Finding the right Foundation
YOLO!
Hey! what’s up ladies?! Now that we have enjoyed Halloween enough, lets talk about going to looking human again! ;-) Today’s article is about makeup! Yaaay!! And what is the very first thing you need when it comes to makeup? Yes, you are right! A Foundation!
After making loads of batches of different foundations for clients, I decided to embark upon a journey to find the right foundation for my skin. And what place can give you more options than Sephora?! So here I go… but before my visit to the beauty planet, I am going to tell you what not to do when you are there.
DONT’S - While formulating the foundations, I received a big surprise. Let me share it. All the foundations, be it any brand in any country, usually have the same chemicals. All the liquid foundations are made up of almost the same ingredients with the difference of only a few which are in minimal quantities. There is no product that is good for your skin. There is no makeup that will not harm your skin. So now knowing this, if you are still up for that visit, then read on!
The second eye opener is - water resistant products. A big NO to them! Water resistant products are stubborn and extremely difficult to remove from hard iron or stainless steel. Imagine how strongly it might stick to your skin! Water resistant foundations have to be rubbed off with alcohol. No surfactant works on it and alcohol is not something you want even near your skin. So my request is, apply makeup and reapply if it wipes off. I know it is lot of work but at least it saves your skin from the horrors of alcohol.
WHAT WE WANT is a foundation that is suitable for our skin. If your skin is normal to dry, I would suggest going with a liquid foundation. For very oily skin, mineral pressed powders can be used but they tend to clog pores more so I would suggest liquid foundations any day. I also prefer liquid foundations as they easily blend with the skin and provide natural coverage. Foundations are neither designed for making your skin appear fairer nor for making it appear more tan . They are just a base coat to even out skin tones and reduce visible spots. So you want a shade that exactly matches your skin color. There are a lot of variations of foundations like ones with sunscreen, heavy, light, medium, low or high coverage, sheer or matte, and such. These properties are dependent completely upon your personal liking. Foundations with sunscreen are recommended if your facial moisturizer doesn't have any sun blocking ingredients. Using primers before foundation is also a personal choice, but using a good moisturizer with a little SPF is highly recommended.
DO’S - Finally we are at the heaven’s door, all set to receive our blessings. Our first step now is to decide what brands do you want to invest in. If you do not have a personal favorite, I have a list below which can help. After we narrow down on the brands, pick 3 shades that look nearest to your skin tone and apply them side by side on your chin area. Pick the one that is the closest match to your skin tone and apply it on one half of your face. Blending is the key here. Start with chin and blend upwards and outwards in circular motions. Blend, Blend, Blend! See the difference? If it looks like your natural skin but without the spots and with more evenness, you have hit the jackpot! If not switch shades or brands till you do. Of course the beauty assistants in the stores can be of great help in selecting the shade.
DO YOUR WALLET A FAVOR and don’t get tricked into the big brand names or the organic claiming ones. Prices of foundations vary from 15$ to 50$. Here are some guidelines to help you find the best for you.
LANCOME - very moisturizing, great spreading, matte finish, not very buildable, a little water resistant, does not completely wipe off. Price: 46.5$
BENEFIT - light weight, wipes off, no special features. Price: 36$
NARS - very low coverage, lot of product needed for single application, feels dry on skin, not really buildable. Price: 48$
SEPHORA - no water resistance, wipes off with wet towels, does not feel tacky, lot of natural shades. Price:20$
BOBBI BROWN - break wet technology, feels like a cream more than makeup, medium coverage, has sunscreen ingredients, but stability issues, drys out really fast in packaging itself.
SMASHBOX - really lightweight, not tacky but water resistant Price: 42$
URBAN DECAY - light weight, absorbs quickly, very low coverage. Price: 40$
Looking at all these, I feel Sephora is a great catch with the price and the feel. The color really blends well with skin giving the perfect coverage. It also stays on for a decent amount of time and wipes off quickly and easily with wet wipes. If you are a foundation virgin, definitely try Sephora otherwise indulge into whichever feels the best! Stay healthy stay Gorgeous..
Disclaimer: I, the author of the content of this post want to assure you, the reader that the opinions expressed in this post are mine and mine only. They are based on personal experience and experiments. The information is my intellectual property and does not belong to any other organization. I would also like to expressly convey to you that the content is not intended to defame, purge, humiliate or hurt any individual or any organization. If it does, know that it is completely unintentional. Should you find any information malicious, harmful, sensitive or unnecessary, I request you to inform me via email so that I could rectify it.










