Best Foundations

The most important element of any makeup routine starts with a foundation

Foundation is vital to your makeup routine, it primes your face and creates a smooth palette so you can develop stunning focal points to your eyes, cheeks, and lips. The key is to acquire the optimal foundation for your type of skin. Having the correct color foundation to match your skin is truly important.
Foundation may offer some health benefits for your skin. Many foundations have sun protection and mineral components that can protect and nourish your skin. Be sure to have an SPF in your foundation, unless your daily moisturizer has some already. In that case, it is not necessary. Cosmetic companies spend substantial amounts of money on research and development to improve their products. The cosmetic industry is a multi-billion dollar a year powerhouse.

The main purpose of foundation is to create a clean and healthy canvas to paint on. Your foundation should not be easily detected and blend flawlessly into your skin. If you can see a makeup line on the curves of your jaw, you need to adjust the color. Tips on changing the color of your foundation are later in this article.

Types of foundation

Foundation base type: oil-based, silicone-based, and water-based
Foundation consistency: liquid, cream, matte, sheer, mousse, powder, and liquid to powder

The changes in our aging skin

As women age, broken blood vessels appear, coupled with lines under your eyes, crow’s feet, frown lines, and vertical lip lines. Changing hormones can result in your face appearing flush. This may be accompanied by redness along the cheeks and nose. Women that have had a lot of sun exposure, may have hyperpigmentation on various areas of their face.

In addition, mature women will often find their skin has become dryer. This can result in wrinkles looking deeper. Collagen decreases as women age and their skin doesn't look as luminous or full. Dark circles under the eyes can also increase with age. Thankfully there are various ways to modify your imperfections into a stunning and flawless look.

The best foundations for mature skin

Women with mature skin should use a foundation with a sunscreen preferably 15 to 30 SPF if it is not in your daily moisturizer. A silicone-based or oil-based foundation is best for mature skin. Silicon-based foundations are not as scary as they may sound. Yes, they do have lab-created materials, but many cosmetics contain ingredients made by scientists. If you have very sensitive skin, then consider using a hypoallergenic foundation. You can still find one that is silicone or oil-based.

Find out our recommended best foundations for mature skin

When you are searching for a silicone-based foundation to purchase, be aware that the word "silicone" may not be present on the label. Some ingredients that might be used in a silicone foundation may include cyclomethicone or dimethicone. These ingredients can help smooth skin, retain moisture, create foundation flexibility, and cover wrinkles. Sheer silicone foundations do an outstanding job sealing moisture in and maintaining the stability of the foundation for a long day’s wear.

An oil-based whipped foundation is great for mature skin too. The oil will help keep moisture in and cover up deeper lines. The whipped consistency of this foundation will help evenly add coverage without looking thick and caked on. The oil-based foundation is best for mature women with very dry skin. This will help keep hydration locked in your face all day. It also has exceptional coverage and tends to be richer.

The best foundation for oily skin

Women with oily skin should use a matte water-based foundation. This is because an oil or silicone-based foundation can trap in the bacteria associated with oils from acne. Some women naturally have oily skin and it can cause their face to be shiny. A great type of foundation for women with this issue is a light water-based foundation that dries as a lightweight mineral powder. These types of foundations will add much-needed moisture to your skin without adding additional oil. This gives your skin the ability to breathe and stay cooler throughout the day. If you have target problem areas like dark spots or scars, then consider using a medium weight water-based concealer. It should be two shades lighter than your base foundation.

Find out our selection of powder foundations for mature skin

The best foundation for acne prone skin

Acne prone skin needs special treatment. You should be using a very lightweight moisturizer with some type of acne treatment prior to adding water-based foundation. A fast-drying mousse foundation is best for acne prone skin. A foundation that turns to mineral powder is also great. Some foundations contain silica acid that can help kill the bacteria that causes acne. People with acne prone skin should always use a foundation that is hypoallergenic and dermatologist tested. Acne is caused by bacteria but can get worse or irritate skin if proper precautions are not taken. Acne also can cause scarring so using a medium-weight concealer can help cover old acne scars.

Best foundation for full coverage

The overall best type of foundation for full coverage is one that has three basic elements; water-based, sheer, and turns from liquid to powder. Water based foundations are great for all skin types and ages. They are less likely to cause skin irritation, acne, and are light weight. Sheer foundation applies smoothly and looks natural. Liquid to powder foundation takes clean makeup a step further by creating a light drying effect. Your skin will not be shiny and finish with a smooth matte. This can eliminate the need to use loose powder makeup.

