Foundation For Newbies

Build Your Base

First, have a skin care routine tailored for your skin type. It’s important to have good skin/base for your facial makeup to work. It doesn’t have to be extravagant; a good cleanser and moisturizer works.

Philosophy: A Pure Start set

Formula Matters

Match the foundation’s formula to your skin type. If you have dry skin, liquid formulas work best. Powder formulas or a matte liquid foundation works for oily skin.

Ulta Mineral powder foundation

Liquid foundation

Understand the Undertone

Know your undertone. Your undertone is the visible color under your skin, like red or yellow. If you have red or pink undertones, you are cool. If you have yellow or “peach” undertones, you are warm. Any other undertones are classified as neutral.

Matte vs Dewy? Matte foundations are perfect for oily skin while dewy foundations contain the hydration that dry skin needs. Semi-matte or satin formulas are for normal or combination skin types.

Maybelline Fit Me! Matte

L’Oreal Infallible Pro-Glow dewy foundation

Match, Matching, Matched!

Match the shade to your skin tone! I have seen so many people grab a “similar” shade to their skin tone but either end up too light or too dark. If you are having trouble, visit a makeup specialty store such as Ulta or Sephora. If you prefer to do it yourself, take three shades that are possible matches and swatch them on your jaw. If you can, use natural light to see which shade seems to “blend” in with your skin tone.

I struggled with understanding the basics of foundation before practicing and also asking friends or watching beauty gurus for tips. The most prominent tip is to match your skin tone otherwise you’ll look unnatural.

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Photo credits:

Maybelline New York (website)

Sephora website (Philosophy skincare)

L’Oreal (website)

Google (Cool vs Warm graphic)

Ulta (website)

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