The word “foundation” with regards to makeup for women means like stepping into a tricky forest whereby you have to hunt down the right formula, finish, and most importantly the right shade. Hence I thought of sorting out to put in factors that will help you start with the basics to foundation.
Not one or the same foundation would suit a different set of people because there are diverse people out there who cater to various skin tones or undertones, etc. In this era of beauty, makeup to many women is a necessity as it boosts a veil of self confidence and the base to that very confidence is foundation. Thus only if your foundation base is game on, then rest of the makeup will adhere to look beautiful.
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Factors to Note:-
- Skincare Base: This step is the most essential one as if you miss out on this, the foundation won’t go on smoothly. Simply to put it, the groundwork needs to be laid down first. Same goes for before applying the foundation. Prep the skin in advance, that is cleanse, tone and then moisturize, adding the SPF as well when doing a day look. Depending on your skin type, if you are on the dry side, you might want to use a strong hydrating moisturizer or you can add a hydrating primer. If you are on the oily side then you can rely on a matte primer but add a light weight moisturizer before hand. Primers help the foundation to go on better on the skin, making it last longer and giving a blended finish.
- Foundation type/formula: According to your skin type as pointed out in the previous step, choosing the right foundation with the right formula is important. My skin leans more on the dry side so therefore I like something hydrating and looks more natural. For example Wet nWild Photo focus dewy foundation, M.A.C face & body foundation etc suit well for dry skin types. Coverage is an important factor to consider as certain women may like sheer to medium coverage, for example the above foundations mentioned come in this category. They cater to dewy and satin sort of finish. Now for oily skin types, the smashbox studio skin 24 hour wear hydrating foundation is a good choice. Don’t be skeptical when you see the word hydrating, as this foundation is a killer when it comes to holding up in humid climates. This foundation didn’t suit my skin type because it was grabbing onto my dry patches. I thought it said hydrating and hence I jumped in to get it. Unfortunately it didn’t suit me. Hence for oily skin types this would be a good option. The finish of this foundation is more like skin like natural matte and it is oil free. For full coverage foundations you have the Huda Beauty faux filter full coverage matte foundation, Maybelline New York super stay full coverage foundation etc.
- Colour Matching: When you have attained the knowledge of having the right foundation, the next step would be to consider what shade you are in that particular foundation range. To figure out that, go to a physical store, swatch at least 3-4 shades of foundation on your jawline and also check if it blends with your neckline. If still in doubt try to get a sample of the foundation. Make sure as explained in the previous step, to keep in mind the formula and finish of the foundation according to your skin type. Now before buying know your undertone, if you are cool, warm or neutral. Warm undertones (your veins will appear greenish) range from peach to yellow and cater to golden. Cool undertones (your veins will appear to look purplish or bluish) consists of pink and bluish hues. Neutral (your veins may have hues of both purple and green) means you have hints of cool and warm or roughly the same colour of your actual skin tone. After ascertaining this, you will get an idea of what color you are. These days there are so many foundations in the market that you are bound to get your shade. There are foundation match colour finding sites online that can help you out to pick one when buying online. For example https://www.matchmymakeup.com/ helps you find your foundation match.
- Foundation Blending: By this step, it simply means to blend the foundation appropriately. I have seen people who just apply foundation on their face leaving their jawline and neck bare including the ears. Make sure you apply the foundation and blend it correctly from face to jawline, the neck and bring it to the ears.
- Foundation tools/Techniques: There are makeup sponges, different foundation brushes, silicon applicators to use on your face when blending the foundation including your fingers. Now to keep it simple, if you are dry, textured skin type go for a stippling brush as it does not disturb the dry patches while applying the foundation. Obviously the most common tool used for the dry skin types are a makeup sponge or a beauty blender, since you need to wet them first and then start applying. The reason the sponge is recommended is because of its wet factor as it will hydrate while applying. However do not overly exert pressure with the sponge or it will cake up the foundation making the dry patches stand out. But makeup sponges can used universally by all skin types. For oily skin types a buffing brush or any form foundation brushes are fine. The trick to oily skin is before application of the foundation, powder your skincare base as this will enable the makeup to last longer.
- Foundation Quantity: The right amount, what is the needed amount when applying your foundation? Start with layers, take a small amount and see if it is correct or sufficient to cover your skin, if not go in with a second layer but don’t use it all over your face just in areas which needs more coverage. Remember “less is more” unless you like heavy coverage. A small dime on your finger is what is needed, as most foundation products go a long way in terms of usage and coverage.
Thank you for reading, hope this post helps.