Buying foundation online

If you are purchasing foundation online and are unsure what color matches your skin tone, take a quality digital selfie of your face. The photo should be taken without makeup or any photo filters. When you look at the digital color on the website, companies do their best to use quality digital photography and that should be exactly the color you will receive. Holding your picture up next to the foundation color is a great way to see what color is best for you. The advantages of buying foundation online are there are many fantastic small cosmetic companies that don’t sell in stores and you are more likely to find money saving promotions.

Buying foundation at a drugstore

There is no doubt that there is a massive amount of different types of foundations. Commercial cosmetic companies sell products around the world on large scales. There are many stores that will allow you to try their foundation color prior to purchasing their products. When purchasing a foundation at a drugstore, don't feel overwhelmed with the long aisles of products. Instead, decide what you are looking for in a foundation in advance. Be aware that foundation does expire. Signs that a foundation has expired are it smells like vinegar, it looks clumpy or greasy, and the color is wrong. The general shelf life of foundation is two years. Advantages to buying foundation in a drugstore are you can use manufacturer coupons and color matching may be easier in person.

Color matching your foundation

It is not advisable to attempt to color match foundation by applying it to your hand. This will cause you to purchase the incorrect color. Your hands are exposed to more chemicals, harsh conditions, and the sun. The color of your hands generally will not match the color of your face and are completely different skin types. The skin on your face is unlike any other on your body and your foundation must match the shade of the skin on your face. The best way to color match your foundation is to blend a small amount to the skin on your jawline. This is best because you can see the color comparison to the rest of your face and neck. For best results, use a concealer that is two shades lighter than your base foundation.

Tools for foundation application

Makeup palate spatulas are made of stainless steel or plastic. They are a flat plate that holds your foundation and concealer while applying it. Some have a hole where you can put your thumb through for easier makeup application.

Swab sponges are an awesome tool that will help you get into the small areas on the side and under your eyes. They work without causing premature wrinkling by pulling your delicate skin. Makeup sponges come in a large variety of shapes. These include a round disc, square, teardrop, oval flat end, triangle, and swab shapes.

There are natural and synthetic brushes and sponges. Synthetic brushes and sponges are designed to be very soft, will create a natural look, and cause less damage to your face.

Foundation brushes come in various shapes, sizes, and bristle type. Synthetic foundation brushes are best. They create a flawless look without streaks. A foundation steppling brush has very short, soft bristles and are tightly packed.
Concealer brushes are great for adding concealer to the under-eye area and mixing foundation.

Cotton powder puffs are usually used for the application and smoothing of loose powders. Although, they are great when used to smooth and even out liquid foundation.

How to best apply your foundation

The best way to start your morning skin routine is by first washing and moisturizing your face with a quality product made for your skin type. Using a concealer brush, add concealer and foundation in separate spots. Then, use a sponge swab and dab small amounts of the concealer on trouble areas of your face such as scars, acne, and dark spots. Very gently dab small amounts of concealer under your eyes, avoiding pulling the delicate skin.

Use a clean foundation brush to blend in the concealer. Mix your foundation well and add a small amount to a clean steppling foundation brush. Start gently applying your foundation on the middle of your face working your way out. You should be using outward rolling motions with your brush. Pay special attention to areas with concealer and the outline of your face. You should not be able to detect where your makeup ends.

The point of foundation is not to hide your skin but to cover flaws. It is not advisable to add foundation to your neck. This can stain your clothes and waste foundation. After your foundation has been applied, take a clean cotton powder puff, and lightly glide it around your face removing excess foundation and smoothing lines. Additionally, run a clean triangle sponge over the top of your eyelids in preparation for eye makeup.

Touching up your foundation

You can add small amounts of concealer if scars or dark spots begin to peek through but stick with little dabs. Adding touch-up foundation over your entire face later in a day is not advisable. You are just covering up the old foundation and making your wrinkles more prominent. This also creates a perfect environment for bacteria to grow. Instead, remove your makeup completely in the early evening and start the process all over or remain make-up free for the night.

Tips and tricks to make your foundation unique

A great tip for changing the color of your foundation for summer tans is by adding a small amount of liquid bronzer. You should not add the liquid bronzer straight to your whole container of foundation. Instead, pour a small amount of foundation to a makeup palette spatula and slowly add bronzer until it matches your current skin color. Blend very well with a clean concealer brush. If you find that your foundation color is too dark, add a very small amount of liquid concealer.

A fantastic product you can add to your foundation to give it a little extra pop is a liquid shimmer. The liquid shimmer is simply a pink, nude, gold, bronze, or rose colored sparkle that can make your face shimmer and look refreshed. An additional way to spice up your foundation is by adding essential oils. It is only advisable to add these essential oils to the water-based foundation because silicone and oil-based ones already have enough moisture. This may cause you to break out. Some essential oils you can add are chamomile, almond, orange, grapefruit, and eucalyptus.