Foundation: the base of it all.  The blank canvas that is waiting for your to put your masterpiece on.

But, it can become a real challenge to find a foundation that can cater to your skin needs AND that has the right formulation for your skin. Foundation is known to be one of the trickiest makeup products that can either give you a flawless and dreamy complexion or have an exactly opposite effect on your skin if you happen to get it wrong. Plus find the correct color and the correct undertone….geez. So much pressure.

By understanding your skin type and doing a bit of research in the market, you can find the right foundation for yourself without looking as if you are wearing a mask. If you like to have a seemingly natural look, finding the right foundation for your skin type must be your current mission.

How you can choose the best foundation for your skin type

• Understand YOUR type of skin

The most crucial step that can help you to choose the perfect foundation formula is to understand your skin type. It is essential to understand your skin's needs and concerns to pick a formula that can work best for you.

You can use a powder foundation or an oil-free liquid one if you have oily skin. A hydrating powder foundation or a hydrating liquid is the best for dry skin. For combination skin, sometimes you have to do strategic mixing and match the formulas. For sensitive skin, you have to avoid certain ingredients like fragrance and alcohol that can irritate your skin.

• Foundation shade must match your skin tone…Or as close as possible

Your jawline can be the best place to test whether a foundation matches your skin or not. If the shade is right, it will seamlessly blend in your skin color and not leave you looking ghastly or ashy. However, this doesn’t always work.  Because some people’s faces, neck, and chest are different colors, you have to decide which section you want to match.  It’s a whole process!!

If the foundation makes you look too dark or tan, or there is a whitish cast on your skin and you look “casket ready”, then it is definitely the wrong shade!! It can help if you aren’t afraid of mixing two different colors for summer and winter. This can work as your skin tone varies throughout the year.  Brands that I recommend that have numerous shades and undertones would be Fenty Beauty, MAC, Cover FX, Estee Lauder, Jouer, SmashBox, and Colourpop.  If you want a kit, try RCMA VK Palette.

• Identify your Undertone

When you look at the bare skin, you have to think about how rosy and golden the skin appears. You have a warm undertone if the skin is golden and a calm tone if it leads towards the rosy side. In case you have combination skin, then the undertone usually is neutral.

You can also figure it out by your veins' color. This is the old-school tried and true method. If they appear purple or bluish, it falls in the cool-toned spectrum. Greenish blue veins show that you are warm-toned.   If you really can’t tell and it seems to be a mix, you’re probably a neutral skin tone. Therefore, you can easily pick the right foundation after identifying your undertone.

• Choose your Finish

You may not know the meaning of “finish” if you are new to using foundation. Many regular foundation users sometimes get confused about which one they should go for. A finish may be the kind of sheen a foundation formula may leave on your skin. You can find matte, dewy, satin, and luminizing finishes in the market, whereas each one looks stunning in its own right. Let’s dive into some brands that have the finishes listed.

Matte-Best for oily skin or those that have normal-ish skin but want a lasting foundation.

My top choices for MATTE foundations are: 

Estee Lauder Double Wear Stay-In-Place

Fenty Beauty Pro Filt’r Soft Matte Foundation

Uoma Beauty Say What?! Foundation

Revlon ColorStay Makeup

Dewy-Best for those that want a radiant complexion without looking matte.

My top choices for DEWY foundations are: 

Bobbi Brown Skin Foundation

NARS Sheer Glow Foundation

Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation

Kevin Aucoin The Etherealist Skin Illuminating Foundation

Satin-This is best for those that want a flawless finish, without looking matte, but also natural and perfected. To sum it up, a cross between dewy and matte.

My top choices for SATIN foundations are: 

The Ordinary Coverage Foundation

Shiseido Synchro Skin Self-Refreshing Foundation

Anastasia Beverly Hills Luminous Foundation

IL MAKIAGE Woke up Like This Foundation

Luminizing- This is best for those that want a glow to their skin without piling on tons of highlighter swipes. Also, give you some sort of coverage without looking oily.  So pretty much like perfect skin lol! 

My top choices for LUMINIZING foundations are:

Make Up For Ever Reboot Active Care Revitalizing Foundation

IT Cosmetics CC+ Cream Illumination

ILIA Super Serum Skin Tint SPF 40 Foundation

Lancome SKIN FEELS GOOD Skin Nourishing Foundation

• Test before buying

Before you walk into the store and make a purchase, you first have to test the foundation. It is better NOT to do the color test because your hand doesn't have the same tone as your face. You can swatch it along your jawline to get an exact color match. Go for a few shades that look closest to your skin tone, and at the end, test them by dabbing some swatches. Also, your neck and chest will be different colors than your face, so be aware of that as well.

Bottom Line

These are a few helpful tips that I hope you have enjoyed. When you understand your skin and use the right foundation that matches your skin type, you will be able to wear foundation and other makeup items confidently! If you enjoyed this article, please comment and subscribe. Sharing is caring!!!