Foundation - everything you need to know.

Often, this word scares many women. They can't help but have negative associations with it. They think of heavy, mask-like makeup and often fear that by using it, they will look too 'artificial'. The truth is, foundation is NO LONGER what it used to be. It has greatly evolved since the days where there was only a handful of shades to choose from.

When you think of the whole reason why women wear makeup in general, it's to look more beautiful and to look as though they have silk & smooth skin. Women yearn to have great-looking skin and by using foundation, it's the surest way for those women to get the skin they want. SO.....where do you start?

First, you need to know your skin type. This will usually help you with your foundation type selection.

OILY AND ACNE-PRONE SKIN:

Best Choice: The mineral powder foundations. These formulations are typically loose powders generally containing no perfumes, talc, alcohol, dyes, oils or preservatives, which makes them one of the hottest, natural & SAFEST current beauty trends.

Their light, breathable textures can minimize the appearance of imperfections and provides coverage depending on how thick they are applied. You can concentrate coverage where you need it and blend into areas where you don’t, resulting in the illusion of near-perfect skin. The mineral complex on which these formulas are built also has natural oil-absorbing properties making it the perfect choice for oily skin.



SENSITIVE SKIN:

Best choice: Once again, mineral makeup is best as many formulas have a soothing effect on the skin. This benefit, along with its excellent coverage, has made mineral makeup the perfect choice for the medspa industry as it effectively conceals the redness that occurs in the aftermath of certain medical procedures.

Another great choice for sensitive skin is aerosol foundation. This is essentially a mineral powder in a sprayable solution and produces the closest thing to the airbrush technique used by professional makeup artists. As seen on TV's WHAT NOT TO WEAR, makeup artist Carmindy frquently uses this product. Not too long ago, she wrote a very good makeover book, The 5-Minute Face: The Quick & Easy Makeup Guide for Every Woman , in which the ERA spray foundation is often used.

NORMAL OR COMBINATION SKIN:

Women with normal or combination skin will have a broader range of choices.

1- Liquid foundations come in many variations such as: oil-free, waterproof, smudgeproof and longwearing, and provide light blendable coverage. For long days, the performance of the long-wearing brands is great, but the ingredients creating this durability have been known to cause slight skin irritation in women with sensitive skin.

2-cream-to-powder foundation for skin needing moderate coverage. Products with this unique texture go on as a liquid, but dry to a powder finish. It also minimizes oil in the areas where it makes an appearance. These products have superior staying power and don't require you to put on powder.

DRY SKIN:

Best choice: Cream-based foundation or a moisture-rich liquid foundation. These types of textures are creamier and will "plump up" skin to minimize that dry tight feeling. It offers a medium to maximum coverage. Also, some foundations contain Sodium Hyaluronate (also referred to as hyaluronic acid). It is an ingredient which has been used for years in skin creams. It re-hydrates the skin and reduce the appearance of fine lines.

For a lighter coverage, a tinted moisturizer is another good choice. To “set” either a cream based formula or a tinted moisturizer, try a light application of a mineral makeup powder applying it sparingly on top of the foundation. These powders, which are great foundations for many skin types, tend to make dry skin even dryer when used directly on the skin, but their light formulas work nicely as a powder.



MATURE SKIN:

Best choice: Mousse or whipped foundation. It's good for all skin types, but especially nice for those with mature skin because of its tendency to go on smoothly and evenly instead of accumulating in the facial lines. This type of foundation is also easier to apply so you have more control. The mousse form comes in a spray or aerosol-type can, like whipped cream, whereas the whipped variety usually comes in a jar.

CHOOSING THE RIGHT FOUNDATION SHADE

Take a mirror and stand by a window once you have tested a foundation. If it's the right shade, you should not be able to see any color. The foundation should NOT stand out. It should blend right in to your natural skin color. Also, keep in mind that most skin tones sport a yellow-based tone. A foundation with a yellow tone suits most skin types.
One other thing...please, please, please, do NOT pick the "special of the day" foundation or try to save a few bucks on this type of product. This is NOT an area where you want to save money. Purchase a good quality product. It's not worth taking chances on something that is being applied EVERYWHERE on your face. SEE VIDEO BELOW ON FOUNDATION APPLICATION TECHNIQUES.

Foundation application techniques