The Beautified Guide To Foundation

What is Foundation?
Foundation comes in many forms Liquids, Cream or Powder. When applied to the skin Foundation can create a uniform colour to the complexion, covering imperfections, providing a more even skin tone and achieving a desired finish. It is the base on which you can build your Makeup Look. 

How do I choose a Foundation?
Colour - To begin with I recommend learning your undertone which would be Cool, Warm or Neutral. Typically Cool means your skin is more blue red or pink, Warm means your skin is more golden yellow or peach and Neutral means you have a combination of both Cool and Warm Colours. People who have Cool undertones tend to turn Pink or burn easily in the sun as oppose to People with Warm undertones who tend to Bronze or Tan in the sun. 

Coverage - This refers to the pigment in the Foundation. Do you prefer a Light, Medium or a Full Coverage? Light will be a sheer breathable coverage, Medium will be a buildable even coverage and Full will be a complete flawless coverage. This step is really personal preference. For every day wear I suggest a Light to Medium Coverage and if needed you can touch up with a Fuller Coverage Concealer

Finish - Do you prefer to look Dewy, Matte, Radiant, Natural etc? 

Skin Type - Generally speaking your skin type can be Oily, Dry or Combination.You can also have normal or sensitive skin. If you have oily skin choose something that has a matte finish or look out for phrases like “oil free”. Powder Foundations can also be a great match for oily skin. If you have dry skin choose something that is hydrating like a cream foundation or Look out for phrases like “moisturizing”. If you have sensitive skin choose something that is hypoallergenic or Look out for phrases like “fragrance free”.

How do I find my Foundation Shade?
This differs depending on where you purchase your Makeup. Many stores offer support from knowledgeable beauty experts who will be able to assist you in choosing the correct Foundation shade. Some Makeup Counters will apply the Foundation for you so you can take a look at it before you buy. Others can offer you a take home tester where you receive a small amount of the product to use at home and see how it wears throughout the day. Most Drugstores and Pharmacies tend to have in store testers, where you can patch test to find your correct shade. Using the information you already know such as your Undertone, Preferred Finish, Skin Type and Coverage choose a foundation that fits your criteria and price range. When using a tester, applying it in Natural Light works best. The best colour is the one that disappears into your skin when blended. A mistake many people make is testing the foundation on their arm, but it’s best to apply the foundation where it’s actually going to be worn - the face! My personal preference is to swatch near my Cheek down to my Jawline. If you're unsure try swatching more than one colour next to each other to compare. Looks can be deceiving, for example we can be darker in Summer and lighter in Winter so you may need different shades throughout the year. Alternatively if you choose to buy your foundation online, there is a number of Websites which can help you find your perfect match. My personal favourite would be “Findation”.

Should my Foundation have Sunscreen? Is the SPF in my Foundation enough?
Many foundation formulas contain SPF but whether that SPF provides you with sufficient protection against the suns UVA and UVB rays is another thing. Often Foundations containing SPF refers to protection against UVB rays but not UVA. Because we should wear sunscreen everyday my advice would be to apply a sun cream for the face before applying your foundation for the best protection. Foundations containing SPF can be a real benefit in your Makeup, but I believe it’s an additional protection not a complete replacement. 

How do I apply Foundation?
Again, this is personal preference. 
Brushes - Stippling Brushes usually have two types of bristles the White being synthetic and the Black being natural. Stippling your foundation typically cream or liquid can be great for achieving a light coverage but watch out for Streak Lines. Buffing Brushes are more dense and can be great for building coverages. They can be used on Liquid Cream or Powder and are perfect for a flawless, effortless coverage. Typical or Flat Foundation Brushes in my opinion are becoming less popular but are still a staple for many. I find the typical/flat foundation brushes require more effort than a buffing or a stippling brush does. It can be used to apply cream or liquid but again watch out for streaks. A Buffing Brush is my favourite tool for applying foundation. Brushes are best used starting in the centre of the face and blending outwards in circular motions. 

Sponge - Beauty blenders and Sponges have become hugely popular over the years. Sponges are great for an airbrush finish. Best used wet, with cream or liquid foundations. Tapping the product in with a sponge will give a heavier coverage on the skin or you can swipe the sponge across the face for a lighter coverage. 

Hands - Applying Foundation using your fingers can be a fast and effective way to apply your foundation. Using your fingers can give you a seamless blend and you end up using far less product as it doesn’t become absorbed by a brush or sponge. It’s great for achieving a natural skin like finish. 

​My Foundation doesn’t sit correctly? 
​This is a question I get asked a lot and sometimes it can be down to your skin or what you’ve used to prep before applying your Makeup as oppose to the foundation itself. My advice would be if you have dry skin stick to a lighter coverage. Sometimes heavy duty foundations can exacerbate dry patches on the skin which can in turn can make your foundation flake. But if you think this applies to you, before you toss the foundation away for a new one, check if an alternative moisturiser or hydrating primer might help first. If you suffer from very dry skin but still want some coverage you could try something like a Tinted Moisturizer, BB or CC Cream. After all you can’t have a pretty painting without a nice canvas first. If your problem is excess oil, try using a mattifying primer underneath your foundation to control the shine and help with the longevity of your makeup. Lastly my suggestion would be to check the expiration date on your product. 

Do Foundations Expire?
Yes. Most products have a PAO (Period after Opening) symbol, which indicates how long the product can be used for after opening. For example if your Product has 18M on it, this would mean that once you’ve opened the product you’re advised to stop using it after 18 months. The expiration period usually differs depending on the type of Foundation you use (Liquid, Cream or Powder). If it’s not indicated on your product Generally speaking it’s 6-12 months for Liquids and Creams and 18-24 months for Powders. A cream or liquid formula contains more ingredients which shortens the shelf life and has an increased risk of bacterial contamination. As oppose to Powder where the dry formula doesn’t allow bacteria to grow as easily. 

Thanks for Reading The Beautified Guide to Foundations. If you have any more Foundation Questions you can use the contact me section of the website and I will get back to you as soon as possible.

​Jess x