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It was the Roman dramatist Plautus who wrote, “A woman without paint is like food without salt.” While we might balk today at being compared to a plate of food, as a makeup artist for the past 30 years, I still delight in the power of makeup – giving a person that boost of confidence and pleasure when they look in the mirror after I’ve made up their face.
One of my favourite beauty products has to be a good foundation. I love the way a light lick can even out the skin tone, cover up blemishes and bring a youthful freshness to the face.
A lot of people are hesitant to wear foundation because they are afraid of an unnatural result. Yes, foundation can look like a mask, but only if you choose the wrong product or apply it incorrectly. Think through a foundation regime so that you achieve results that suit your skin and your lifestyle.
Coverage
First decide how much coverage you need. Sheer foundations provide a see-through wash of colour with only enough camouflaging power to hide minor issues. Moderate coverage is a good choice for those with some discoloration, acne scars or red, broken blood vessels on cheeks and around the nostril area. A heavy coverage works wonders for covering burns, bruising, melasma and scars.
Skin type
It’s vital when choosing your foundation that you consider your skin type. If you have dry skin, you should avoid oil-free and oil-absorbing makeup, which will give your skin a parched, flaky finish. Those of us with oily skin should avoid moisturising makeups that will make skin look slick and greasy, and normal skin types should stick with a formula for normal skin.
Ask at the beauty counter for help in choosing the correct foundation to suit you. It is good to experiment with a few different foundations and you can always ask for samples to take home and try out before you purchase. When choosing a foundation, simply pop a blob on to your jaw line and dab along the jawline, not the back of your hand, so that you can get the perfect colour match.
Just a reminder that a foundation is not to be used to change your skin colour. These products are designed to enhance your complexion, not alter it.
Application
You will achieve a more even finish if you apply foundation correctly. Dot the foundation on to your forehead, nose and chin, and then blend it down under the eyes, outwards to the cheeks and towards the jaw, blending along the jawline and down the neck. I use a makeup brush to apply the foundation first, then blend it well into the face with a lightly dampened beauty blender sponge by gently patting the sponge over the face. I recommend the Lookfantastic.com beauty blender sponge €17. MAC Makeup and Charlotte Tilbury have excellent foundation brushes.
A tinted moisturiser is not a foundation. It’s a moisturiser with a small amount of sheer pigment added. It does not cover redness or spots.
If you’re going to treat yourself to a foundation, these are my top three:
Estée Lauder’s outstanding, long-lasting and flawless-finish, new Futurist Hydra Rescue Moisturizing Makeup Foundation SPF 45, from stockists including www.boots.ie at €44. Best for: The person with a very busy life who does not have time for topping up. It stays in place perfectly once applied. It is suitable for all skin types and ideal to cover blemishes and rosacea cheeks. It is also hydrating if you have dryer skin.
Armani Luminous Silk Foundation from stockists including www.brownthomas.com at €50. A medium buildable coverage foundation with a lightweight feel. It is available in 40 stunning shades and leaves the skin looking hydrated and glowing; it glides on like silk. Best for: Ideal for the 20 + skin. It also works well for someone with oily skin.
Mac Studio Fix Fluid Foundation SPF 15 from stockists including www.arnotts.ie at €36. Has a matt finish that lasts beautifully for medium to full coverage. A little goes a long way and the pump action applicator makes this ideal for makeup on the go. Best for: This foundation works really well if you have pimples or scars to cover, or suffer with hot flushes or red cheeks. It is ideal for all ages and does not sit in fine lines around your eyes, forehead or mouth.
I have tried and tested all of the above and cannot recommend them more highly.
Make sure you choose the right shade and avoid overly pink, peach, orange or russet shades. Your foundation colour must be matched as closely as humanly possible to the colour of your own facial skin.
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