How to Choose / Match The Right Foundation

Foundation is a base for your everyday masterpiece, your makeup. If your foundation is not strong/accurate (to the way you like it), your makeup wont have a value against it (you wont be happy). There are so many choices and colors, it can be confusing how to find which foundations works best for your skin and how to find the right shade.

Not everyone has the same Foundation needs; such as full coverage, or oil control, lightweight for working out, or just something to even out skin tone. It is something based on your personal preference.

The below things you should keep in mind while choosing the 'one':

1. Undertone
2. Skin type
3. Finish
4. Coverage

Undertone: Warm / Cool / Neutral

Before you go ahead and pick out your foundation, you need to know what undertone category you fall in. Do you look pink, yellow or a mixture of both? Once you know your undertone, it will be easier to match your foundation falling the same undertone category. For full details on how to determine your undertone, checkout my previous post HERE.

Skin Type: Normal / Dry / Oily / Combination

Now that you know your undertone, you need to figure out what is your skin type. Is it dry, oily, normal or Combination. This is important as well because an oily skin type wouldn't require a dewy finish foundation, instead a matte or semi-matte finish foundation would work better. Similarly for dry skin a matte finish foundation would end up looking cakey, instead a dewy or semi dewy foundation would enhance the appearance of the skin.

Foundation Finish: Matte / Semi-matte / Satin(Dewy) / Natural

Now depending on your skin type, you can check what kind of a foundation finish you want to go for :

• Dry: semi-matte, dewy, or satin finish foundations. This will help put back some oils onto the skin and give a fresh finish.
• Oily: matte or semi-matte finish foundations that are oil free. Matte will help create an even canvas and minimize shine.
• Normal: matte, semi-matte, or slightly dewy foundations. If your skin is normal you can choose pretty much any Foundation and it will work with you.
• Combination: (both dry & oily)- usually those who are combination skin tend to be more on the oily side, but are dry in some areas. Look for matte or semi-matte finish foundations that are oil free. Matte will help create an even canvas and minimize shine.

Coverage: Sheer(Light) / Medium / Full

Image from www.painted-ladies.com

Your foundation coverage totally depends on what occasion you want it for; daily use, party, bridal, etc. Or maybe just your choice!

There are foundations available in different forms in the market with different coverage, holding, lasting, etc. powers. Foundation are available in Liquid, Mousse, powder, cream, spray, mineral, etc. Its you who has to decide what you're comfortable in working with on your skin.

• SHEER/TINTED: very subtle(barely there), illuminating, so natural features like freckles can still show through.
• MEDIUM: quite natural, but at the same time can cover up any blemishes, redness or imperfections that you want to cover up.
• FULL: will completely cover anything you want to cover and conceal.

Know your Skin Tone

Now that you are clear with all the steps before buying your foundation, you need to know what skin tone (remember, Skin tone is different from Undertone) you have. Every brand foundation ranges from Very Light to Very Dark. I'm a light-medium.

How and Where to match your Foundation?

You should always match your foundation in a natural light. Now you may ask, how can I get natural light in the store?! Well my ladies, I always recommend taking a sample of the foundation (or Foundations) home from the store, they always keep samples/containers for handling out few pumps. If they don't, then you can carry your own little container to ask for the same. This will be really helpful to check the foundation with a couple of applications and uses. You can see if is suiting your skin type/tone well, etc. and also you can check in natural lighting how its complimenting your skin.

If you are shy to ask for a sample (which you shouldn't be), then in the store itself find a spot with maximum lighting and hold a mirror in your hands. Make sure no shadow is formed on your face due to any object interference. Then choose a couple of foundation shades which match closely to your skin and apply it on the side of your face creating a straight line starting from your cheek till below your jaws. (As shown in picture). Blend away each line seamlessly, don't mix up the shades. Now you can check which shade looks more flattering on you and you're done with the 'one'!

I Hope this helped you understand how to choose the right foundation for yourself, if you have any questions or suggestions please leave a comment or contact me via any of my social media :)

DISCLAIMER - NONE OF THE PICS IN THIS POST IS MY PROPERTY, ALL TAKEN FROM GOOGLE. NO COPY RIGHTS INTENDED.