How to choose your foundation?
How to choose your foundation?
Coralie Techer
This is a question we've probably all asked ourselves. How do you choose the best foundation? How do you define your shade and which texture should you choose? We'll tell you everything.
Foundation is not a must, but it is very useful in certain situations. Loving your skin and its little flaws should be a generality, however, it happens that a desire, a need, to hide that little pimple that appeared the day before, or to unify a complexion blurred by fatigue is felt. And that's normal, when it comes to beauty, anything goes! Everyone should do according to their feelings and moods.
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Learn how to define your color to find your foundation
The first step to finding your perfect foundation is obviously to find your ideal shade. And to find the right color, you need to know how to define it. This is probably the most complicated step, each skin has its own nuances and it is sometimes difficult or even impossible to find the unique and ideal shade that perfectly matches your skin tone. Fortunately, brands have understood the problem and there are now more and more complexion color palettes that allow you to find your color or at least, those that come closest to it. Choosing the right foundation color can be a tricky process, but here are some keys to help you define the right shade for your skin.
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Determine your skin undertone: Skin undertones can be warm, cool, or neutral. To determine your undertone, look at the veins on your wrist. If they appear to be green, you probably have a warm undertone. If they appear to be blue, you probably have a cool undertone. If you can't clearly tell whether they are blue or green, you probably have a neutral undertone.
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Test different shades: Go to a beauty store where you can test different shades of foundation. Choose a few shades that seem to match your skin tone and apply them along your jawline, not on the back of your hand or wrist, as these areas may have a slightly different skin tone. Quick tip, make sure to observe the color in natural light to get a better assessment, artificial lights are deceiving...
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Find the shade that blends best: The right foundation shade will blend naturally with your skin without creating a demarcation. Choose the shade that disappears the most into your skin and looks uniform with your neck.
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Test the application at home: If possible, ask for a sample of the shade you have chosen and test it for a day to see how it reacts to your skin. Make sure it does not cause irritation or adverse reactions.
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Adjust your foundation color seasonally: Your skin tone may vary slightly throughout the year due to sun exposure or naturally being lighter in the winter. It may be a good idea to have two slightly different shades to accommodate these seasonal variations.
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Learn how to choose your foundation according to your skin type
This is the second step and it is also very important. Choosing your foundation according to your skin type is essential for a guaranteed hold and an almost perfect result without altering the condition of the skin. Indeed, according to their formula, each foundation is suitable for specific needs that are important to take into account before making your choice. Ideal complexion guaranteed!
Controlling excess sebum for oily and combination skin
If you have oily or combination skin, it is best to opt for a mattifying or oil-free foundation. These formulas are designed to absorb excess sebum and reduce skin shine. They allow for a longer-lasting matte finish and, above all, allow the material to hold on the skin. Obviously, oily and combination skin requires a special and adapted facial routine to best preserve the health of their skin and allow for successful makeup.
Hydration for dry or mature skin
People with dry or mature facial skin need a comfortable foundation that provides intense hydration. If this is your case, choose a formula with hyaluronic acid or other moisturizing active ingredients. Choose a fluid or creamy texture that will spread easily on the skin without marking fine lines and will help prevent dehydration while nourishing it throughout the day. The advantage of this type of texture? A light and pleasant coverage that can be modulated as desired.
Be careful with sensitive skin
If you have sensitive skin, it is important to opt for a foundation specially formulated for this type of skin. Look for organic foundation products with natural, hypoallergenic and non-comedogenic ingredients, free of fragrances to minimize the risk of skin reactions... Sensitive skin should also opt for a foundation with an SPF, this will provide double protection to the skin against the sun's UV rays. But be careful, a foundation containing an SPF absolutely does not prevent you from applying a facial sunscreen before makeup.
Opt for optimal coverage of imperfections
Spots, scars or acne, you can opt for a covering foundation that will allow a higher coverage than a classic foundation. This will have the effect of effectively blurring the small imperfections that you want to camouflage. Foundation formulas with adjustable coverage or corrective foundations help to camouflage imperfections and obtain a more uniform complexion. The ideal is really to bet on a fluid texture in order to avoid the cakey effect of the compact complexion.
By choosing a foundation that is suited to your skin type, you can improve the appearance of your skin but also treat its problems thanks to increasingly common skincare formulations. A foundation that is suited to your skin type also ensures a more natural finish and avoids potential problems such as dryness, excessive shine or allergic reactions.
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How to apply foundation?
Now that you've found the perfect foundation, you need to be able to apply it properly.
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Prep your skin: Cleanse your face with a gentle cleanser and apply a moisturizer that is appropriate for your skin type. Let the moisturizer absorb for a few minutes before applying foundation.
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Choose your application tool: You can use your clean fingers, a makeup brush, or a sponge to apply your foundation. Each tool offers a different application, so choose the one that works best for you.
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Take a small amount of foundation: It's best to start with a small amount of product and then add more as needed. This will help you achieve a more natural look and avoid overloading on product.
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Apply foundation: Start by applying foundation to the center of your face (forehead, nose, cheeks, chin) and blend outward. Use gentle, even strokes to blend the product into your skin. Make sure the foundation is blended evenly to avoid streaks.
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Target specific areas: If you need more coverage on certain areas of your face, such as blemishes or dark circles, you can apply a small amount of extra foundation or use concealer to camouflage them.
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Blend the edges: Make sure to carefully blend the edges of the foundation, blending them into your neck and hairline, to avoid visible lines.
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Readjust if necessary: If you find that you have applied too much foundation, you can use a clean sponge or brush to blend further and remove excess product.
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Set with Powder (Optional): If you want longer wear and a matte finish, you can set your foundation by applying a light dusting of translucent powder all over your face.