Foundation Breakdown...

Making the best foundation or makeup base choice for you, begins with a little sorting and decoding of the terms describing the range of foundation products available.  This chart should bring some clarity to the variety of foundation formats, skin types they are suitable for, and coverage they deliver.

Foundation:	Liquid	Cream	Compact	Stick	Powder	Tinted Moisturizer
Skin Type:	normal and combination	dry skin or climate situation with no humidity	oily skin or heavier coverage	oily or combination skin or as a concealer	all (except super dry skin)	normal to dry
Objective:	smooth satiny finish with sheer to medium coverage	smooth dewy finish with medium coverage	smooth silky slightly matte finish with medium to slightly heavier coverage	matte more opaque finish	matte finish, considered easiest to apply	natural, glowing finish
	small dabs or strokes blending a little at a time  *blend well	beginning central to the face dot a little at a time with a damp sponge  *blend well	strategic placement over areas of uneven tone *blend well into skin	using finger pads, patting for spot coverage or brush for all over even tone *blend well	using light hand, central start smooth outward, ie. bridge of nose and outward across cheeks etc.	gently massage into face to meet desired needs, if SPF give even coverage *blend well
Tools:	foundation brush or sponge  * a damp sponge will increase sheerness	latex free sponge	compact sponge/ rounded edge sponge	stick itself ,brush  and/or very clean finger pads	large powder brush	clean fingers

Blend Well-this tip is to be understood as patting, or gently working into the skin so there is NO detectable transition of color.

F.Y.I *'Smart Beauty Picks' for best foundation?...

*'Smart Beauty Picks' are product suggestions, meant for your reference only, they are not linked to merchant sites.  The products chosen are most often a result of the combined resources of top beauty experts opinion, beauty award winners, my own experience, and supportive testimonials and feedback from customers like you.

Foundation Type
Liquid : Laura Mercier's Oil Free Liquid Foundation
Cream : Sue Devitt's Triple C-Weed Whipped Foundation
Compact: M.A.C. Studio Tech Cream To Powder Foundation
Stick: Bobbi Brown Foundation Stick
Powder: Bare Escentuals i.d. bareminerals Powder
Tinted Moisturizer: Stila Sheer Color Tinted Moisturizer
Primer: Smashbox Photo Finish

IF you would like to shop, consider comparison shopping and find the best price you can get on your favorite cosmetics.  

Some simple steps for best  foundation makeup application...

Step #1	Choosing the best foundation for you... Consider these things when choosing a foundation: 1. Skin Type - Choose a foundation formulation appropriate to your skin type (check out the above chart). 2. Coverage - How much coverage to you need or want? 3. Color - With a makeup-free face, examine your skin tone in natural light and then at a reliable beauty counter, get some input from a consultant. Test the color on your jaw and in natural light. The color should blend and disappear into your own skin tone.
	Generally speaking, most skin tones will best suit foundations with a yellow undertone.
	Best Foundation Application Tip:   Don't try to get away with an off shade.  If you have made, the purchase and at home find the shade is off, if it is recent, return it, otherwise replace it.
Step #2	Start with a clean slate... Start with a clean slate, following your skin care regimen, for the best and freshest looking results.
Step #3	Foundation Remember the objective is even skin tone, however, since we all have individual needs, there will a range in how much foundation we all apply.
	Best Foundation Application Tip:  To ensure smooth and even coverage, consider using a foundation primer.
	i)  For a light and over all even tone, place four dime size dots on the forehead, cheeks and chin. ii) Using the *appropriate tool, blend well... *(Based on the formulation and consistency...refer to the chart above.)
	Best Foundation Application Tip:  iii) Come up with a system that is efficient to your needs and thorough; ie. Smooth outwards in short, overlapping strokes, across cheeks, gently under and over eye area, towards the temple and into hairline. Move down and outwards into the jaw line and optionally, to the neck area and then do the other side.  Next start at the chin, over the mouth, upper lip, around the nostrils and over the nose area, up through the bridge and then between the eyebrows and blending out the last zone, the forehead area and into the hairline. *NOTE: Generally, if you place the foundation central to the zones, as you blend you will have less as you move outward, so by the time you are approaching the hairline and jaw line, you have minimal foundation to spread.
	Try: Foundation- four dime size dots at cheeks, forehead and chin. Concealer-smaller dots and in measure of coverage needs.
Step #4	Concealer Again the objective is even skin tone. In this case, following foundation application, look for areas that need heavier coverage ie. dark circles or blemishes.
	Using an appropriate tool, gently dot area to be covered and blend well with gentle clean ring finger or concealer brush.
Step #5	Powder ( click for more on how to apply makeup powder.) Here the objective is even skin tone and setting the foundation/ concealer base so it lasts and provides a good base for further makeup application.
	Application Tip:  When it is applied is dependent on when the moist/ creamy formulations of makeup have been completed ( powder follows wet/moist applications).
	Application Tip: In most cases, the best tool is a large powder brush with a slightly dome shape bristle line for even disbursement of powder and working with the contours of the face.
	Application Tip: :  For a light even matte finish, sweep across the face. For a heavier duty finish, dab for more powder placement.

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