Beauty Blog: Which foundation is best for you?
In this post, I’ll be defining foundations. This is kind of where a lot of people struggle, because they get all confused with the endless amount of options. So I’ll be breaking it down into three categories: Form, Coverage and Skin Type.
In this post, I’ll be defining foundations. This is kind of where a lot of people struggle, because they get all confused with the endless amount of options. So I’ll be breaking it down into three categories: Form, Coverage and Skin Type.
Form:
When I say this, I’m talking about the different types of foundation. I’ll start with the easiest, and the one you probably know of.
Liquid: This is probably the most popular option because it’s the most common used and was the first foundation formula you picked up. The more liquid-y, the easier to blend. Every single brand does a foundation in a liquid form, so there is a vast collection.
example of a liquid foundation
Cream: Think of this as a jumbo concealer stick. These are creamy, and very blendable. So it’s great for someone who doesn’t want the hassle of a foundation but still likes a creamy finish. Pick up the Maybelline FIT Me Stick foundation if you want to give it a try.
Powder: This goes into two forms. First is pressed powder, which is typically what you find in the drugstore when you look for powders. The coverage is light-medium when used dry, BUT use it wet and you get way more coverage. Loreal True Match powder is a great starting point.
The second form is loose. Usually this goes alongside with mineral makeup. You’ve probably have seen the ads for BareMinerals Mineral Foundation or for Sheercover during late night televisions. This is also a great go to product, because there isn’t a lot of hassle when it comes to blending.
Coverage:
Sheer/Light: Usually this is the type of coverage you find with a tinted moisturizer or the BB creams you see around the stores. This evens out your face slightly, but doesn’t give you much coverage beyond that. It’s great for lazy days or someone who has good skin but wants an added boost. There are liquid foundations that give sheer coverage, but most lean toward tinted moisturizers. Maybelline BB Cream is a great option for a light coverage.
Medium: This coverage is a step up from the sheer coverage. It gives you enough coverage on your first coat, but you can build it up to higher coverage. Most foundations tend to be in this range and most women prefer this type of coverage. Powder foundations are also on this scale as well as many liquid and cream foundations. Also airbrush makeup fall into this as well. This type of coverage can cover up discoloration (to an extent), even out the skin tone much better and hide most imperfections. A drugstore option would be the L’Oreal True Match which is also great because it caters to a variety of skin tones.
Full/Heavy: This is the most intense out of the three. This is for people who have severe pigmentation issues or acne problems. A drugstore option is the Revlon Colorstay which gives it quite the coverage. However one complaint about these types of foundations is that it feels heavy, as in you can feel that you’re wearing foundation. Also it can be more difficult to blend because of the consistency, which is usually thick.
Skin Type:
Oily: There are liquid foundations formulated for oily skin. Products such as Revlon Colorstay for Combination/ Oily Skin, NARS Sheer Matte, Kat Von D Lock it Tattoo Foundation, Neutrogena Shine Control, Rimmel Stay Matte. Typically oily skin doesn’t fair well with cream with the exception of the Maybelline FIT Me which has a “shine control core” that is supposed to help control shine. Powder/Mineral foundations are great for oily skin since it is a matte finish (no glow/shine).
Dry: Liquid foundations are going to be your best friend. There are forumlas specific for dries skins. Something like the L’Oreal True Match Lumi is a good drugstore find. Also Revlon makes a Normal/Dry range in their Colorstay foundation range. NARS Sheer Glow is a good higher end option. Also tinted moisturizers will work best because you need moisture in your skin and those products give that kind of coverage.
Whew! That was a long post, but I hope it helped you in your journey to find the best foundation fit for your skin.
Somayea is a junior at UT and an aspiring beauty blogger.
Edited by Jessica Carr
