How to Choose a Foundation?
1.Figure out your skin type. Does your skin tend to be oily, dry, or a combination of the two? To determine your skin type, look closely at your skin in the mirror.
How visible are your pores? If they appear large all over, you probably have oily skin. If some are visible and others are harder to see, you may have combination skin. Small to invisible pores are usually indicative of normal or dry skin.
Do you tend to break out regularly, and if so, where? If you break out a lot in your T-zone (forehead, nose, chin), you probably have combination skin. If you tend to get break outs all over your face, you probably have oily skin. People with normal and dry skin will also get pimples and blackheads, but with much less frequency.
How shiny is your skin? If it's not shiny at all, and can even appear dull and scaly, your skin is probably dry. If it's shiny all over, you have oily skin. Normal skin appears smooth and healthy without too much shine. Combination skin is shiny around the forehead, nose, and chin, but looks normal across your cheeks.
2.Let your skin type determine the type of foundation. Each person’s skin has different needs, so go with a foundation that meets those needs. Generally speaking, liquid foundations or creamier foundations with hydrating power are great for dry skin. On the other hand, oily skin looks best with a matte powder foundation that will tone down the shine. If you do use a liquid foundation with oily skin, make sure that it isn’t oil-based.
If you have a lot of acne, you can even find some foundations that contain salicylic acid. However, if you already use several products contained benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid, be careful about adding another into your skincare regimen. You don’t want to end up with acne plus dry skin.
If you have combination skin, try a powder foundation. It’s easier to apply more heavily in some areas and lightly in others, and you won’t get awkward lines, which can happen with a liquid foundation.
If you want a foundation that does everything for you—hydration, sunscreen, packed with nutrients, evening out skin tone—you can use a product called a BB cream. The “BB” stands for “beauty balm” or “blemish balm.” Basically, it’s an all-in-one product that can be used for any skin type. It’s less specific to a particular skin tone or hue, but it is versatile enough to work as a foundation.
3.Narrow down your color choices by your skin tone. Some foundations have a rosier or bluish undertone. For those with cool skin tones, that’s ideal. For those who have warmer skin tones, you should be looking for a similarly warm base, like a yellow or ivory. Neutral skin tones should experiment with both to see what looks best. If you have olive skin, try neutral or warm undertones.
4.Decide how much you want to cover up. If you have major acne, you have the option of using a medium or heavyweight foundation. This will help to even out your skin texture. On the other hand, you might not want much coverage at all. Lightweight options include tinted moisturizers and sheer foundations.
5.Test out the foundation on your skin. You’ve narrowed down your choices to one or two types of foundation and you’ve eliminated anything that doesn’t complement your skin tone. To found out which one matches your skin color, apply a dab of each one to your neck or upper chest—your face and jawline may be too uneven to get a good match.
6.Pick out different foundations for summer and winter. Your skin changes from winter to summer, thanks to sun exposure. This means that you should have two different shades of foundation to match. You also have the opportunity to use a different type of foundation if your skin’s needs change over the course of the year, like using a foundation with more hydration in winter and one with a higher SPF in summer.
If you have fairly consistent skin quality from season to season, use the same type of foundation (powder, liquid, crème, etc.) so that you can just mix the summer and winter shades for spring and fall.
