We all have questions about beauty products, techniques and trends. I have come up with some questions and answers that may help someone out in this department. This blog post will be geared towards choosing a foundation to best suite your skin type and preference.
Question: How do I choose the right foundation?
Answer: When you are in a store choosing a new foundation it can be a little daunting. There are so many brands, colors and styles to choose from! Your first big obstacle will be finding out which type of coverage you prefer. Light, medium or full. If you have scars or discoloring on your face you may choose to go with a more full coverage foundation. If you are a lucky one with fairly decent skin, you might lean towards a light foundation or even a tinted moisturizer. Now, most foundations are not labelled "light, medium or full" on the bottle so you will need to test it out for yourself, or read reviews before hand to know. Also, beauty department specialists will be able to point you in the right direction as well.
When testing a foundation in a store I suggest taking a sample of a few of them on the side of your hand. A couple different shades in your general skin tone group. You may notice right away that some look a little pinkish, others more yellow tinted, or even orange. Recognizing these tones in both the foundation and your own skin tone will help you pick the perfect shade!Whichever foundation you have applied to your hand that appears closest to your skin tone is the direction you want to follow. Take that sample and smooth it into your hand. If you notice it enhances any fine lines or wrinkles on your hand, this foundation will do the same on your face. If you would like to avoid your products settling in the tiny cracks around your eyes or mouth, avoid these particular foundations.
Once you've found a decent color match in the right consistency for you, then take a walk outside in the natural light. Does the foundation color change? Does it blend better into your skin tone? Does it appear oily or over dry? All great questions to ask yourself when searching for the perfect foundation for you. Better yet, leave the samples on your hand for a few hours and see how they change through out the day. I understand the skin on your hand and your face are completely different, but this is the best way to test, without having to apply tiny patches of different foundations to your face for an afternoon. Unless you want to, then I won't judge. These simple tests will save you a lot of money from buying a ton of the "wrong" foundations.If you purchase a foundation that is full coverage, but you also like to look less made up on sunny summer beach days, you are still in luck. Simply add a little moisturizer right into your foundation when applying it to your face, this will bring down the intensity but will still protect your skin from the elements outside. Also, you can add a few drops of illuminator into your foundation to achieve that gorgeous dewy look. Perfect for a youthful glow.
Sometimes you find the foundation you love, yet the colors just don't seem to match your skin tone exactly. Have no fear, you can always buy two shades and mix them together. This little trick is used on a daily basis for myself and the majority of my clients. It will allow you to adjust the tone slightly for the months when you have a little extra color in your face from the sun, just drop in some of the darker shade and ta-da, a better match. No need to go out and buy a whole new foundation.
Here are a few of my favorite products that I have found over the years work best for many different skin types:
a) Make Up For Ever HD Foundation - Average $50, found at Sephora
b) MAC Lustre Drops - Average $20, found at MAC stores
c) The Porefessional Primer by Benefit - Average $27, found at Sephora
d) Marcelle Sheer Tint Fluid Moisturizer - Average $13, found at London Drugs
Things to avoid when choosing a foundation... do not pick a shade that is darker then your skin tone as to appear like you have a tan. This will not only look wrong on your face, it will give you the unsightly "mask" look that we all hate. Instead, use a touch of bronzer once your foundation has been applied. This will give you a natural looking glow as opposed to a fake orange face you may get otherwise. In the end, finding the perfect product and shade for you can be trial and error but I hope with these tricks and tips I have mentioned above you will avoid spending an arm and a leg on figuring out which one it is. Happy Hunting!
If you have any questions yourself, feel free to ask. Thanks for stopping by,
Caitlin J
caitlinjmakeup@gmail.com
caitwhetstone.wix.com/caitlinjmakeup
