The Truth About Foundation (aka "Cover-Up")

What is foundation? If we're speaking about makeup, foundation is the base for the rest of your makeup, a layer of color to even out skin tone and texture.

 Foundation comes in bottles, pumps, squeeze tubes, compacts, and in so many different forms and shades. Foundations also come in different coverages: sheer/light, medium, and full. Here's what I've learned from my own experiences:

There are four shades here. The bottom two match the best.

To find the right shade, I put a tiny bit of a foundation color on my wrist to see if it "disappears" or "blends" to match my skin tone. You can try this at a drugstore, makeup counter, etc. before you buy the product.


BUT--and this is a big "but"--the bottles/squeeze tubes/compacts/etc. of foundation usually do not list the coverage of what's inside!

my definition of coverage: how much the foundation will "cover-up" flaws or "enhance" with one or two layers of application

Ever see those women who walk around with orange faces? Or with a face much lighter than their neck? This is most likely the result of a coverage mistake, and/or a mismatch of color.

 

Foundation too light

From my experience, sheer/light coverage, and medium coverage foundations are to blame for orange faces and snow white complexions. 

Foundation too tan or built up

Fair skin usually looks more orange when sheer foundation is built up. If the shade of foundation is too light, they may end up looking like snow white. Darker skin can also look slightly orange, or too tan compared to their actual skin tone.

With one or two layers, blended on the face and into the jaw line, sheer/light and medium coverage foundations look fine. But if you add layer after layer, hoping to cover up that one pimple, you will end up looking a little discolored.

Foundation too light!

HINT: Contrary to belief, foundation is not like watercolor. One or two layers of foundation is enough to do the work. If not, change your coverage, or opt for a better brand.

 sheer/light coverage foundation: for those with flawless, young skin, and little to worry about. Freckles will still show through.

medium coverage foundation: for those with just a little bit of redness, and not hoping to cover some lines and wrinkles

Foundation Just Right

Foundation Just Right

full coverage: for the acne-prone/redness prone, and those with aging skin. Also great for stage actors. Note: if you are prone to pimples, make sure your makeup is noncomedogenic (meaning, it won't clog pores and cause a breakout) These are kinda hard to find, but keep looking and I will too!


Here are my favorites:

medium coverage: CoverGirl TruBlend liquid foundation it has chemical properties that help it blend to your skin. Comes in an easy-to-use pump. Shake it really well for a couple of minutes-the minerals like to sink to the bottom!

Covergirl Trublend

Avon Cream to Powder

light/medium coverage: Avon Cream-to-Powder Foundation feels great on the skin and smells like maple sugar. Comes in a compact, with a compartment for the applicator sponge. Change the sponge every few days, because it will hold and build up any oil from your skin.

medium/full: Avon Smooth Minerals Liquid Foundation. I used this one after gym class and applied it with my fingers. Comes in a squeeze tube (see picture up top). Feels really good like the CG Trublend.

Her makeup is slipping!
Did she forget to powder?
(Yes, she did)

Both need to be set with a powder so that they don't slip off your face or transfer onto clothing.

Choose a powder foundation shade similar to your color of liquid/cream/etc. foundation. When in doubt, go lighter, because powder is very subtle when applied with a light hand.

I recommend:
Avon Smooth Minerals powder foundation (loose or pressed powder)

CoverGirl smoothers powder foundation (pressed powder in a blue compact)