Whether you’re buying for yourself or selecting for a client, knowing how to choose the right foundation is absolutely essential for creating the flawless base you’re after, whether that’s a sheer coverage for the ‘No Makeup’ Makeup look or something heavier for on camera or a vintage look.
To help you figure out how to choose the right foundation for your needs, here’s a guide to some of the options out there, explaining their coverage, their consistencies and overall, their results…
Liquid Foundation
Liquid foundation is a product that most of us will be familiar with and is probably the most popular choice among makeup artists and makeup wearers alike. However, despite it’s versatility and reasonably easy usage, it’s not always going to be the one for the job, which is why it’s always useful to know how to choose the right foundation.
Liquid foundations do tend to vary in consistency – some are thick and almost paste like whereas others can be incredibly runny; but don’t be fooled! Having a watery appearance on the back of your hand doesn’t necessarily equate to worse quality or less pigment and coverage, you really have to try it before you can tell.
When it comes to coverage, this is a very unique choice – some people only want or need a subtle base to even out skin-tone and other may be after something much more heavy duty, to perhaps conceal blemishes or dark circles. One of the great things about liquid foundations is that they are build-able, so you can easily apply more or less depending on the result you would like to achieve.
For perfect results apply with a natural foundation brush – a bit more expensive, but *so* worth it for the flawless finish.
Cream Foundation
Cream foundation is great for people who are looking for full coverage and added moisturisation, as it tends to be very thick and sometimes quite oily.
Usually coming in a pot, palette or stick, the best way to apply this type of foundation is with (clean) fingers, which is helpful if you’re short on time or not one for spending too long applying your makeup.
For those of you with dry or acne prone skin, wanting to know how to choose the right foundation, this is going to be the one for you coverage-wise, but do remember that if you have any skin issues, heavy makeup can aggravate it.
If you’re absolutely set on the thick coverage of a cream foundation, perhaps consider looking into some of the natural makeup brands, such as ‘Zao’ or ‘Couleur Caramel’ that use non-toxic and non pore-clogging ingredients.
Powder/Mineral Foundation
Powder foundation has been around for a long time and it’s a good choice if you only require light coverage and a mattifying effect, but don’t be tempted to over apply for heavier coverage. This will work, concealing wise, but you will very quickly start to notice that cakey look that no-one wants.
However, times have changed and a new take on the powder foundation has been unleashed on the beauty world – Mineral Foundation.
If any of you wanting to know how to choose the right foundation have very sensitive, oily skin then mineral foundation might be a really nice one to consider.
Formulated with natural ingredients and designed to let the skin breathe, mineral foundation is often the kinder option, and what’s more, you can build it up beautifully and blend into a soft focus finish with a kabuki brush.
Those of you with dry skin, steer clear. Any powder makeup will only make any dry patches more noticeable.
Tinted Moisturiser/BB Cream
Tinted moisturizer is the most light weight choice and almost certainly the most comfortable to wear, particularly on hot days.
This choice is what to go for if you don’t have too much to cover up in the way of blemishes but you would just like an even skin tone and a bit of a brightening pick-me-up – just apply as much or little as you require with your fingertips.
If you like the idea of this light weight wear, but still want a bit of coverage for the odd spot, then BB cream is one to seriously consider.
Still pretty sheer, but with light reflecting and blemish targeting formulas enriched with moisturizers and often SPF, a good BB cream (other wise know as a beauty balm or blemish balm) can do a fairly good job. They do vary in coverage (and most are light to medium coverage so don’t expect the concealing results you would get from a thick foundation) but you can get BB creams with heavier coverage if you need it.
