What does actually mean “a good foundation”?

Often the quality of the foundation is confused with its power of coverage. Thus some believe that a foundation with high coverage is also a good foundation. Nothing is more wrong.

A full coverage concealer can be considered good only when your face has pronounced defects – severe acne, rashes, rosacea, scars or highly visible birthmarks. Therewith unjustified use of a high coverage foundation is not recommended because you can do more harm than good for your skin.

To obtain this dense coverage that it’s promised, many such products contain talc, an ingredient that clogs pores and prevents the skin to breathe. This accentuates the effect of aging of the skin and helps the formation of wrinkles.
It’s true that due to recent innovations in the field of cosmetics, many of the professional makeup brands have developed formulas that allow the skin to breathe therefore reducing the effect of aging.

When you have small flaws that you want to cover them, you can use concealer products that you will provide in combination with a foundation with medium coverage or sheer look, more natural and enjoyable look.

So a good foundation is a product which fits you in all aspects -color, finish, formula, consistency and offers the most natural aspect possible.

How do I choose a foundation that suits me?

There is no magic formula that might assure you will find the perfect product on the first try.
One thing that will help you somewhat narrow down the large number of options available is to research and learn the characteristics of this kind of product:

1 . The coverage – it’s divided into 3 categories:

– little coverage (sheer) – are generally used just to give a bit of brightness, and for color correction but doesn’t cover any defect or natural skin feature.
– medium coverage – covers red areas, rashes or other small skin imperfections. Gives a generally natural and healthy look.
– high coverage (full coverage) – is recommended only for those who have significant problems such as acne or skin rash.

2. The finish – it’s presented as the degree of brightness that the foundation offers once it has been applied to the skin – we can identify 3 types of finish:

– satin finish – provides powerful skin glow. Is used in fashion shows or glamor events. This type of finish is generally preferred by those who have dry skin. The satin finish shouldn’t be used if you have skin problems because it will highlight those imperfections.
– matt finish – suitable for people with oily skin or very active people who are prone to sweat. But you shouldn’t use a large quantity because it will give you an artificially look.
– natural finish – it’s the type that can be worn every day being found somewhere between the satin finish and mat.

3. The shade – choosing the right shade that matches your skin is crucial. The foundation needs to be almost invisible. The best area to color test color is to apply it on the jawline and not on your hand or anywhere else.

4. Undertone – so-called the color undertone causes the foundation to match your skin perfectly. Most of the foundations will have a golden/olive or pink tinge. In the case where a person exposed to the sun turns red, it will need a pink undertone. People who tan without reddening and in general they have darker skin will be much fitter a foundation with a golden tint.

5. Consistency – they are available in a wide variety, from liquid to cream, powder or solid (in the form of stick). Generally, the cream foundations and the powder ones have the highest coverage.

6. Application – depending on the consistency of the product applying foundation can be done with your fingers (washed before), with a brush, sponge or products such as a beauty blender. It should be noted that the same product can offer different coverage depending on the application method chosen.
It’s preferable to choose a foundation with whom application you are more comfortable – for example, if you are accustomed to applying foundation with your fingers then you never choose a powder product.

7. Packaging – although there are few who pay attention to this, it has a very important role. For example, for the liquid type of foundation is preferably a package that contains a pump for dosing. This way applying the product will be so much more hygienic.
Another thing to be taken into account when choosing such a product is the type of skin that you possess.

For oily skin is generally recommended a water-based formula (oil-free) and matte finish. Most often a powder foundation will absorb all that to excess sebum much better keeping your skin matte a longer period of time.

For dry skin, it’s recommended the use of liquid or stick formulas that moisturize the skin. Often the amount of hydration provided by the foundation is insufficient. Therefore we recommend that your daily routine includes a moisturizer before applying the foundation.

Mixed skin type is the most difficult because it requires the use of special techniques to achieve uniform coverage. The first and most frequently used option would be to use a liquid foundation and to use powder to fix the oily areas. Before applying foundation absorb the excess sebum with a tissue or special paper. The second method requires more skill and consists of applying a powder foundation and using different coverage types depending on the specific area where it’s used.
In normal or dry areas you should apply a thin coat of product that will serve only to uniformize the color insisting on those oily spots.
For makeup to withstand a longer period of time it’s recommended the use of a primer in advance.