How to choose the perfect foundation for your skin

Perfect skin has always been a beauty standard but for those of us not blessed with a naturally flawless canvas, we turn to makeup for help. There are hundreds of foundations on the market today, we alone carry six different types. In this blog, we’re going to help you choose the perfect one for your skin type and color.

Step 1: Choosing the right amount of coverage

Let's start off easy with choosing a foundation based on coverage.

Light coverage – This is perfect if you prefer a natural look. Light coverage foundations such as our Luminous Mineral Sheer Tint or BB Cream will reduce the appearance of pores and help even out skin tone. These tend to feel the lightest weight, making them perfect for everyday use. The downside, of course, is if you have any blemishes, severe redness or freckles a light coverage foundation might not be enough.

Medium coverage – If you want more coverage to hide redness, sun damage and age spots, our most popular options are, our Mineral Powder which has buildable coverage, leaving a soft, matte finish or our Luminous Radiance Foundation which leaves skin with a dewy radiance. Both these foundations will quickly blend into your skin to even out skin tone and hide most imperfections.

Full coverage – A full coverage foundation will give you the ultimate flawless finish.  Our Liquid Mineral Powder and Foundation Stick contain the most pigmentation to give you ultimate coverage. Perfect for anyone suffering from acne scars, rosacea or any serious skin discoloration. Foundation sticks are great for layering from sheer to full coverage because you can just dab them where you need to or apply them as an overall foundation. The liquid mineral powder is oil free and I like to refer to it as an instant eraser. Skin looks flawless and yet you have no idea you are wearing foundation.

Step 2: Choosing the right foundation for your skin type

It’s very important to choose a foundation that will work with your skin type. Choosing the wrong foundation for your skin can do more harm than good.

Dry Skin – One of the worst feelings in the world is applying that brand new, expensive foundation only to realize in horror that it doesn’t hide but highlights your dry patches and flaking skin. When it comes to dry skin it’s best to steer clear of full coverage foundations and dry foundations such as the foundation stick. Choose a hydrating foundation such as a BB Cream or Luminous Mineral Sheer Tint. If you need more coverage try our luminous Radiance foundation. Your best bet would be to start with a primer such as our Flawless Finish Primer which ensures a beautiful, healthy glow and to mist your face throughout the day with our Calming Toner to keep skin moisture levels up.

Oily Skin – You say dewy, I say greasy. Oily skin is an absolute nightmare and nothing is worse than having foundation that leaves you looking shiny. Our Mineral Powder Foundation and Liquid Mineral Powder foundation is the way to go for oily skin. No doubt you’ll have some acne you will want to cover up and these two foundations will give you good coverage with a satisfying matte finish. The Foundation Stick is a great full coverage option if you need to build a little more coverage on problem areas of your face. One thing to be careful of with oily skin is a cakey face. When oil will inevitably appear throughout the day our first instinct is to pack on the powder foundation. If you’re already wearing foundation this can make your makeup look thick and unnatural. Try gently removing the oil from trouble areas with blotting paper.

Combination Skin – The struggle is real for combination skin. How can your nose be oily while the skin on your cheeks is peeling off in chunks? The Luminous mineral Sheer tint and the Liquid Mineral Foundation would be the best bet for you. Stay away from powders and foundation sticks as these may accentuate your dry skin. Use a gentle exfoliating cleanser such as our Quadruple Action Cleanser to try and balance out your skin prior to applying foundation. The jojoba beads will remove dead, dry skin and any excess dirt/oil that may be trapped in your oily pores.

Sensitive Skin – Sensitive skin is tricky to deal with. Look for foundations that are hypoallergenic, non-comedogenic and contain the most organic ingredients. Choosing a fragrance and paraben free foundation is also important. You want to find the product with the least amount of irritants. Our Luminous Mineral Sheer tint or BB Cream would be my first choice, but all our foundations are great for sensitive skin.

Normal Skin – Believe it or not there are some of us who have perfectly normal skin with no issues whatsoever. If this is you then take your pick of foundations while we sit here and watch you with envy.

Step 3: Choosing the right color

Have you ever stood staring at a shelf filled with more versions of nude colors than you ever thought existed? Most of us have had this experience and usually, unless we get a little help, we’re bound to make the wrong choice.

 he most important thing to determine is your undertone. Are you warm, cool or neutral?

Warm – Do you look best in gold jewelry? Did you choose ivory for your wedding dress? Do your veins have a green tint? You probably have a warm undertone.

Cool – Is silver jewelry more your thing? Do you look good in white? Are your veins blue? You most likely have a cool undertone.

Neutral – Can’t decide what suits you best? You probably have a neutral undertone. Send us a selfie and we’ll help you choose.

 est your color:

When testing foundations it’s best to swatch on your lower jawline and neck. This area tends to be more even toned and untouched by the sun.

Applying Foundation:

There are endless amounts of techniques and tools to apply foundation from brushes to sponges and using your hands. In the end, it comes down to personal preference. Personally, we like to use a good stipple brush to get the job done. The advantage of a stipple brush is that the thin, white fibres at the ends evenly spread the product onto your skin while the thicker, black fibres buff and blend the products in. A stipple brush will ensure that the right amount of product will be applied to your face and will give you the most natural finish. Often times using just your fingers will apply too much product on your skin and a sponge will absorb most of the product.

Take a look at our video to see how we like to apply foundation.

Things to remember:

– Choose a foundation containing at least SPF 15. Sun damage is one of the biggest factors of premature ageing and skin discoloration. Protect your skin at all times!

– Properly cleansing, moisturizing and priming will have a serious effect on how good your foundation looks as well as how long it lasts.

– Make sure that your foundation blends in perfectly where the face meets the neck. You should not have to bring your foundation down onto the neckline to match.

– Not sure which undertone foundation is right for you? No problem. Send us a selfie and we will help you choose.

← Previous Post Next Post →