Types of foundation

FOUNDATION.... One of the most popular and widely used cosmetics is foundation. Matching foundation to one's features, skin color, complexion and tone to create a specific look is a selection process. Facial size and bone structure are major factors in proper foundation makeup selection. The goal in makeup application is to "Enhance" your facial features to bring out the best in them. Selecting the right foundation is an essential step in the process of a successful makeup application.

A successful makeup application starts with a foundation that blends into and merges with your skin. Keep in mind that no foundation is "perfect" whether in powder or liquid form. Learning how to properly select, blend and apply foundation will help you overcome any imperfections and use foundation to bring out the best in your facial features.

3 foundation makeup types are:

1. Liquid

2. Pressed

3. Mineral

Liquid foundation can be water based, silicon based or oil based with water based being a lighter texture and oil based being the thickest.

Liquid foundations can be Matte with very little to no shine and provide a natural look or Illuminating which provide a dewy or more radiant look.

Water based foundations provide greater sheerness and dry more quickly than oil based. Oil based consistencies blend more easily, provide medium to full coverage and usually better moisturize the skin. They tend to feel a little greasy so many women prefer water based or silicon based foundations that feel lighter on their skin.

Skin treatment liquid foundations are normally water or silicone based with added anti-oxidants and moisturizers which make the consistency more blendable like oil based foundations but without the greasy feel. Antiaging foundations normally have aloe vera, a minimum of SPF 15 suncscreen, CoQ10 and hyaluronic acid in their formulations.

Pressed powder foundations go on light and feathery and usually provide sheer to medium coverage. Two-way powder foundations may be used wet or dry to control the sheerness. Color phased foundations combine light and dark shades that may be blended to provide fuller coverage. Creme to powder formulations have added skin moisturizers which are quite blendable and are very good for dry to normal skin types. Pressed powders can be oil free and fragrancee free. Many foundation sticks are creme to powder formulations.

Mineral powders are usually oil free, fragrance free and talc free, have a very light-weight consistency and provide a natural radiance. Natural mineral powder foundations and blushes have natural pigments with no synthetic dyes and are fomulated to be hypoallergenic and allow facial pores to breathe. They tend to be very good at absorbing oily shine and creating a flawless, natural look.

ATTENTION PLEASE! Always use fine quality, clean, makeup brushes, puffs or application sponges and make sure to feather the edges into your natural skin for a natural look.

FOUNDATION TIP 1 - DON'T USE FOUNDATION TO CHANGE YOUR SKIN COLOR:

Skin complexion dictates what shade or blend of shades will work best. If you have a light complexion, you shouldn't use a darker foundation to give you the darker color you desire. Instead, select a foundation shade that closely matches your skin color so the edges can be feathered in and will properly blend into your natural skin with no perceptible lines. You can use other types of makeup to 'add' color to your skin.

(!) Good coverage doesn't mean thick or obvious coverage. Applying too much foundation or not fully blending it in before it dries are common makeup application mistakes.

FOUNDATION TIP 2 - SKIN TONE & SKIN TYPE MATTER:

Skin Tone Natural skin tones run from ivory to natural, beige to tan, light brown to dark brown or ebony. Asian women usually have a slight yellow undertone to their skin. African American and East Indian women have dark undertones while Polynesian, Central / South American and some light-skinned African American women have a reddish undertone to their skin's complexion. Foundation should be selected to blend well with your skin tone. Using two foundation shades and blending them together is an ideal way to match your skin tone.

Skin Type Your skin type - oily, dry, combination, aging, acne-prone or sensitive skin matters when selecting a foundation. Sheer to full coverage, oil free, talc free, hypoallergenic and skin-treatment foundations are available in both powder and liquid makeup form. Select your foundation based upon your skin type and how much coverage you think you need.

FOUNDATION TIP 3 - USE A FOUNDATION THAT SETS WELL AND FEELS GOOD ON YOUR SKIN:

Some foundations will set well and look pretty good but feel uncomfortable on your skin. Others feel light and feathery but look un-natural or like you are wearing a mask. Experiment with different foundation types and different blends until you find a foundation that provides the right amount of coverage, feels good and looks natural. Foundations infused with skin healthy ingredients tend to absorb better and set well. They feel lighter on your skin, are nicer to the touch and look more natural. Some women want to use a heavier, fuller coverage foundation when they have breakouts and then switch to a lighter, natural-looking makeup. Below is a discussion of the various types of foundation to help you in the selection process.

Oil-Free and Liquid Matte Foundations usually have a silky finish with no shine to their appearance. These foundations provide skin with sheer to medium coverage and are most easily blended into your natural skin at the edges with balanced coverage and little to no shine. Foundation's longevity depends upon how oily your skin is. Because oil-free and mattes tend to absorb more oil, they last tend to last longer on oily skin than most other foundations. A silicon based matte liquid foundation is a little thicker than water based and will provide medium to full matte coverage which is good for covering fine lines, redness and dark marks.

Ultra-Matte foundations provide medium to full coverage and like Matte foundations are good for naturally oily skin or persons living in humid temperatures. These foundations are easy to apply and will provide a lasting matte look even with heat and perspiration. Ultra-Mattes tend to dry very quickly and can tend to go on heavy if not applied and blended rapidly. Ultra-mattes should always be applied before any other makeup as they have a tendency to stick to blush or eye shadow making quick blending and correction difficult.

(!) Oil Control Matte Powder also known as blotting powder is excellent for absorbing excess oil and perspiration thrououht the day. Use an oil free, oil-absorbing blotting powder and lightly powder your face as part of your makeup routine. Oil absorbing powder also comes in loose mineral powder form.

