It is important to know that not all makeup should be tried before you buy, but foundation is definitely one of them that should always be tried first.
You can’t always judge a foundation colour by its bottle and there’s nothing more annoying than buying a bottle, getting it home and then finding out it is not the right shade.
Foundation is one of those beauty items you should splurge on if you can afford to. The best foundations can be found at stores where makeup artists can help you pick out that perfect shade.
Do your research first on the best foundations before hitting the counters.
How to test the shade?
When testing shades, it’s best to show up at the makeup counter with a clean, fresh face. It’s alright to wear eye makeup or lipstick, even moisturiser on your face, but you don’t want to show up already wearing foundation. The best shade for you is one that disappears on your face. To test, apply a stroke of up to three colours on a cheek or even better, the jawline. The inner wrist or hand aren’t the best spots, contrary to popular belief.
Once you find that perfect fit, check it out in natural light. Ask to borrow a hand mirror and stand near a doorway, or step outside, to see which foundation looks best in the natural light.
When choosing a foundation, it’s best to know your skin type. Foundations are formulated for oily, dry, mature, normal and sensitive skin.
Keep in mind that most women’s skin types changes with the weather. In winter, you might be dry, while in summer you might be oily. Also, some women actually have combination skin, which means they are oily in the T-zone and dry everywhere else. If your skin is oily, look for words like “oil-free” or “oil-control” on the bottle. Women with dry skin should look for moisturising foundations with “hydrating” or “moisture-rich” wording on the bottle. Foundations containing glycerine glide on easily.
For combination skin, determine if you’re more oily or dry and go from there. Cream-to-powder bases work great for combination skin. Mineral foundations work well on all skin types, especially sensitive skin.
Mature, aging skin can benefit from foundations formulated for that skin type.
Step two in choosing a foundation is to figure out the coverage you want. This may also be seasonal. You may choose lighter coverage in summer and a heavier, creamier coverage in colder months.
If you have good skin, but want to even out a few ruddy areas, consider a light coverage or tinted moisturiser.
If your skin tone is uneven and you have blemishes, consider a medium-coverage foundation. Most medium-coverage foundations can be built upon to create a heavier coverage.
Many foundations these days come with SPF but the amount, usually about 15 SPF, is never enough to properly protect you. You should always supplement with an SPF of at least 40 worn under the foundation.
