Look, foundation is an important part of everyone’s beauty routine. But it is the trickiest product to use. The correct type of foundation provides you with a flawless skin but the imperfect formula just enhance the flaws, appear cakey …provide you with harsh line between the neck and face when the foundation is not a perfect match. This is the base for remaining make up part, so selecting the ideal shade for your skin really matters. Some days we want complete coverage foundation while on others we want lightweight luminous finish. Whether its a weekend or workday, when you find the correct color foundation you can alter the finish to match your mood.
When it comes to choosing the right match foundation shade for you, the struggle is actual. With numerous brands, choosing the perfect suit can be an arduous task. The search to find the best foundation never comes to end for so many girls. As in the case of other makeup products you own, the search to get the best foundation can leave you overwhelmed with the available options in market. There are so many unique formulas, ingredients and textures out there, so choosing one is not simple. However, by doing some research and preparing yourself, getting a foundation which works for your skin type won’t appear as scary. The secret is to know how much coverage you want and your skin tone. If you do not want to spend money on the wrong type of foundation, then follow the below steps to get the perfect match foundation for your skin:
Determining undertone
Most of the people probably have an idea about their skin tone, but the same is not true for undertones. The main difference between the tone and the undertone of skin: your tone of skin refers to your shade of skin and complexion whereas undertone is the color which comes through the skin. The types of skin undertones are either warm, cool or neutral. Warm undertones seem more golden or yellow, while cool undertones show in complexion with clues of pink or blue. If the undertone is neutral, you are probably in between- not too sallow or too ruddy. Try these simple ways to decide your undertone.
Hold anything white up near your skin
Hold something white, like paper of piece near to your skin. It can surely solve the entire mystery. White creates a color cast on the skin. If your skin suddenly appears blue or pink, your undertone is cool, if your skin looks yellow, your undertone is warm and if your skin appears gray, undertone of your skin is neutral.
Look inside your arm
If your arm veins look purple or blue, cool is your undertone while green arm veins show your skin is of warm undertone. If not sure, neutral might be your tone.
Contemplate clothing that receives most compliments
Ponder about the dresses in your wardrobe which always garners good reviews. If you are often complemented when you wear brown shades, orange or green, warm is likely to be your undertone. If you often get overwhelm with praise anytime you rock pink, pastel or rose shades, it is safe to consider your undertone is cool. In case you get compliments on everything you wear, you might be of neutral undertone.
Choose according to your skin type
Dry skin
If your skin type is dry, go for oil based foundations, tinted moisturizers, mineral product and mousse product. Search for words like moisturizing and hydrating while finding products for dry skin. Avert the matte products as they make your skin look dull.
Normal skin
This skin type allows you to use any foundation from tinted moisturizer to mineral powder; depending on your shade and required coverage.
Oily skin
Oily skin itself secretes a lot of oil so use only oil free foundations. A matte finish is also good for oily shine control. You can use a powder after the liquid foundation to make it look perfect.
Aging skin
If your skin shows signs such as fine lines, wrinkles and loose saggy skin, don’t just freak out and begin using a foundation of heavy coverage. It will worsen the things. Select a product of medium coverage that makes look your skin more natural.
Sensitive skin
It is tough to determine what people with sensitive skin should use or what not. So, it is better to use the foundation without any skin irritants such as fragrances, mineral oil, preservatives and parabens. Also be cautious of bismuth oxychloride which is a common ingredient in formulas of powder makeup.
Combination skin
This type of skin can be tricky, especially when you have flaky skin around nose, oily T-zone and dry patches. I know it is quite depressing, but not to worry with technology advancements in beauty world nowadays it is possible to get a foundation which is oil free, mattifying and hydrating. To make the application easier, first apply moisturizer to the dry part and then use the foundation.
Skin that is prone to acne
Your dermatologist probably advise you to not wear any make up as it worsens the acnes, but how a woman will face the world with a less perfect skin? Choose the ones which are non-comedogenic and contain salicylic acid as ingredients. It will keep frequent breakouts and pores at bay and also ensure that the product is oil free.
You should try it before buying
It is not important to try all make up products before buying but foundation is one product which you must try before buying. You can’t decide the color of foundation by seeing its bottle. It must be very annoying when you buy a foundation bottle and take it home, then found the shade does not match with your skin.
Don’t test it on your hand but on face
Test three foundation swatches you thought perfectly suit you and opt for the closest match which seems to disappear in your skin. Keep in mind, foundation should not be shown on your skin and you are applying it to make your skin texture amazing, not the foundation.
Pink vs. yellow shades
You must have read about foundation in any magazine or book, you will probably read about pink and yellow based shades. Most of the women prefer yellow based foundations as it looks natural on every skin tone. Women with very fair skin usually go with pink shades. You need not worry about pink and yellows while buying foundation as seeing bottle and searching for its shade only lead you to confusion. You can surely find a perfect match foundation for your skin without knowing its shade.
How to get correct formula for various skin types
While picking a foundation it is good to know about the type of your skin. Foundations are made for dry, normal, oily and sensitive skin. Most of the women’s skin changes according to the weather. Skin might become oily in summer while dry in winter. Also many women have combination type skin that means their skin is oily in T-zone and is dry in other parts. If your skin type is dry, search for the moisturizing foundations. These contain glycerin which easily glides on dry skin. On the other hand, women with oily skin search for words such as mattifying, oil control and oil free on bottle. For the combination skin, observe if you are more dry or oily and start from there. Powder to cream bases work best for the combination skin type.
How much coverage you need: medium, light or heavy?
Another important step while picking a foundation is how much coverage you need on your skin. It might be seasonal. You can pick heavy creamy coverage in winter while you may pick light coverage foundation in summer.
Complete coverage
A complete coverage foundation is able to balance uneven skin, hide blemishes and even a big pimple. However, heavy coverage formulas may harm sensitive or acne-prone skin so save it for the time when you really require it.
Medium coverage
These foundations are ideal for regular use and used to cover flaws and mild scars. The perfect formula for this coverage comprises liquid, powder and powder- to- liquid foundations.
Sheer coverage
If you have a skin with very mild imperfections, the foundation of sheer coverage is perfect for your skin. The perfect formulas for this coverage include tinted moisturizers and BB creams.
Pick a foundation with good level of SPF
Choose a foundation with a good SPF to protect the skin from damage. Choose the foundation with SPF more than 15.
Conclusion
So, foundation can be a boon or curse for women relying on what shade and formula they choose. Due to the availability of multiple formulas in market, it becomes really tough to decide which is the perfect match foundation for you. The ideal consistency enhances your skin tone while a false formula can only accentuate the skin flaws. At the end, just remember that applying foundation is not about covering imperfections but this is about enhancing the natural beauty!
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