Choosing The Best Foundation

Your Guide To A Flawless Finish

Making the best foundation choice for your needs, begins with a little sorting through of both the quantity of makeup available and the makeup terminology,  generated by the cosmetics industry.

As we sift and decode, you will grow in the clarity needed to make an excellent choice from the variety of foundation formats, the skin types they are suitable for, and the coverage they provide.

We all range in not only coverage needed, but desired finish too. Some may want as natural look to the skin as possible and others may like the look of extreme perfection...to both these camps, and everyone in between, remember LESS IS MORE.  Especially when it comes to base makeup like foundation.

Achieving A 'Flawless Finish'?...

We have all likely heard this expression 'flawless' in reference to a beautiful base makeup finish, and we all can picture in our heads what it looks like, but that doesn't make it easy to achieve. 

In an ideal application your finish results in an even skin tone, shine free but creamy, harmony with the skin tone of your overall complexion (and your face flows nicely to your neck), no streaks, no cake, no collection in creases, etc..

So how do we achieve this flawless finish?

Consider pursuing excellence in all SIX categories:

1. SHADE CHOICE to skin tone, match
2. FORMULATION to skin type, match
3. COVERAGE to need, match
4. EFFECTIVE APPLICATION technique/tools for for foundation formulation, match
5. PRODUCT QUALITY in performance delivered
6. NATURAL LIGHT ...What does it look like in natural light?

With that said, some of you may feel a little overwhelmed,...but have no fear, flawless is doable. Once you get a handle on the formulations available, what you want, a good choice in product, and tools to use with that choice (found below), many of these category issues, will fall into place.

Foundation Formats' Mini Guide...

Foundation makeup, as you know, come in a head spinning variety of formats but generally speaking they are in SIX FORMATS ; liquid, cream, compact, stick, powder, and tinted moisturizer.

Laura Mercier Oil Free Foundation at Beso.com

1.  Liquid

Skin type suited for?
-normal and combination

Objective of this foundation format?
-smooth satiny finish with sheer to medium coverage

Application Tips?
-small dabs or strokes blending a little at a time *ALWAYS blend well

Recommended Tools?
-foundation brush or sponge (* a damp sponge will increase sheerness)

Best Foundation Products to consider?
- Try prestige brand Laura Mercier Oil Free Liquid Foundation
OR great drugstore brand L'oreal True Color Match

clinique soft finish makeup at Beso.com

2.  Cream

Skin Type suited for?
-dry skin or climate situation with no humidity

Objective of this foundation format?
-smooth dewy finish with medium coverage

Application Tips?
-beginning central to the face dot a little at a time with a damp sponge *blend we

Recommended Tools?
-latex free sponge

Best Foundation Products to consider?
- Try prestige brand Clinique Soft Finish Makeup Soft Cream
OR great drugstore brand Revlon ColorStay Mineral Mousse Makeup

mac studio tech makeup at Beso.com

3.  Compact

Skin Type suited for?
-oily skin or heavier coverage

Objective of this foundation format?
-smooth silky slightly matte finish with medium to slightly heavier coverage

Application Tips?
-strategic placement over areas of uneven tone *blend well into skin

Recommended Tools?
-compact sponge/ rounded edge sponge

Best Foundation Products to consider?
- Try prestige brand M.A.C. Studio Tech Cream To Powder Foundation
OR great drugstore brand Neutrogena Healthy Skin Cream Powder Makeup

Bobbi Brown Foundation Stick at Beso.com

4.  Stick

Skin Type suited for?
-oily or combination skin or as a lighter weight concealer (great for spot foundation coverage too like eye zone)

Objective of this foundation format?
-matte more opaque finish

Application Tips?
-using finger pads, patting for spot coverage or brush for all over even tone *blend well

Recommended Tools?
-stick itself, synthetic brush and/or very clean finger pads

Best Foundation Products to consider?
- Try prestige brand Bobbi Brown Foundation Stick
OR great brand with mid range price tag Stila Perfecting Stick Foundation

Bare Escentuals Bare Minerals Powder at Beso.com

5.  Powder

Skin Type suited for?
-all (except super dry skin)

Objective of this foundation format?
-matte natural looking finish, considered easiest to apply

Application Tips?
-using light hand, central start smooth outward, ie. bridge of nose and outward across cheeks etc.
-If mineral makeup, use recommended 'buffing' action

Recommended Tools?
-large powder brush

Best Foundation Products to consider?
- Try top mineral makeup brand Bare Escentuals i.d. bareminerals Powder
OR great drugstore brand L'oreal Bare Naturale Mineral Foundation

Stila Sheer Color Tinted Moisturizer at Beso.com

6.  Tinted Moisturizer

Skin Type suited for?
-normal to dry

Objective of this foundation format?
-natural, light weight, glowing finish

Application Tips?
-gently massage into face to meet desired needs, if SPF give even coverage *blend well

Recommended Tools?
-clean fingers

Best Foundation Products to consider?
- Try prestige brand Stila Sheer Color Tinted Moisturizer
OR great drugstore brand Kiss My Face Tinted Moisturizer

stila one step foundation makeup at Beso.com

NEW INNOVATION! ONE STEP MAKEUP by Stila...

Skin Type suited for?
-all since it "reads and reacts to skin zone-by-zone"

Objective of this foundation format?
-provides medium coverage;"skin-loving makeup that combines the benefits of a primer, foundation, concealer, and powder in one long-wearing formula."

Application Tips?
-apply to hydrated skin with foundation brush, start central to face and blend outwards, pat/press with clean fingers

Recommended Tools?
-clean fingers, foundation brush

- Try prestige brand Stila One Step Makeup Foundation

Step By Step To Your 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 formats).
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.

Best Foundation Tip:

1.  Generally speaking, most skin tones will best suit foundations with a yellow undertone.

2.  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.  There are a number of easy to use products out there with fabulous results.  Most famous and pioneer, is Smashbox Photo Finish Primer.  There is the original formulation, one with anti aging ingredient and SPF15, and the newer color correcting primers by Smashbox which are fantastic! If you want to try a smaller size to see how it works for you, try Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer To Go 0.5.

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 format info. above.)

III. Best Foundation Application Tip: Come up with a system that is efficient to your needs and thorough;
ie. Smooth outwards in short, quick, 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.

Brought to you by best foundation at Beso.com

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.

Brought to you by best concealer at Beso.com

Step #5 -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.

Best Foundation Application Tip:

1.  When powder is applied is dependent on when the moist/ creamy formulations of makeup have been completed (powder follows most wet/moist applications).

2.  *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.

Brought to you by best powder brushes at Beso.com

Last word on best foundation...

This step in your makeup requires persistent practice to get to 'flawless' status (so don't give up on it...it can be a little tricky).  As you follow these guidelines, you will discover along the way, exactly the fine tuning needed to meet your finish needs.

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