Foundation Textures and Techniques

Foundation Textures and Tips

Hi Ladies,

I thought for my next blog I would hand out some tips of foundation techniques, from past experience working on Make Up Counters and visiting clients on a freelance basis the one thing that I got asked a lot was how to select the right foundation and how to apply. So I thought I would do a blog on giving out a few handy tips to you all.

It is important not to get stuck using the same makeup all year round as with the seasons changing so does your skin and it can be either dry or oily. A lot of ladies when selecting the colour of foundation, match it to the top of the hands or wrist, this is not correct. Please make sure the make up artist on the counters or yourself match the colour to the neck area. In summer the face can be a different colour to the neck as the sun has caught the face and not the neck. So it is best to match to the neck area and after you have applied your entire make up add bronzer to even out the skin.

The main point of a foundation is to even out the skin tone and colour of your skin. It can be a tricky business picking the right shade for your skin and also knowing what type of foundation is best suited to you, below is a list of all the different foundations you can purchase and next to each one I have written a short explanation of what they do.

Full Coverage – This one I am a huge fan off I love a full coverage but not so it is thick and you can see it on the skin, which is why I opt for Lancôme Teint Miracle (see my previous blog in more detail for this), A full coverage foundation will effectively cover blemishes, redness, scars and discoloration. A good full coverage foundation is Lancôme Teint Miracle RRP £29.00. With this foundation you can opt for a medium coverage or full, as it is build able. I know it is a little pricey but it lasts me for 5-6 months and is a fantastic product. And that is with me using it as a full coverage. Bare minerals are also fantastic for a full coverage look.

Oil Free – Fantastic for you ladies who are prone to oily skin. Oil free foundations will help keep shine away, this is done by the foundation creating a matte and textured finish to the skin. An oil free foundation will not contain any mineral oils or lanolin, these are the ingredients that cause clogged pores and can also cause sensitivity. A good oil free foundation is No7 Beautifully Matte Foundation RRP £13.50 this foundation balances oil production and minimises blemishes.

Sheer Coverage – A sheer coverage foundation will not provide you with a lot of cover, your skin will look more natural. This type of foundation will still even out your skin but will allow freckles and beauty marks to still show. The result of this foundation will be the effect of a make up free face. A good sheer coverage foundation is MAC Face and Body Foundation RRP 23.00

Moisturising – Great for dry to normal skin, as this provides extra hydration and also works well on mature skin. Again another good one for this is Lancôme Teint Miracle.

Illuminating – This type of foundation will give the skin a nice healthy glow and luminous finish. A good illuminating foundation is Bobbi Brown’ Award Winning Luminous Moisturizing Foundation RRP £30.00 this is fantastic for boosting the skin and firming the skin, this foundation also helps reverse the visible signs of aging and leaves the skin with a healthy glow – perfect.

Cream to Powder – These foundations normally comes in a compact, and once applied dry to a powder finish. These give a medium finish so great for providing more coverage, but not as much as a full coverage foundation. A good product for this is Benefit Play Sticks, RRP £23 - £26.00. A silky consistency, which provides a natural looking coverage.

Mousse – A mousse foundation will provide a matte or natural glow to the skin, the texture is very light and will feel really light on the skin. Maybelline do a good range of mousse foundations and No7 also do a fantastic mousse (Intelligent Balance Mousse Foundation), which is also great for oily skin this retails at £12.50

Tinted Moisturiser – A tinted moisturiser is great for a little coverage just enough to give the skin a little pick me up and a nice glow.  Tinted moisturisers are great to take on holiday instead of using a foundation. These also sink very easily into the skin. Benefit do a great tinted moisturiser called you rebel RRP £23.50 this also adds moisture to the skin.

BB Cream –Another product which I am a huge fan of, BB Creams provide more coverage than a tinted moisturiser but not as much as a foundation. They are lightweight and feel like silk on the skin. They cover blemishes, even out the skin and hide and uneven skin i.e. redness. A great one I have used on myself is Boots No7 BB Cream this is the only one on the market that caters to all three skin types. RRP 12.95.

Powder Based – This provides a non-reflective finish to the skin. A powder base can also be used on top of a liquid foundation to set it.  A good powder based foundation is Max Factor Crème Puff RRP 5.99.

So hopefully make up lovers with all the different foundations I have listed, this will make it a little easier for you to pick a foundation which is suited to you, your skin and what coverage you would like.

Below are a few of my tips on the application of foundation:

Before applying any foundation please make sure you cleanse, tone and moisturise. Please wait for your moisturiser to sink in until you apply your primer.

Apply primer, and again please wait a few minutes for this to work into the skin

Make sure you are applying your foundation in natural light

Apply small dots around your face, i.e. on the forehead, chin, cheeks and nose.

Apply your foundation in downward strokes to minimise pores, sweep over the ears and under the jaw line, none of us want that awful line do we J

Once the foundation is properly blended, if you require any more coverage add concealer instead of more foundation.

It is important to add a powder on top to set the foundation this also minimises shine.

A few ways to limit shine is to apply foundation with a brush or sponge instead of fingers and also use an oil free primer.

I really hope this helps with your foundation application and in selecting the correct foundation.

Any questions please feel free to message me

Sarah x