Most women have a love-hate relationship with their makeup routine. It can be revitalizing and part of a self-care routine, or it can be a time of self-judgment and trying to cover things up. Some of us are talented with the techniques and others find it forever boggling how to apply all the shades and colors. No matter whether you are a pro or amateur we all need to be reminded what makes our foundation work for us. With hundreds of new products coming out daily as well as changes in our skin, keeping up with the proper foundation can be a bit overwhelming. Here are three questions to ask yourself every time we’re looking for our next container of foundation.
1. WHAT COLOR ARE YOUR SKIN TONES AND UNDERTONES?
Skin tone is the color you see in the mirror. Your skin tone changes seasonally with sun exposure and you might have to adjust what foundation you have seasonally. Skin tone is usually categorized by fair, medium fair, neutral, medium, olive, medium dark, dark. There can be many others in between but you will recognize these words on the title of foundation names. Once you know what categories of skin town you match, then look to your undertone. Your undertone does not change. They are the colors that make up your skin tone. It takes many many colors to do this, but you can be categorized into cool, warm, or neutral. In daylight look at your wrists and look at the color of your veins. If your veins look more blue or purple, you are a cool undertone. If your veins look more green, yellow, you are warm undertones. If you can’t really tell the difference you might be neutral. Knowing these two categories will help to select your proper color for a foundation.
2. WHAT KIND OF COVERAGE ARE YOU LOOKING FOR?
This is another question whose answer might change weekly or daily, so it is good to have a few options to choose from. Depending on the health of our skin, the hydration, or time of year we may want more or less coverage. We may want to look Dewey and glistening, or matte and finely finished. Although you can choose your main foundation that works best for your life, it would be beneficial to have a couple of different coverages on hand. Common words used in foundation marketing are light coverage, sheer coverage, matte coverage, full coverage. On a hot humid summer day where most makeup tends to melt off, you might want sheer breathable coverage. If you are recovering from not a lot of sleep and need to go out and socialize you might want more full coverage to help cover blotchy skin.
3. WHAT’S YOUR SKIN TYPE
This can be the most confusing question since most of the population have combination skin. As we age this answer can change, as well as what cycle of life we are in. Observing whether your skin tends to be dry or oily, small or big pored, blotchy or consistent, blemished or sensitive, or smooth or textured, are important to note. Foundations come with all sorts of added ingredients that address all these different descriptions. Sensitive and breakout skin might do better with a mineral foundation that won’t deposit any irritating chemicals on the skin layer. For dry skin, you might look to more emollient and whipped foundations that will help the skin stay hydrated while you are using it. Although you might have to try out many different types, don’t be discouraged. There is something for everyone out there.
The wonderful thing about modern-day makeup and foundation is that there are so many options. Technology has become more advanced and the industry is learning to take better care of the skin rather than simply covering it up. Help is very easily achieved. Most all stores where you can by makeup have consultants to help with all the questions. Makeup outlets will often have the technology and makeup experts to help determine your unique answer to most of these questions. Take time to observe your own skin in daylight, then head to your local shop to run your findings with an expert.