Makeup Wednesday: Foundation Tips

'Boost not thyself of tomorrow for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth Provers 21:1'

 

Happy Wednesday everyone, how are you all doing? Here we are again another makeup tip.  Foundation is, as the word suggests, the foundation of all the makeup you are going to put on your face. Get it wrong, and like a house, it all falls down around your ears. Well-applied foundation is invisible - all people will notice is your flawless, glowing skin. Badly applied make-up will leave you looking like you are wearing a mask. The good news is that applying foundation is actually easy once you know how.

Apply it only to the areas that need coverage, and make sure you blend well so that the product is not visible on the skin.

Follow these steps to make your foundation application even more flawless.

 

1. Skin Preparation

Skin that's in tip-top condition provides the best base, so you should cleanse and moisturise your face every morning and night - and, even if you are nearly too tired to lift your toothbrush, remove all make-up before bed. Not everyone needs to use toner or a night moisturiser but try to exfoliate at least once a week. It will help lift away the dead skin cells so the fresh, new ones can come to the surface.

2. Foundation Primers

If you find that your favourite foundation slips down your face by the morning coffee break, a primer can help. Primers are a relatively recent invention and are designed to hold the make-up in place. They come in a light gel or cream, which you apply after moisturiser and before foundation.

Some primers improve the appearance of the skin by using ingredients to blur fine lines, or by tackling problems like shininess. Others protect the skin from the damaging effects of the environment with SPFs.

 

3. Colour-Correcting Primers

Don't be put off by the Incredible-Hulk green of these primers - they are fantastic for women prone to flushed cheeks and redness because the green of the cream cancels out the red of the skin. Colour-correcting primers can also help with age spots, and with lightening or evening out mottled skin.

4. Foundation Brushes

Some women love the feel of a foundation brush and it will give you a full cover of make-up if you require a more thorough finish. Experts will tell you that using a brush also uses much less product. However, a lot of people prefer to use their fingers as they have better control and the heat from your digits helps set the foundation (and you won't have to carry a brush around).

Fans of solid cream foundations, which come in compacts or in stick form, often favour the sponge, which if used damp can give a lighter, more even coverage.

• Always test your foundation colour in natural daylight where possible.
• Test foundation on your jawline not on the back of your hands. Your hands are usually a little darker than your face. Alternatively, use the inside of your arms where the skin is usually lighter and a closer match to your face.
• Do not get pressured into buying a colour or foundation type just because the sales assistant said it suited you. Test run it out in natural light and if you can’t, make sure YOU are happy with it as a match or with its texture.
• Where possible get the best match for your skin tone. This means that the colour when applied on your skin melts into your skin and you cannot tell where your skin ends and where the foundation begins. Foundation is not meant to cover or conceal. It is a means to evening out the colour tone of your face. A good foundation with good coverage will never look cakey or thick, but will look natural on your skin.
• Never get a foundation colour that is lighter than your skintone, hoping to make yourself look fairer than you actually are. A colour that is too light will cause your skin to look ashy and grey. Not a pleasant sight.
• If you want to look a little tanned, get a foundation shade that’s a little darker than your skintone. Make sure that you apply it on your neck as well or you will end up looking very strange.
• If you bought a liquid foundation color in summer when tanned and find that its too dark for you in winter, try mixing in some moisturiser or sunscreen to lighten it. You need sunscreen in winter too.
• If you have a powder foundation that is a little dark for you, apply it with a large powder brush or kabuki brush. It will cause the powder to go on more sheer and you don’t have to toss your foundation.