The foundation issue

A perfect complexion , a flawless skin, the healthy glow and the blurred matte finish. We all have different preferences and expectations regarding our foundation. And we live in a time most needs are met when it comes to foundation varieties.

Even then it can be a challenge to find that one perfect foundation. But let’s face it, it’s not one foundation that does all the work, but multiple to adapt to your changing skin conditions, skin tone and sometimes even the weather. I always recommend to have choices in reach when it comes to color and texture, because most skins change more than once within a year.

Whatever foundation you choose, the most important thing (lots ignored on YouTube/instagram) is that your skin looks like a skin and doesn’t change completely because of your foundation.

Foundation is not your camouflage but the extension of your skincare routine to perfectionize and even protect against external factors. Even when you want or need more coverage make sure your foundation is doing you a favor to improve the look of your skin and is not showing like a layer you can lay down on your nightstand in the evening.

In my opinion, whatever you do with your makeup and even if you go all crazy with colors on lips and eyes. Your foundation can make or break your total look, and definitely break when it’s too visible.

-So how to know how to choose your foundation?

It starts with looking at your skin and on what you would like to improve. But before choosing your foundation it’s more important to take a closer look at your skin condition. Foundation is no magic product that solves it all. For example, if you have too much dead skin cells any foundation can exaggerate the appearance of that texture, even if you use cream upfront.

Your skincare routine is half of the work to improve your skin appearance. Not only sometimes or when using foundation but every morning and evening. The better your skin is hydrated, cleansed the right way, soothed and protected, the stronger your skin’s resistance is. And of course it will show healthier so you will need less foundation for improvement.

And then it’s actually up to you to choose the texture you like. I mean, if you have an oily skin but you like a glow, I’m not saying you must choose a mattifying foundation. If you want something quick you can go for a stick version. When you have a dry skin you can choose a more tinted day cream texture. So regarding texture and finishing it is not only what works best but also personal preference.

When it comes to color it can be more complicated. You can have different tones from head to toe. I always look at different points on the face and body. Often you see a foundation color is matched on the chin or jaw line. That doesn’t always give a correct match on the whole face. What I do myself and on a bigger scale in summer time, I swatch on the darkest point on the forehead, then between the brows and nosebridge and the chin. I look at the neck, décolleté and arm color to balance everything out. The tone I see the most, I pick. I mean cool, neutral or warm. The interpretation of that differs from individual and makeup brand.

Myself I don’t speak about undertones. It’s too vague. I talk about skin tones. The tone that overrules.

Golden/ yellow

Rosè/ pink

A mix of both is neutral

And olive/green

But let’s say you have a lot of redness, then I want to neutralize with a yellow or neutral tone. If you have a dull looking skin you can fresh it up with more pink toning in it. The most important is that you don’t see a difference like, your natural skin color and a complete different foundation tone. If the color matches it blends in naturally and you don’t have to apply it on your neck, and only where you need it.

Another thing to add. Never go lighter or darker with your foundation. It has to fit like a glove. Color and contrast comes later with a bronzer, highlighter or blush.

If you have multiple color differences then it’s even more important to play with contrasts to balance high and lowlight out. You can do that afterwards with powders, liquids or sticks. You don’t have to start with multiple different colors on the face to later blend it in.

Watch out with too much lowlights or shaping. It might look perfect on photos but very fake in daily life. The easiest way to create contrast or that sun kissed look is to apply some bronzer on the highest part of the cheek, the middle of the forehead, the nose bridge and chin. Most techniques you see in tutorials these days are at first created for photoshoots or stage and even then most are exaggerated, and only focused on one face type.

Then off course you can also use a primer before you apply your foundation to perfectionize your skin structure or appearance and to create a better attachment for your foundation. I will not go deeper on the primer for now. That’s another story. And if you want or need you can use (loose) powder to set the foundation, blur or mattify. All depending on your wants and needs. But also another story otherwise this blog will become a small book.

The way of applying the foundation is depending on the texture and result you want. Some you can apply with the fingers and others look better with a brush. Also preference can play a role. Myself I apply foundations with different kind of brushes suiting the texture. I’m not a fan of sponges. To me a brush is more efficient.

Last but not least I will give you some examples of my own favorite foundations. All very different but all amazing to my opinion.

-YSL Le teint touche eclat:

If you are looking for a healthy glow foundation with buildable coverage and blur effect then this one is the bomb. With just a bit of this gel/fluide like formula you can perfectionize to your liking and it’s suitable for all skin types.

-Chanel water fresh teint, Les beiges:

Sheer, bare skin effect with a water like revitalizing finish. When you aren’t looking for coverage but just want that healthy looking skin with a bit extra. It’s made to glow so don’t use powder if you want to keep that water finish.

-Dior forever skin perfect, stick:

A creamy delight. Those foundation sticks have a cream to powder finish with a gorgeous natural outcome. No cake no dryness, just a quick blur with hydration. Sheer to buildable coverage.

-Eveline cosmetics, wonder match lumi:

The most affordable of all and with a wow effect. Blends in effortlessly and gives a satin like natural finish. Feels lightweight and stays the whole day.

-Tom Ford, schade and illuminate:

Liquid velvet with a second skin finish. Illuminates and blurs. Easy to build up. Has a soft glow powdery finish that’s not too shiny but gives a lit from within look.

So that’s a lot foundation information to digest. and maybe you will try one of the above. Very important, have fun exploring.