Skin-treatment foundations have extra antioxidant vitamins, skin treatments like hyaluronic acid, ginseng, CoQ10, sunscreen and moisturizers in them that help to smooth the skin and are also excellent for dry, weathered or aging skin. Ginseng has oil absorbing properties and hyaluronic acid helps plump out fine lines and wrinkles.

Illuminating foundations are infused with micro-fine light reflecting particles and usually have extra antioxidant vitamins and skin treatments like hyaluronic acid or ginseng in them that help to smooth the skin. Illuminating foundation reflects light and are excellent for bringing a youthful look and radiant glow to dry, weathered or aging skin.

Liquid-to-powder foundations have a very wet feel, apply easily and quickly dry to a smooth, semi-matte or matte finish providing sheer to medium coverage. Typically, they have water as their base ingredient together with a smoothing agent such as glycerin. Their texture and consistency are not as easy to blend as oil or silicone based foundations but on the up side they don’t require powdering. Water based liquid foundation also feels lighter on your skin and lasts longer on combination or oily skin. They are good for women with normal to oily and slightly combination skin. They don't work as well on dry skin because the water portion can further dry the skin as it evaporates and leave a powdery residue that's not easily removed.

Oil-based foundations have oil as their main ingredient so they look, feel and go on greasy but because of their consistency blend out quite easily to a smooth texture. Oil-based foundations can be very good for individuals with extremely dry or wrinkled skin as the emollients help the skin look moist which minimizes the appearance of wrinkles. The thicker consistency provides medium to full coverage and is therefore normally good for covering fine lines, redness and dark marks.

Oil-based foundation tends to adhere to the talc in face powder, blushes and eye shadows and can make your face appear coated with heavy makeup. For a natural look, it is best to use talc-free powder, mineral face powder, mineral blush powder or mineral eye shadow if you are going to use oil based foundation. Talc free Collage Powder is also ideal for use with oil based foundations for a natural look. In short, this type of foundation is great for dry skin and you should also consider using cream moisturizing blushes over this type of foundation for superior blending.

Liquid Foundation Application Technique: Put a little foundation on the hand. Blend a complimentary tone if desired. Dot it over the face on the nose, the cheeks, the chin, the temples and in between the brows.

Using the tips of two fingers or a small clean, moist application sponge, blend the foundation. Always work from the face outwards, to avoid an accumulation of the foundation around the hairline. Move from the cheeks to the ears, from between the brows down over the nose, from the chin out towards the jaw, then onto the neck. Work quickly, carefully and lightly. Blend well around the hairline, on the neck, below the eyes and behind the ears. Also take the foundation over the eyelids. Finally blot the face with a clean dry tissue, pressing it lightly over the skin.

+ POWDER FOUNDATION... Pressed powder–based foundations look, feel and perform much like regular pressed powder only with more coverage. Foundation powders have the ability to stay put on your skin providing light to medium coverage. They blend easily and are excellent for individuals with normal to oily or combination skin. Some high quality pressed finishing powders are able to be used as both a foundation and a finishing powder.

Pressed powder goes on easily and evenly, have oil-absorbing properties and tend to last all day. Pressed powders are usually very light on the skin and provide a polished, natural appearance. They also work very well when applied over sunscreens and tinted moisturizers reducing some of the shine some sunscreen ingredients can leave on the skin.

Creme to Powder makeups are best for normal to dry skin types, Some combination skin types can wear creme to powder foundations especially in dry climates. These foundations go on creamy and dry to a fine powder. Women with very dry skin may avoid regular powder foundations because they tend to make dry skin look drier. Creme to powder foundations contain added moisturizers and work to smooth dry skin and can look quite good. They go on thicker than regular powder and therefore usually provide fuller coverage. Cream-to-powder foundations are a combination of a pressed powder and a creamy liquid foundation that dries to a slightly matte, powdery finish.

(!) Cream-to-Powder Foundations provide a broader range of coverage than regular pressed powder foundations and blend on quickly and easily. This type of foundation doesn't require powder after you apply it but a light dusting of mineral or shimmer powder may be applied for a fine finish. Women with very dry skin should try to use a greaseless moisturizer under their makeup to prevent powdery foundations from further drying out their skin.

Oil Free Matte Powders are better for combination to oily skin. Women with very oily skin prefer to use oil free powder-based foundations that will absorb oily sheen and not appear thick or uneven as oil re-surfaces during the day.

+ STICK FOUNDATIONS... are essentially cream-to-powder foundations in stick form. Stick foundations come in formulas that range from full to sheer coverage and matte or illuminating finishes that provide a natural glow. Stick foundations usually have a minimum of SPF 15 sunscreen among their ingredients providing some sun protection. Their texture, consistency and ease of use also make them ideal spot concealers. The popularity of makeup sticks means they normally come in a wide variety of shades and colors to easily match your natural color and skin tone.

+ Foundations that are Sheer and Tinted Moisturizers with Sun Protectant provide coverage that is so sheer that they feel as if you aren't wearing any makeup. Due to their sheerness, almost anyone can wear these 'substitute' foundations to add a touch of color to their skin without worrying too much about the shade or blend. This, together with many anti-oxidant, oil free and anti-wrinkle formulations has caused an upsurge in their popularity. This also includes blemish treatment creams and lotions that heal & conceal acne and other imperfections while functioning as a foundation makeup.

Very light-weight anti-aging foundation makeup or tinted lotion is barely perceptible to others making them excellent for those who don't need significant coverage. For women with normal to slightly dry skin, these moisturizing products infused with sunscreen or concealer can many times serve as their only makeup product.