Foundation: The Hardest Beauty Purchase of All

My dear friend SingleGal requested that for my next post I talk about foundation. I had to think long and hard before I wrote anything though, because I myself have more difficulty with foundation than any other beauty, makeup, or skin care product.

I have so much trouble because matching my skin tone is hard. I'd like to think that I'm special, and I am special, rare shade of pale, but everyone's colour is different, and it is a challenge for everyone to find a foundation that matches them. And matching is the key with foundation. Foundation is not a means for changing your skin into the colour you wish it was. Foundation is your base, and as such must reflect your natural skin colour.

What is the point in foundation if you only use it to match your skin colour you say? Well the point is to even out your skin colouring. The best advise I can offer is to go somewhere with many different types of foundation, and try as many as possible. Try not to be one brand before you try them out. I went in looking for a light age appropriate foundation, and ended up with a full coverage foundation specifically formulated for mature skin, because that is the one that matched me best. For initial tests I would suggest using the inside of your wrist, once you find a few that match fairly well there try applying them to a small section of your face. Find some natural light (that will most likely mean you'll have to go to a window, stores generally use florescent lights, which can distort some of the colours in the light spectrum) to determine which is best.

Just as foundation won't change the colour of your skin (or at least it should;t if you're wearing the correct colour), it also won't flawlessly hide any and all imperfections. That's what cover up and concealer are for. To help your foundation do it's job you should apply your concealer prior to applying foundation.

Finally, there are a variety of types of foundation: liquid, cream, mineral powder, and choosing between them can be a daunting task. Personally, I like liquid foundations. I find my skin is a bit on the dry side, and powders and creams settle into my skin more making my face appear flaky. On the other hand I know people who find liquid foundation too heavy and oily for their skin, and much prefer a powder. And then there are those who use both. Liquid won't cure your dry skin, even if it has a moisturizer in it, and powder won't absorb all you oil. Underlying skin issues should be resolved with other means: creams, washes, scrubs and moisturizers designer for those issues. a specific type of foundation will not eliminate your problems, but the wrong kind might just high light it.

Foundation is one of, if not the, most personal and specific beauty product, the only way to get it right is to keep an open mind, and try them out. Also keep in mind that if your skin tone changes throughout the year (ie you get tanned in the summer) you may need to have more than one foundation.