specialised packaging.

2) MEDIUM COVERAGE:

Applying Makeup (Photography by Conmadien)

This is for those of us with some dissclouration, acne scars, freckles some spots or broken blood vessals. If the foundation is light it will fail to cover such imperfections. For you the best foundation types are:

a) Liquid Foundations

This is the most commonly used,  it provides great coverage and has a smoothe application. The disadvantage is for those who have oily skin, as you may find it gives its own shine almost immidiatly after application.

b) Cream to Powder Foundations

This type of foundation applies as cream and dries to a powder finish and lasts all day. It blends on quickly and easily and gives a matt finish.  Be careful not to over do it as it can end up looking caked and heavy. Cream to powder doesn’t work very well if you have oily skin because the cream ingeridients can make you look more oily.

3) HEAVY/FULL COVERAGE

This would include people with birthmarks, burns, bruising, scars, vitiligo and similer disorders. Foundations for this type of coverage tend to be thicker and drier and can be difficult to blend at first. For you the best foundation types are:

a) Stick Foundations

This is a very thick form of foundation, it goes on creamy and finishes in a stiny finish. The difficulty with this is that it takes some practice to apply it in the correct way.

b) Powder Foundations

This type combines powder and foundation it gives great coverage and is easier to apply, designed to be used dry and provides a matt finish.  The downside for this this type is that it doesn’t work well if you have dry or flaky skin.

STEP 2 – WHAT IS YOUR SKIN TONE:

Picking the right foundation also largely depends on your skin tone. Skin tone I hear you ask? Yes, skin tone! A foundation of the wrong skin tone can create a very unnatural and outdated look. Having the right skin tone helps you achieve a beautiful flawless look, which will compliment your features. As a general rule of thumb:

Yellow Tones

Latin, Indian, Asian: skin has more olive tones, makeup with YELLOW TONES is best for these types of skin colours.

Red to Pink Tones

Dark Asian complexions: Red to pink tones are more suited for this type.

Ivory and Pink Tones

Fair European & Arabic: Ivory and pink tones are best.

Top Tip – Time of Year

It is really important to re-asses the coulour of your foundation during the summer and winter months, because in summer due to tanning the skin colour changes and in winter the skin is lighter for this reason it is important to choose the right colour for the right time of the year.

STEP 3  – TRY OUT SAMPLES

So you now know what type and tone of foundation suits your skin best. My next piece of advice would be to buy some samples of the  particular colour you ‘think’ is right for you. If you can, try a few different brands and try them on your skin in the comfort of your own home. This way you can try the foundation on under different lighting conditions. For example, day light, evening, indoor lighting and so on. Once you feel comfortable go back and purchase the one that works the best for you.

Top Tip – Check the Jaw

In order for you to get the right colour always make sure you try the foundation along the jaw line and see if it matches your neck. The last thing you want is your face to be one colour and the neck another, after all the purpose of foundation is to look natural.

STEP 4 – BOOK ME FOR PERSONAL COACHING

If you don’t have time or patience to experiment, or need expert guidance to achieve the perfect look, you can always book me for personal coaching. I can show you all you need to know in person from the comfort of your own home.

… AND FINALLY

Well, I hope this article has helped you. If you have any questions, queries or your own tips to share, please leave a comment below. Look forward to hearing from you.

Please also take a moment to share this article with your friends. Thanks so much.