Foundation

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Foundation is a type of makeup used on the face to even skin tone, hide blemishes, and emit a healthy glow.[1][2]

Contents

Choosing Foundation

Two elements are incredibly important in choosing the right foundation: Skin type and color.

  • Skin Type - If you have oily skin, look for foundations that say "oil free" or "oil control". If you have dry skin, look for "moisture rich" or "hydrating" on the product. For combination skin, determine if you're more oily or dry and go from there. Cream-to-powder bases work great for combination skin.[3]
  • Color - It is impossible to pick the right color for you skin by picking up a bottle of foundation and holding it up to your face. It is best to test foundation color with sunlight. The worst lighting is florescent light. Testing foundation on your hand or wrist will lead to inaccurate results. For ivory/beige women you will need to check your foundation on your neck and jawline. Sometimes the neck is a little different color than the face, usually a little darker and more yellow undertone. Because you will blend your foundation at your jaw line, you will want it to match where it stops at the neck. For bronze women, you will want to match your foundation on your cheek and jaw line. Sometimes there is an unevenness of color and this will help even out your skin tone.[4]

Types

  • Stick Foundation: This is a cream foundation and concealer in one. It works well for normal to dry skin. It will provide more coverage and it is quick to apply.
  • Liquid Foundation: Most common foundation because it works for practically everyone. Liquid foundation gives good coverage and there are many formulas to choose from. Liquid and cream formulas look the most natural on the apples of the cheeks.[5] A majority of cosmetic companies have different forms of liquid foundation for normal, dry, combination and oily.
  • Cream Foundation: This can be used as a concealer and a foundation because it gives great coverage. Cream and Liquid formulas look the most natural on the apples of the cheeks.[5] Cream foundation is mostly used on dry skin because it is thicker and a heavier consistency.
  • Mousse Foundation: Mousse foundation is a cream foundation in a whipped consistency. It gives a lighter coverage. It is great for older skin because mousse foundation doesn't settle in fine lines.
  • Tinted Moisturizer: Tinted moisturizer is a moisturizer with a little color to it. It gives little coverage.
  • Cream to Powder: It is used mostly for oily skin and is a fast alternative to liquid foundation.
  • Powder Foundation: Powder foundation is great for younger girls just starting out on makeup. Some give a sheer coverage, others will provide medium coverage. I like using this form in the summer because it is so light and easy to apply.
  • Spray Foundation: This is a fairly new product to the market. Spray Foundation comes in an aerosol can and can be sprayed on a sponge or directly to the skin.

All references for this section (except where noted):[2]

Application

  1. It is best to wash the face with an exfoliating scrub to banish flakes and rough patches before applying any makeup.[5]
  2. It is best to apply concealer before you apply foundation.[1]
  3. If you have oily skin, smooth a pea-size drop of oil-free primer all over your face.[6]
  4. For best results, apply foundation with a sponge or brush. You must clean both after each usage. You can also apply using your middle finger.[4]
  5. Shake the bottle well to mix the formula. Or, simply open a stick or compact version.[1]
  6. Place a small amount of foundation on the back of one hand. Dip your brush, sponge, or your middle finger into it.[1]
  7. Apply to the center of your face: cheeks, forehead, chin.[1]
  8. Blend out to your hair and jawline until the foundation vanishes. Pay special attention to blending around the nose, mouth and jawline.[1]Use circular motions when applying but finish with downward strokes to flatten any tiny hairs on the cheeks.[7]
  9. Set the foundation. You can set with:
    1. Loose powder: Loose powder does not set into fine lines as easily as pressed powder does. It will set the foundation with a little more coverage but not be as heavy as a pressed powder can be. Perfect choice if you tend to be oily.[4] Make sure you are pressing, not wiping, the powder with a velvet puff. Dust off any excess with a fluffy brush.[7] To make setting powder look natural, apply it only to shiny spots such as your forehead and nose, not all over, and use translucent loose powder (a tinted one can later the color of your foundation).[6]
    2. Pressed powder: Great for touch ups throughout the day because it does give more coverage then a loose powder does. You do need to be careful because too much can make you look like you're wearing powder.[4]
    3. Blot: As long as you don't have oily skin and not incredibly humid in your area, this will work great for you. You can purchase blotting tissues to keep handy or a facial tissue will work great too. Press to your face and blot softly with the tissue. It will take off the excess make up but will not mess up your makeup.[4]
    4. Note: If your skin is tanned, using powder can make your skin look gray. This may be true even if your skin is only lightly tanned and you're using translucent powder. It is best to test for yourself whether this applies to you.
  10. If skin gets shiny during the day, instead of using pressed powder, you can just press shiny areas with blotting paper.[6]

To even skin tone quickly, take heavy liquid concealer and mix it with moisturizer on the hand at a ratio of about one to three.[5] Blending with moisturizer and using a foundation primer will also help prevent foundation from settling into fine lines.[7]

Highlighting

To highlight facial features, you can add shimmer to the cheekbones, the eyes' inner corners, the centers of the lids, and the lips' bow.

  • Powder highlighter is best for the eyes
  • Consider a cram formula for the bow of the mouth
  • Either powder or cream works on the cheeks

[8]

See Also

Concealer

Mineral Foundation

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 http://www.ehow.com/how_162_apply-foundation.html
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 http://cosmetics.suite101.com/article.cfm/foundation
  3. ↑ http://beauty.about.com/od/makeuptrickstips/ht/foundation.htm
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 http://cosmetics.suite101.com/article.cfm/foundationtips
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 "15 New Tricks of the Beauty Trade", Allure.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 "Master Class" Allure. October 2009: page 79.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 "Best Makeup Tips. Ever." Allure. August 2008: page 106
  8. ↑ "Top 10 Things You Need for Spring." Allure. December 2008: page 168.
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