How to discover the right foundation for your skin type

Whether you’ve got oily skin or it’s really dry, it can be really tricky to discover the right foundation. With my latest post you’ll find the perfect foundation

With the sheer range of foundations on sale it can seem impossible to find the right foundation for your skin type. Deciphering what shade or brand can be like a minefield, and you may wonder where to start. My latest post will help you work out is right for you based on the type of skin you have, your age and the look you want. Whether you’re a makeup beginner or you just want to try something new, you’ll discover the right foundation in no time.

How to discover the right foundation for your skin type

The type of skin you have – whether it’s oily or mature – plays a big part in the foundation you choose. Here’s some ideas on the kind of foundation you should look for.

Got oily skin? Discover the right foundation for you

If your skin is oily you will want to avoid oil based foundations, look for one that is lightweight and more matte. You don’t want anything too heavy as it will sit in your pores clogging them up which can result in more spots and blemishes. Why not try Maybelline Fit Me Matte and Poreless foundation (£5.99)

Older skin requires a slightly different tactic

Older skin tends to have more wrinkles and fine lines so try to resist using powder foundations as they can sit in your fine lines, emphasising them. A lightweight liquid foundation with anti aging properties will help you to keep looking younger for longer. L’Oreal Paris Age Perfect Anti-ageing foundation (£12.99) is perfect for older skin.

Take care of sensitive skin

If you have sensitive skin you may find normal foundations irritate and inflame your skin. Look for a foundation that has been specially made to be hypoallergenic as they are designed especially for sensitive skin. Bareminerals Barepro 24 hour full coverage liquid foundation (£31.00) is perfect.

Use a foundation with SPF

With the dangers of the sun’s rays drilled into us at every moment, it’s shocking how some foundations still lack SPF. If you want your skin to be fully protected look for a foundation that specifically contains this, those without it will not protect your skin. Buy Benefit Hello Flawless Liquid foundation SPF 25 (£30.00).

Got dry skin?

If you have dry skin you may find that normal foundations sit on top of the dry patches and ruin the flawless effect you’re trying to achieve. Look for a foundation that has a liquid or creamy consistency as these will help nourish and hydrate your skin.

Is your skin normal?

Firstly lucky you, it feels great not to have to worry about dealing with oiliness, dry skin or fine lines. Good skin doesn’t need too much help, so look for a lightweight foundation that can conceal small blemishes. You could even get away with a BB or CC cream if you don’t want to wear a full foundation. Benefit Big Easy BB cream SPF 35 (£31.00) is a great one to go for.

Figure out your shade

Once you’ve got the type of foundation figured out, you’ll want to establish the right shade for you. A lot of this is based on your colouring as you’ll want to compliment your complexion.

Are you cool or warm toned?

Have a look at the veins on your wrist – are they blue or green? The colour of your veins helps you establish what your skin undertone is. Foundations can be warm, cool or neutral and choosing the right one to suit your skin undertone will be the difference from looking orange to glowing.

• Veins that look purplish blue indicate a cool undertone.
• Are your veins a faint green colour? This can indicate a warm undertone.
• You can also think of the colour of the clothing you wear and how you look in them. If you look great in whites and blacks you’re on the cooler end of the spectrum, whilst those who really rock brown clothing definitely have warmer skin undertones.

Picking the right undertone will help you discover the right foundation

So you’ve established your skin undertone, now you’ve just got to pick the foundation that will suit you best. Most foundations will have products available in light, medium and dark. Each of those shade ranges will then have a number of foundations that have slightly different tones. For example if you have cool undertones you’ll want to pick a light foundation with slightly pink tones. This will help balance out your skin tone.

Stop press – Have you changed your hair colour recently?

If you’ve recently changed your hair colour, the foundation you’ve selected for your skin undertone may not work anymore.

• If you have light hair you don’t want a foundation that’s too fair as it can make you look washed out. Try to get one that has warmer undertones.
• If you have dark hair, a cooler foundation will contrast well
• If you’ve got red hair avoid foundations with pink or rosy tones as they may clash with your hair

Try it out first

If you’re still not sure whether the foundation you want is right for you, the best way to work it out is to try it on. Many department stores will be happy to show you how a foundation looks on your skin and will give you a small sample to take away.

You could even try booking an appointment with a makeup artist if you want to try a completely different look. Make them aware of any allergies or sensitivities you may have before they start. You could even show them some foundations you’ve seen in magazines to see if they have it so you can see what they look like on. You could ask for any tips or tricks they have and the best way to manage your makeup routine.

Important things to remember to help you discover the right foundation

• Test it on your jawline, not your hand. Your hand often has different colouring to your face and at the end of the day, you won’t be putting your foundation on your hand, will you?
• When trying on a new foundation try to go outside to see how it looks in natural light. Department stores or shops often have fluorescent lighting which can make your skin appear a different colour.
• When testing foundations, try a few different shades on your jawline at once. This is a method department stores use and it will show you how each tone appears against your natural skin tone.
• No one can be more honest then your friends or family. Get a tester or sample of a foundation and then ask them what they think. Whilst you could ask a sales person what they think, their answer may not be that honest. A salesperson wants a sale at the end of the day so they may say it works for you to get you to buy the product.

Adapt your foundation for different events and situations

No one day is going to be the same and that means you should adapt your makeup to suit what you have got planned.

• If you want dewy skin you’ll want a foundation that has quite a high water content. Alternatively a matte foundation is great for those with oily skin as it will help absorb oiliness to give you a shine free complexion. If you want a glow with a matte finish you can use a highlighter.
• If you’re going for a run or exercising try to pick a foundation that’s sweatproof and water resistant.
• If you’re going to a formal event like a dance or prom, you’ll want to keep your foundation shine free and flawless for as long as you can. A matte foundations is great for this as it can help to eliminate shine and tends to have longer staying power.

I hope these tips help you discover the right foundation for you. If you love the post don’t forget to share it on Twitter, Pinterest and Facebook!