Finding that perfect foundation can be oh so tricky. Everyone needs and wants something different and no two skin types or concerns are ever alike. I am constantly being asked by friends, family, and clients: How do I choose a foundation? How do I know what I want? What color is best for me?
I am going to help you answer all of those questions in this post!
- Do you get shiny halfway through the day, or even after just a few hours? (most likely you are oily)
- Do you see texture when you apply foundation? Flakes of skin lifting or balling up? (most likely you are dry or dehydrated)
- Do you have both of these issues? (most likely combination)
What type of coverage am I looking for?
- Full
- Medium
- Light
- Sheer
- Buildable: This can be a quality any of the above coverages can offer—you would want a buildable foundation if some days you want less coverage and some days you want more.
What type of finish am I looking for?
- Matte
- Semi Matte
- Normal
- Dewy
- Luminous
- Combination of some of the above
Do I want liquid or powder?
- I personally prefer using liquid on just about all my clients. The key is whether or not you are going to set that liquid foundation with a powder.
- Powders also range in finish. If you want a matte, look go for a matte powder (ex: Rimmel Stay Matte Powder), if you want a more natural glow, finish with a mineralizing powder (ex: MAC Mineralize Skin Finish) or an illuminating powder (ex: Hourglass Ambient Powder)
- If you are a girl on the go, just using a powder is fine—pick your finish accordingly
Next up, choose the right color. Depending on what you’re willing to buy, this can be very tricky. I suggest to all my clients that they should buy two foundations: one that is slightly lighter than your complexion, and one that is just slightly darker. This way, whether it’s summer or winter, you can always mix to find your exact right shade. It is very rare that your skin tone is right there in a bottle anyway.
What is great about using two different foundations is you can also mix texture. Since you know you will always be mixing the two shades, you can choose one with full coverage and one with a luminous finish, for example. That way, you can get the best of both worlds.
There are two ways you can mix your foundations. You can pump the foundation onto the back of your hand and pick up the different shades as you see fit while applying them to your face. You can also purchase a petri dish (can be found at craft/art supply stores) and pump your product onto the dish. A small mirror would also work! Below, I am mixing a lighter and a darker shade. The lighter shade is more of a medium coverage whereas the darker is a lighter coverage.
Every makeup artist has different styles and techniques -the technique of mixing shades and finishes, I find, works flawlessly!
Thank you this was very helpful.
Thank you..so helpful