Picking the right foundation for your skin can get pretty tricky. Here’s how to find the right one for you.
1. Skin Tone
Getting the right foundation shade to match your skin is actually harder than it looks, because we’re not always in the same lighting situations. You may look fine in the daylight, but turn on Flash mode and suddenly, your face looks about 5 shades lighter than your neck. #firstworldproblems
SKIN TONE AND UNDERTONE
Your skin shade is determined by two main factors – skin tone/complexion (fair, light, medium, dark etc.) and undertone (warm or cool).
While your complexion may change throughout the year (summer tan anyone?), your undertone will always be the same. Hence, the first thing you should do before running off to buy that new foundation is to determine your skin’s undertone.
The best way to do this is to look at the veins on your wrist – if they look blue or purple, you have a cool undertone, and if they look green, you have a warm undertone. If your veins don’t look blue, purple or green…then I’m sorry you’re an alien. Just kidding, you probably have a neutral undertone.
(Source: Target.com)
FOUNDATION SHADES
Okay, so now that you’ve figured out what your skin tone and undertones are, how do you pick the right foundation shade? Some brands (i.e. Too Faced, Benefit, MAC) make things easier by stating which undertones a particular foundation shade is suitable for. If not, you can use the following as a rough guide:
Foundations for warm undertones are usually labelled: ivory, beige, sand, honey, golden, tan, caramel, mahogany, chestnut
Foundations for cool undertones are usually labelled: porcelain, vanilla, almond, chocolate
Foundations for neutral undertones are usually labelled: natural, nude, medium, mocha
THE JAWLINE TEST
Once you’ve narrowed down your foundation picks, swipe them on your jawline and blend into your skin. Observe your skin in different lighting conditions (or in natural light if possible). The shade that looks like it has “disappeared” into your skin is probably your best match.
If all else fails, try getting your foundation shade matched at Sephora or a makeup counter.
2. Skin Type
Now that you’ve found the right shade for your skin, the next step is to get a foundation that suits your skin type.
NORMAL
People with normal skin types can generally use most types of foundations – from pressed powder to cream or liquid formulas. To keep your makeup look fresh and natural, go with a tinted moisturiser or sheer coverage foundations.
Recommended products: Marc Jacobs Genius Gel Super-Charged Foundation (Full Coverage), Urban Decay Naked Skin Weightless Ultra Definition Liquid Makeup (Medium Coverage), NARS Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturizer (Light Coverage)
NARS Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturizer
OILY
If you have oily skin – I feel you, especially when your foundation fails to last throughout the day. Go for matte or semi-matte finish foundations (which are usually pressed powder or liquid-to-powder formulations), and look out for words like ‘oil-free’, ‘non-comedogenic’ and ‘mattifying’ in the product descriptions.
I would avoid foundations with dewy or satin finishes, but hey, who’s stopping you when you have a magical really good primer eh?
Recommended products: MAC Pro Longwear Foundation (Full Coverage), Make Up For Ever Mat Velvet + Mattifying Foundation (Medium Coverage), Estee Lauder Double Wear Light Stay-in-Place Makeup SPF 10 (Light Coverage)
Make Up For Ever Mat Velvet + Mattifying Foundation
DRY
With dry skin types, the key is to hydrate, hydrate, hydrate – especially since dry skin types are more prone to wrinkles (gasp). I’m not asking you to go out and buy the Fountain of Youth here, but it is important to get a foundation that has moisturising properties. Stick to liquid or cream foundations that give a dewy finish, and even better if they have serum properties too.
Apply a lightweight moisturiser before foundation application, and remember to exfoliate regularly (because scaly skin is a nightmare to apply makeup on, no?).
Recommended products: Laura Mercier Silk Creme Moisturizing Photo Edition Foundation (Full Coverage), Diorskin Nude Air Serum (Medium Coverage), Lancome Teint Miracle (Light Coverage)
Diorskin Nude Air Serum Foundation
COMBINATION
Combination skin types can be quite tricky, especially if you have an oily T-zone, flaky skin around your nose, dry patches…I know, it’s depressing. However, all is not lost. With advancements in beauty technology these days, it’s really not impossible to find a foundation that is hydrating, but also oil-free and mattifying.
To make application easier, try applying moisturiser to the drier parts of your face first. If you still have some shine on your T-Zone after foundation application, dust some loose powder on and you’ll be good as new.
Recommended products: Revlon ColorStay Makeup (Full Coverage),Lancome Miracle Cushion Liquid Cushion Compact Foundation (Medium Coverage), Clinique Superbalanced Makeup (Light Coverage)
Revlon ColorStay Makeup (Source: @superdrugloves Instagram)
ACNE-PRONE
Your dermatologist will probably tell you that wearing makeup can make your acne worse, but how’s a girl to face the world with a less-than-perfect face?!
When choosing a foundation, avoid full or heavy coverage formulas that are designed to be long-wearing and/or have ingredients like polyethylene or ethylhexyl palmitate in them. Also, try to stick with non-comedogenic and unscented formulas to minimise skin irritation.
Try a lightweight foundation such as Clinique Acne Solutions Liquid Makeup, which provides enough coverage and treats acne with salicylic acid in its formula. Mineral makeup also works well with acne-prone skin, but can be somewhat challenging (and messy) to apply.
Recommended products: bareMinerals READY Foundation Broad Spectrum SPF 20 (Medium to Full Coverage), Hourglass Immaculate Liquid Powder Foundation Mattifying Oil Free (Light to Medium Coverage), Clinique Acne Solutions Liquid Makeup (Light to Medium Coverage)
Hourglass Immaculate Liquid Powder Foundation Mattifying Oil Free
SENSITIVE
There are no hard and fast rules as to what people with sensitive skin can or cannot use – everyone is sensitive to different ingredients, after all. However, you’re better off choosing makeup that is formulated without skin-irritants like parabens, fragrances, dyes, mineral oil and preservatives. Also be wary of bismuth oxychloride, which tends to be a common ingredient in powder makeup formulas. Bismuth oxychloride can irritate the skin and encourage the formation of blackheads, whiteheads and pustules.
If you have especially sensitive skin, it’s best to choose a foundation from a skincare brand such as La Roche-Posay or Avène. Mineral makeup is also a good bet, as it is often formulated with less chemicals and irritants.
Recommended products: tarte Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Full Coverage Foundation SPF 15 (Full Coverage), La Roche Posay Toleriane Teint Corrective Fluid Foundation (Medium Coverage), Ettusais’s BB Mineral Gel (Light Coverage)
Ettusais BB Mineral Gel
3. Skin Coverage
The last thing to determine is the type of coverage you want with your foundation.
FULL COVERAGE
A full coverage foundation is usually able to hide blemishes, an uneven skin tone and yes, even a monster pimple. However, heavy duty formulas may worsen acne-prone or sensitive skin – so save this for when you really need it (read: when you know you’re going to be photographed). Cream, liquid and powder foundations usually offer the best formulas for full coverage.
MEDIUM COVERAGE
Medium coverage foundations are more suitable for everyday use, especially if you need to face the world with less than perfect skin. A medium coverage foundation is usually able to cover mild scars and flaws, and you can touch up with a concealer. The best formulas for medium coverage include powder, liquid-to-powder and liquid foundations.
SHEER COVERAGE
If you generally have good skin with mild imperfections, a sheer coverage foundation is more than enough for you. The best formulas for light coverage include BB creams and tinted moisturisers.
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