Picking The Right Foundation

Today we are talking about makeup. Before you apply any sort of eye makeup, blush or bronzer, you need to have a good foundation. There are plenty of different types and brands of foundation both high end and drugstore. I will be talking to you about the different types of foundations, their purpose and which one best fits your skin.

The first type is tinted moisturizer. Evidently, this is a moisturizer. Tinted moisturizer is for people who do not need much coverage and only want to even out your skin tone and relieve dry skin at the same time. Tinted moisturizer is perfect for softening the skin while adding a small amount of foundation color. It also protects the skin with an SPF of 10 to 25 depending on the brand. This makeup product is ideal because you do not need to apply moisturizer and then foundation.  It’s a one step process. The picture on the left shows you a high end tinted moisturizer which is the Laura Mercier that sells for 43$ at Sephora. And on the left is a more affordable tinted moisturizer by e.l.f. that sells for 3$ on the e.l.f. website. 

Second is mousse or whipped foundation.  This foundation is easily applied in thin layers so you have more control.  Mousse foundation is liquid foundation that has air whipped into it which makes it lighter and smoother. This can come in many different packaging like aerosol cans, spray cans or in a glass or plastic container. Whipped foundation is good for all skin types but especially good for those with dry skin or aging skin because it tends to go on smoothly instead of caking and defining you fine lines. But we should have no problem with aging skin at Prom. Some options are the Maybelline Dream Matte Mousse foundation which sells for around 8$. There is also the Revlon Colorstay Whipped foundation which sells for around 12$.

Thirdly is liquid foundation. This is the most common foundation to use for formal events. It applies smoothly and easily. You can enhance the smoothness by applying it with different types of brushes. If you use a foundation brush, it will be much heavier than if you were to apply it with a stippling brush. I will insert pictures so you guys know what I am talking about. Also another way of enhancing the smoothness is by dampening a makeup sponge to apply the liquid foundation. Now keep in mind, when you buy your foundation, you want to get one that is matte, non oily or for photos because you do not want to look greasy in your pictures. You are going to have these pictures the rest of your life and you don’t want to be saying “oh gosh, I seriously let myself walk out the door looking so oily?” The best drugstore foundation to use for Prom would be the Revlon PhotoReady liquid foundation. It will give you great coverage and you will look flawless in your pictures. This sells for around 13$. If you are more interested in a high end brand, I suggest to go to your local Sephora to test different brand to see which is best for your skin. 

Fourth is cream-to-powder foundation. This is one of the most popular foundations and made by companies that have good reputations like L’Oreal. It goes on as a cream, and then dried to have a powder finish that minimizes oil and lasts all day. This normally comes in a compact package like a powder would. It is easy to apply and the great thing is that you won’t need to apply powder for full coverage since it dries like a powder. For a drugtore brand, I suggest Milani's which sells for around 8$. For a high end i would suggest M.A.C's which sells for around 32$. 



















Fifth is mineral foundation. Minerals are the newest addition to makeup. Their foundations have very minimal and natural ingredients which make them great for people who have allergies and sensitive skin. For best results, brush on mineral foundation with a big puffy brush, building layers of this nearly invisible powder. This foundation creates an airbrush flawless appearance. On the right is an example of a drugstore mineral foundation. This one is Maybelline Pure Foundation Mineral which sells for around 8$. A more high end would be the Bare Minerals foundation which sells for around 27$. 

 

Sixth is B.B. Cream. This is the most recent addition to face makeup. B.B. cream stands for beauty balm, blemish balm or blemish base. It is an all in one facial cosmetic product that is a serum, moisturizer, primer, foundation and sun screen all in one. This is for people who dont need much coverage and just want to look natural. An example of a drugstore B.B. cream would L'Oreal's Magic Skin Beautifier B.B. cream which sells for around 17$. A high end B.B. cream that was reviewed to be amazing is the Dr. Jart+ Blemish Base (B.B.) which sells for 36$.  

These are all the different types of foundation out there. To figure out which one you like the best, go to your local drugstore to find out. To choose the color that you need, always match it with the color of your neck. This is because your face can have redness and discoloration unlike your neck.

Here is a video tutorial of how to apply and set your foundation. In the video, I am using BB cream since I believe that i do not need much coverage. But if you believe you need more coverage than a BB cream will give you, please feel free to get a full coverage liquid foundation.