Foundation can be pretty tricky; if you’re heavy-handed with it, you’ll end up looking, shall we say — overdone? And if you don’t blend it perfectly, that’s pretty obvious too. Nailing the nuances of application techniques and finding the perfect shade can make it feel like you need a master’s degree to get your makeup right. We’re right there with you, ladies.
To say that it’s hard to figure out which foundation to choose is probably an understatement. How do you know which one would be best for your skin type? And let’s not get started on the myriad shade choices. Then there’s the biggest question of all, is it possible to find a good foundation in the drugstore, or is it one of those things that you should just consider an investment?
To help you sort things out, here are a few things you should look for when choosing a foundation.
Choose The Best Formula For Your Skin
First and foremost, when it comes to buying the right foundation, you need to understand your skin type. Foundations are offered in a slew of formulations for skin that’s oily, dry, normal,
sensitive; the list goes on. When you’re in the market for a good foundation, it’s important to purchase the formula that works specifically for you; your mom’s foundation won’t work here. If your skin is oily, you may want to go with a mattifying formula; if it’s dry, then opt for a hydrating formula.
Find The Right Coverage
Foundations are generally available in a ton of coverage options, ranging from light and medium to full coverage. If you’re just looking to even out your skin tone, a light coverage foundation should do just fine. However, if you’re looking to cover imperfections and blemishes, a medium to full coverage foundation may be in order.
Find The Right Color
One of the most important rules of foundation application is to find the shade that matches your skin tone. By match, I mean, it should blend seamlessly and essentially disappear on your face. The trick to wearing makeup and foundation is to look like you’re not wearing any; if you’re wearing the wrong color, that will be pretty hard to do. The important thing to know here is that it’s impossible to tell from color cards, displays, and bottles whether a foundation will match your skin. If you’ve done the trial and error with drugstore brands, you know exactly what I’m talking about.
To find the perfect shade for your specific skin tone, you may want to consider being color matched at your local department store or Sephora. We can’t emphasize enough how important this step is. Moreover, to find the right color be sure that the consultant is testing the color on your jawline or chest, not your arm, and if you can, try to look at the test patches in natural light. Not only are harsh fluorescent retail lights unflattering, they can also be deceiving.
Remember To Account For The Changing Seasons
Even if you’re sitting in an office all day, the change of seasons will affect you. After all, it’s pretty hard to resist the draw of the warm weather and outdoor activities in the spring and summer. As you spend more time outdoors (and in the sun), your skin tone, in turn, will warm up, so you’ll need to adjust your foundation accordingly.
Are Foundations With SPF Worthwhile?
While there are plenty of cosmetic brands on the market that offer foundation with SPF, it may not be worth the extra money or effort (to find one). First, the SPF listed on the bottle requires you to use a ridiculous amount of the product to achieve that level of sun protection. No one (in their right mind) would ever use that much makeup. Second, for maximum protection, dermatologists often recommend that sunscreen be applied directly to your skin. In fact, the best way to apply sunscreen is to apply the product, give it a few minutes to absorb into your skin, and then follow it up with foundation.
So there you have it, foundation isn’t so daunting once it’s been demystified. When you’re trying to find the right foundation, it’s really just a matter of knowing your skin type, figuring out what kind of coverage you need, and then finding the right shade.
