Foundation is an essential part of make-up and is fairly simple to use, just apply
and go on. It’s called foundation because it’s the base, or foundation,
of your make-up and helps you look radiant. It’s a simple but important
first step.As you get older, there are more things to cover, freckles,
pigment, spots, acne—you've got to have a pretty specialized program to
make sure your foundation gives you the best coverage and lasts all day
skin type:
skin type:
Oily Skin – Face gets shiny often and quick, blackheads and whitheads among other blemishes are common, minimal wrinkles or lines, large pores.
Normal Skin – Small pores, face has few breakouts, surface is neither oily nor dry, even complexion, face has few lines, wrinkles and creases.
Dry Skin – Ruddy complexion, undetectable pores, lines and wrinkles seen around eyes and mouth, cheeks and/or chin are dry and flaky, face feels as well as looks tight.
Combo Skin – You have a combination of the above skin types. T-zone (central part of the face, including forehead, nose, and chin) is oily, enlarged pores on cheeks and chin, skin on cheeks is dry or normal, breakouts on nose, chin, cheeks or forehead.
Sensitive Skin – Delicate or thin skin, blotchy patches in face (red or dry), sensitive to products (flushing or burning displays), prone to Rosacea (facial blood vessels enlarge; cheeks and nose have flushed appearance).
First, make sure you know all about the different types of foundation out there.
Best Foundation For Oily Skin
Pressed powder foundation is the best choice for oily skin types.
It has light to medium coverage and matte finish.
It evens out the skin tone, protects, moisturizes and absorbs excess oil.
Apply this foundation for oily skin using a kabuki brush.
Best Foundation For Dry Skin
Cream foundations are great for dry skin types.
Women who need heavier coverage and have uneven pigmenation could do with this one.
It has medium to full coverage and dewy finish.
It covers and conceals imperfections and discoloration on the skin.
Apply using foundation brush or make-up sponge.
Best Foundation For Normal Skin
Tinted moisturizer is a great choice of foundation for normal skin types.
This is for those who need extra hydration and a touch of color.
It has sheer to light coverage.
It evens out the skin tone and imparts a ‘no make-up’ appearance.
Apply using foundation brush.
Best Foundation For Sensitive Skin
Mineral foundations are ideal for this skin type.
It works well for those with sensitive skin or rosacea.
It has light to medium coverage with matte finish.
It evens out the skin tone, moisturizes, protects and absorbs excess oil.
Apply using a kabuki brush.
Best Foundation For Mature Skin
Liquid foundations are perfect for this skin type.
It has light to medium coverage and the finish is satin, matte or dewy depending on the formulation.
It smoothes out any uneveness in skin tone and provides added moisture.
Apply using foundation brush or make-up sponge.
Best SPF Foundations
Liquid Foundations work marvels for this requirement.
There are different products out there with SPF 15, so choose accord
Now figure out which shade you should be using:
Before Applying Foundation
Prep Your Skin
The first and foremost tips to apply foundation is, a foundation will look good on your skin if it is smooth and clean. You can choose a simple cleanser to remove any traces of makeup, dust or grime from your skin. Next, tone your skin using an alcohol-free toner to tighten the pores and follow up with a moisturizer. If you have dry or flaky skin, you can scrub your face with a gentle face scrub and then tone and moisturize it.
Apply a Primer
If you have large pores, it will be helpful to use a primer. Face primers also help to make the foundation application process smoother besides helping it last longer.
There are different kinds of primers out there in the market. You can use the one that it is suitable for your skin type and skin condition. A primer acts as a barrier between your skin and its foundation, keeping your pores from becoming clogged. An important tip to applying a perfect foundation is, people with oily skin should use a gel- or a water-based primer while those with dry skin should use a cream-based primer.
Dot the Foundation All Over Your Face
The best way to ensure even foundation application is to first dot it all over the face. Pump out foundation at the back of your hand and use your finger to dot it all over your face.
You can use a foundation brush too but if you use your fingers, they can help you warm up the foundation slightly which will help to blend it well.
Also, start at the centre. When you look at someone’s face, the centre of the face is what the eye naturally focuses on and this is why you need to start from here and move outwards.
Use a Foundation Brush to Spread It Evenly
If you do not want to dot the foundation all over your face, you can skip tip 3 and use a foundation brush to spread the foundation all over the face. Start from the centre, slowly moving outwards in the direction of growth of your facial hair. Use small strokes for more control. Since most people have uneven skin tone, broken capillaries, large pores and/or blemishes, the centre of the face needs more coverage.
Take your time to really blend in the foundation all over your face. You can even use a damp sponge to apply your foundation. Always start with a small amount and slowly build the layers for more coverage.
Powder your T-zone
Most liquid foundations can stay put for 2 to 3 hours before the facial oils start to break it. The foundation tends to slowly fade away during the course of the day. To stop this from happening, you can use a translucent powder to set your foundation. It will make it last longer and remove any extra shine. You can carry a compact with you for touch ups when your skin gets oily in the T-zone.
• Use tissue
Once you have applied your foundation make use of a tissue, tear it in two from the middle and open it up, place it on your face and let it absorb the excess moisture from your face. This trick will help your foundation last longer.
• For even complexion
Want to prevent your foundation from oxidizing into an orange color? Try blotting your face before and after applying your foundation to give you even complexion all day long.
A quick look now at the other three foundation types:
Applying Powder Foundation: Powder foundation offers the least coverage of the four but it is quite easy to use. Most of these foundations come in a compact packaging with an applicator that you can use. Though quite easy to use, one way to get the best results from powder foundation is to build it slowly for coverage. Otherwise, it can look a bit cakey and unnatural. Mineral powder foundations are great for oily skin.
Applying Cushion Foundation: You can apply a cushion foundation similar to a powder foundation even though it has a cream-to-liquid consistency. Just tap it all over your face and build it up in the areas where you need more coverage. These foundations usually have a dewy finish and look quite natural on the skin. Just like liquid foundation, they are usually great for all skin types.
Applying Cream/Stick Foundation: Stick foundations are making a comeback. They are more suitable for dry skin and people with oily skin will find these foundations to be a bit too heavy. To apply a stick foundation, run the stick all over your face in long strokes and then use a buffing brush to blend it all in. Make sure that you blend in the direction of the growth of facial hair to make it look natural. Set it with a loose powder to make it last all day.
And now for a final bonus tip: Choose the right foundation colour for your skin tone.
It is important that the foundation shade looks natural when you apply it to your face and that it blends well with your neck. If you are blessed with good skin, you can use a tinted moisturizer or BB cream to even out your skin tone and use concealer to deal with the blemishes, saving your foundation for special occasions when you want to look perfect.
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