So here is a guide on how to choose the perfect foundation for you and how to apply it so you avoid those hideous tell-tale tidemarks and looking like you’ve been tangoed.
Top tips for your make-up mission
Ensure your skin is cleansed so you can get a good idea of what will look best on your skin. Have a little mirror tucked into your handbag so you can check what your foundation looks like once you’re in natural daylight. You’ll know when you’ve found the right one, as it will simply disappear into the skin. Remember that you’ll need a slightly darker colour for the summer months and a warmer tone for the winter, but avoid pink-beige tones, as these do not look natural. Always purchase your foundation ‘in season’ so you can judge how it will look on sun-kissed or pale skin more accurately.
What style of foundation will suit you best?
Pale and interesting
The last thing you want is to end up looking like a ghost, and if you’ve got milky-white skin this could happen if you don’t choose the right foundation. You want something light and natural-looking that will enhance your best bits – not obliterate them completely. You could either go for Bobbi Brown’s classic Foundation Stick (£24.00) or a sheer liquid foundation such as Jemma Kidd Make Up School’s Light As Air Liquid Foundation SPF18 (£25.00). If you want a really natural finish, then apply these with your fingertips.
Smooth operator
If you suffer from patchy skin then you’ll need a product that will effortlessly even-out your skin’s imperfections and give you a flawless finish. Leading make-up artists swear that the only way to do this is with a foundation brush, such as Bobbi Brown’s (£25.00) and a liquid formulation, which guarantees a more even application. Apply your product in a downwards, sweeping movement for the best results. Brilliant complexion-transforming foundations include: Estee Lauder’s Double Wear Light Foundation (£25.50), Laura Mercier’s Moisturising Foundation (£33.00) and Bobbi Brown’s Luminous Moisturising Foundation (£29.50).
Well-oiled
Traditionally, pressed powder, applied after a foundation, has been the best way to stop shine, but it always ends up making your skin look dull and lifeless. Luckily, nowadays there are some great coverage combos that control shine but also give you naturally gorgeous, picture-perfect skin. Ellis Faas Skin Veil Foundation (£35.00) is a great buy.
How to apply your foundation correctly
Always apply foundation to skin that has been moisturised, so it simply sinks in. Blending is essential and is best done with either a slightly damp make-up sponge or your fingertips. Always look in a large mirror when you’re applying your foundation – you need to see the overall picture, in order to get the best results. If you want your foundation to go the distance, then apply it with a damp sponge, but put it on sparingly otherwise the sponge will soak up too much product. For hard-to-reach areas use a wedge-shaped sponge. You should also make sure that you gently blend in foundation under the jaw line, around the hairline and on your neck.
Words by Carole Hughes