Beauty: Choosing the Right Foundation

When it comes to foundation, your choices are unlimited but not every type of foundation will suit your skin type.

Unless you are born with absolutely flawless skin (and by this, we mean no marks, no open pores, no blemishes, regardless how minor; and even skin tone all around), there will be times where you will need some help when it comes to creating the most perfect coverage for your skin. A good old foundation, the most basic item in every woman’s make-up case.

Gone are the days where all a foundation does is just give you an almost perfect base for the rest of your makeup. Now, with beauty's latest inventions and innovations, a foundation can do so many things to your skin and bring forth tonnes of benefits – anti ageing, acne prevention, firming, radiance-enhancer and the list goes on.

However, one thing still remains - many women out there are still picking the wrong foundation for their skin type as well as using it wrongly. This is one of the most common mistakes women make when it comes to cosmetics. How many times have you seen a woman walking down the street only to notice how "light" or "dark" her face appears, compared to her neck? Unfortunately, it is a sight far too frequent.

But with beauty's technology developed so dramatically over the years, there really is no excuse in getting the wrong foundation for your skin type. All you need to do is check out our tips in finding the perfect fit as well as learn about the many types of foundation available in the market today.

Decide What You Need Are

Decide what you will be using your foundation for. Is it to give you coverage every day, or is it something that you only wear once in a while? Do you need a light coverage or are you the type who goes full on with a medium to heavy coverage, feeling more comfortable when you have more make-up on? Also, there are many types of foundation out there - powdery base, liquid or creamy formula, gel and mousse - so knowing what you are comfortable with will help you make this decision.

Do consider your environment as well. If you work in an office where the air-conditioning dries out your skin, you will need a foundation that gives you protection in terms of moisture. However, if your job requires you to run around, an oil-free matte foundation will prevent your make-up from melting.

Determine Your Skin Type

Finding out what sort of skin you have will help make the decision for a good foundation easier. Below are some rules of thumb when it comes to picking a foundation based on your skin type:

OILY SKIN Pick a foundation that gives you an anti-shine and mortifying finish. Stick to powdery or gel formula as a creamy foundation may be too "rich" for you.

DRY SKIN As dry skin usually looks dull and reflects light badly due to its lack of hydration, look for a foundation that helps boost the radiance in your skin. Also, pick one that provides instant moisture to the skin, as dry skin can get itchy and irritated easily.

COMBINATION SKIN Most people fall into this category, which is no wonder why there are so many foundations out there formulated just for this problem. Now, with technology, many foundations out there have what is known as a "smart" technology, enabling it to identify the dry as well as the oily areas in your skin, providing it with the necessary protection.

ACNE-PRONE SKIN As your skin is prone to breakouts, be sure to pick a foundation that not only protects but prevents new acne from forming as well as allows your skin to breathe.

Test It Out

Now that you know what you like (and don't), It Is time to go shopping for your foundation! A few points to keep minding when shopping: First, don't take the beauty assistant's word for it. Even though it is the latest, best, and greatest, it may not be the right foundation for you as different people have different needs. It is important to try it for yourself before deciding what to buy. If possible, ask for a sample, as when it comes to foundation, the most ideal thing to do is to try it for at least a day to see how well it keeps up.

Also, an important thing you must do when trying on foundation is to test it on your face, not your hand. After all, you will be wearing foundation on your face, so no other place makes better sense.

The best place to test the foundation is just above your jaw line.

Dot the product and blend it in using your fingertips. Check against natural lighting to see that the colour is similar to your own skin tone. A perfect match in foundation should blend into your neck without leaving an obvious mark between the two.

And if you don't find your perfect foundation on the first day, don't despair. All you need to do is shop around with so many foundations out there, there is bound to be one with your name on it. All you have to do is to try as many as possible before settling on the one you prefer. Finding the right foundation may be a tiresome chore but when you do end up with your perfect match, it will indeed be a true beauty success 

“Perfect match in foundation should blend into your neck without leaving an obvious mark between the two.”

Foundation Jargon

Don’t be intimated by the many jargons used by beauty assistants when shopping for your foundation. Here are some you will need to know to put you on the right track.

Hydrating – this moistens skin and stops your make up from feeling tight or irritating on the skin

Oil Control – Reduces the appearance of oil on the skin, making the face look less shiny.

Light Reflecting – Brightens up dull or dry skin immediately by providing a surface for light to bounce off

Line Smoothing – More suitable for aging skin this helps fill out facial lines to reduce their appearance

Minerals – The latest type of foundation to hit the market, this is filled with minerals that are reported to help keep your skin in top condition.

Type of Foundation

Here is a rundown on what’s out there

Tinted Moisturiser – if you don’t want a lot of coverage but still want something to even out your skin tone while giving you moisture, this is for you

Mousse Foundation – Easier to apply, mousse foundation allows you to have more control. Good for all skin types but exceptionally perfect for dry or aging skin.

Liquid Foundation – Liquid formula applies on smoothly and is easily found everywhere. Enhance its smoothness by applying with slightly damp makeup sponge.

Cream To Power Formula – Goes on as liquid but dries to power. It helps minimise oil, lasts all day long and it’s easy to apply