A guide to Foundation!

Foundation can really make or break your look and it is so important that you find the perfect one for you and your skin! This post is just a little more in depth knowledge into the world about foundations.

I want to start by clarifying that you DO NOT have to spend a fortune just to get a nice foundation.  There is so many drugstore brands that are producing more and more great formulated foundations.  It really is all about trial and error unfortunately!

Lets start by mentioning colour.  This is the first fundamental rule of make up… Find the right shade!  I cannot tell you the amount of times that I have bought the wrong colour of foundation, whether it be too light or too dark/orange.  Whenever I look back at early teen pictures of myself I absolutely cringe at my make up as I have the awful orange line around my chin 😖!  Testing the foundation on the back of your hand is a trick that we all do and we are all very wrong when we do so!  The colour of your hand 9 times out of 10 is totally different to your face!  You should always test foundation by your jawline.  I promise you that if you do it this way you’ll find the perfect shade.  Do remember that no all brands will have a shade that is perfect for you but you can always darken it up with powder/bronzer if need be!

The next thing to think about when buying a foundation is the different finishes that a foundation can have.  You need to decide which you prefer or suits you best.  I find it useful having a range of finishes in my collection for different occasions.  Personally I prefer to wear a more satin/dewy finish foundation for day to day activities and a matte finish foundation for occasions I’m dressing up for (i.e nights out). So there is 4 main finishes:

1. Sheer – A sheer finish is great if you already have naturally flawless skin and just need a little bit of coverage.
2. Dewy – Best for if you want a soft glow to your skin.  If you have oily skin you should stay away from this finish as it will make pores stand out more.
3. Satin – Satin comes between dewy and matte.  It means that it isn’t as ‘flat’ as matte and not a ‘shiny’ as a dewy finish.
4. Matte – Usually comes as a full coverage formula and last longer than other finishes.  Great for any skin type but especially oily skin.

The next thing to think about it how to apply  your foundation.  There is so many different methods of applying foundation and everyone has their own preference.  There is no ‘wrong’ way of applying your foundation.  It truly is just however you like it.

1. So the first method is an obvious one and that is to use your fingers.  This is probably how most people start off in make up and there is absolutely nothing wrong with doing it this way!
2. Another method is to use a stippling brush. When using a stippling brush you need to use a light hand in circular motion and is not advised if you have dry skin as it can cause micro-exfoliation.
3. A standard foundation brush.  These are flat brushes that work best if you apply the foundation in downward strokes and then pat away any marks or lines left on the skin.
4. Next is a flat top kabuki brush which is used in the same was as the stippling brush.  This is great for a very full coverage look.
5. If you have great skin or just want a very sheer look to your foundation then you can actually use a powder brush.  This will make you look like you are almost wearing nothing at all.
6. A small dense brush is great if you have larger pores that need to be filled as you are able to buff the foundation into the pores which will temporarily fill and smooth them out.
7. A damp sponge is a relatively new craze and technique that is on the market mainly made popular by BeautyBlender.  With a damp sponge you can really control the make up and leave a flawless look.  The reason you damp the sponge is so that the sponge does’t absorb as much product!

The final thing I want to talk about is setting your foundation.  I personally feel that this is an incredibly important step but not all people like to do so.  Setting your face with a powder helps to set the foundation which will stop it from slipping off your face through-out the day.  Again there are a few options when it comes to this step.  You can use a loose powder or a pressed powder.  Both will have a translucent option or colour options.  A translucent powder will not add any colour to your face making this the most popular option.  However sometimes it can be useful to have a powder with a bit of colour to add a bit more coverage or darken up a base that is too light.

And there we have it, my short guide to foundation!  I hope this is useful to some of you and maybe taught you some things that you didn’t already know.  Let me know in the comments what your favourite foundation is!

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