Foundation Finder

How many times have you walked up to the foundation section of your makeup counter and thought, which one is best for me? What color do I use? And a lot of times they have someone on staff that can help you choose but we have all been there where we buy it based on their recommendation and we get home and we hate it, its the wrong color, it sits funny, it is tacky when we wanted no shine… It may be the “right color” but not the right shade or undertone. Believe me, I know how frustrating it can be to have a foundation that you didn’t want. So I’m here to help direct you on what to look for when you get to that counter and start to play with all those fun products!

There are so so many different foundations out there and several different formulas! It’s hard to know Which one is best for my skin type? So let’s talk. What kind of skin do you have? What coverage do you prefer? A good makeup artist will ALWAYS have a good consultation with you to find out, what are you really looking for? A full glam look or do you want something more everyday? What is your preferred finish? Do you like something more on the Matte side, something natural, or something dewey and hydrated looking? I’m here to try to break it down for you so that when you do go in, what are the best questions you should ask, what are the colors you should look for. First, let’s break down the foundation and skin types.

Skin falls in 4 different categories. Dry, Normal, combination, and oily / acneic.

Dry skin is usually dehydrated, tight, and flakey.

Normal skin is balanced skin, it doesn’t get oily or dry.

Combination skin is balanced on the outer perimeters but gets oily in the T Zone.

Oily / Acneic skin is just like it sounds. Oily and/or has breakouts

Just like Skin types, foundations come in different categories as well. We have BB/CC Cream ( basically a tinted moisturizer ), Light coverage, Medium, and full coverage. They also come in different finishes: Matte or Natural, sometimes people say a dewey finish which means it leaves the skin looking extra hydrated.

BB/CC Creams are typically very light/ sheer coverage and have skincare benefits infused.

Light Coverage is just like it sounds, light coverage, typically great for skin that has little to no blemishes. This foundation is for those who just want to even out skin tone and look like they don’t have anything on, just beautiful skin!

Medium Coverage is the perfect balance of coverage, you will have great coverage but will also see your natural skin come through. This coverage, I have found, looks great on everyone and is the most requested.

Full Coverage is buildable makeup which helps your complexion look smooth and even by gradually adding layers of product to enhance your skin, thanks to clever light-diffusing particles that give you a fresh-faced look.

Matte Foundation absorbs the excess moisture and leaves you with a shine-free complexion. These are medium to full coverage foundations that are great for oily skin types.

Natural Finish Foundations look like an extension of your own skin, its bouncy and leaves your complexion looking hydrated. They combine the benefits of a primer, moisturizer, and sunscreen all in one. Natural finish foundations are usually medium coverage and are great for almost any skin type.

Dewy Foundations are very popular right now. Your skin will look super hydrated, plump, and almost wet looking. These are great for dry dehydrated skin because they usually have a good amount of hydration infused into the product.

So for me, I definitely have dry skin and I love a natural finish. I prefer medium coverage because I want to see my skin butgood coverage, I want to look natural with beautiful even skin. What are you? What coverage do you like? Some questions I ask when I am sitting with a client and getting ready to pick a foundation during a makeup application is :

• Tell me alittle about your skin, Do you feel like you get drier skin throughout the day or oilier? If so you probably have dry or oily skin. If you have dry skin I will use a heavier moisturizer and a hydrating foundation with medium coverage. If you feel oilier throughout the day then I would use a matte , medium to full coverage foundation to help maintain an oil free, shine free day.
• What type of finish do you prefer? Most of my clients if they are oily or combination skin they want a matte foundation and if they have dry dehydrated skin they want that glow, a more natural finish.

So when you go looking for your next foundation in Sephora be prepared with what type of foundation are you looking for! Matte? Dewy? And what type of skin do you have, Dry? Oily? These will all help you at the counter explain what you are looking for!

Shades, on the other hand, are very different. What is your skin’s undertone? These are not as easy to figure out but you can do it!

We have Warm, Cool, and Neutral. Warm skin tones typically have a yellow/ gold hue to it. Cool skin tones have a blue, pink, or red hue. And neutral is a mix of both warm and cool undertones.

So what do you see when you look at your skin? Blue? Yellow? This will help you pick what undertone your foundation should have!

I hope this helps you girls! I hope you feel a little more confident while asking questions at the beauty counter!

Please, as always, feel free to ask me any questions! And I hope you have a great day!!