How To Pick the Right Foundation: 5 Things To Look For
Selecting the perfect foundation is essential if you want flawless-looking skin. One misstep and your foundation can look unnatural or disintegrate throughout the day. The last thing you want to build a makeup look off of is a foundation you can't trust.
Knowing the right things to look for when purchasing a foundation is key. You need one that fits your skin type and blends in effortlessly. Finding a product the checks all the boxes can feel overwhelming.
Let your foundation worries go. We're here to help you choose a foundation. You'll know all the things you need in a foundation and will always be able to pick the best one.
1. Understanding Your Skin’s Undertone
Let's start with one of the most overlooked aspects of selecting a foundation. You know to find your shade, but what about you're skin's undertone? Most people don't even realize there's a difference between their skin's shade and tone.
However, if you don't know how to distinguish the difference, you may never find a foundation that truly matches. Your undertone is the color within your skin. It's what you see just below the surface, the hue of your skin. You may have noticed that your skin looks slightly pink or yellow or another color. This color is your undertone.
There are three main undertones a person can be: warm, neutral, and cool. Foundation comes in a variety of shades under the three undertones. Therefore, when looking for a makeup product, especially foundation, be on the lookout for the undertone.
How To Find Your Undertone
If you're not sure what your undertone could possibly be, there are some tests you can do! You can also see a dermatologist if you want a quick answer, but if not, try the following.
How Does Your Skin React to the Sun?
Consider how your skin reacts after sun exposure because it can be very telling when it comes to your undertone. If you tend to burn easily, you most likely have cool undertones. If you burn and then tan, you may have a neutral undertone. Warm undertones generally don't get sunburned very often.
Consider the Color of Your Veins
Looking at the color of your veins is a great way to discover your undertone. Try to find veins in your face and neck area. If you see blue veins, you probably have cool undertones. If your veins look green or olive, you have warm undertones. Neutral undertones can have a mixture of the two or not have any noticeable color.
Examine Your Other Features
Your eye and hair color can also be a way to figure out your undertone. People with deeper skin tones and dark eye color generally have warm undertones. Meanwhile, people with fair skin and light-colored hair and eyes tend to have cool or neutral undertones.
White T-shirt Test
If you still can't tell what your undertone is, throw on a pure white t-shirt. In natural light, examine how your skin looks. If your face has a yellow hue, your undertone is warm. If your skin looks pink compared to the shirt, your undertone is cool. Neutral undertones don't have a noticeable hue when wearing white.
2. Find Your Shade
Finding the correct foundation shade is much easier once you know your undertone. Almost all foundation brands have different shades for each of the three main undertones. You can immediately eliminate most of the shades just by looking at them.
You may even be able to narrow it down to the perfect shade without even using the product. However, you can test out two shades if you need to. Apply a test patch to your face, like on your jawline. After waiting a minute or two, look at the foundation under natural and artificial light. If your foundation blends in perfectly then, you've found your match.
HIDE offers a shade finder if you already know what your color is in another product. It makes shopping quick and easy!
3. The Right Formula
The next thing you need to consider is the foundation formula that would work best with your skin. There are countless formulas foundation comes in, but some of the main ones are powder, stick, cream, and liquid.
Powder: This formula works well for people with oily skin since the powder can absorb excess oil.
Stick: This type of foundation also works for people with skin on the oily side but can be too drying for others.
Cream: Cream formulas offer more hydration than stick foundations but can still be too dry for some. They offer high coverage, and people with acne generally like to use this type of foundation.
Liquid: This type of foundation offers the most moisture. People with dry skin can achieve a smooth complexion with a liquid foundation. However, all skin types can use this formulation.
HIDE Premium Foundation has a water-based liquid formulation. It offers all-day coverage, no matter what type of skin you have.
4. The Ideal Finish
Foundation comes in various finishes, and the ideal type will help your complexion not hurt it. Let's go over the different foundation finishes.
Dewy: When you use a foundation with a dewy finish, your skin will look somewhat shiny. It is best suited for people with dry or mature skin since it offers a youthful glow.
Luminous: A luminous finish gives you a glowy appearance. This finish type won't make you look as shiny as a dewy foundation but can still give you a radiant complexion. It's ideal for dry to combination skin types.
Natural: This finish is the most common. It is between dewy and matte, not shiny or flat, the perfect in-between. A natural finish works well for most skin types.
Matte: A matte finish doesn't allow any shine to show throw. It's ideal for oily skin types and can reduce the appearance of pores.
HIDE Premium Foundation comes in a semi-matte finish. It's not completely flat but is going to keep you shine-free all day.
5. Consider the Coverage Level
The last thing your need to consider is the coverage level you desire. Foundations come in a range from sheer to full coverage. The lighter the coverage, the more your natural skin is going to show through your makeup.
People that don’t like a lot of makeup love sheer coverage. If you have an imperfection or two, you can try medium coverage. Full coverage is excellent for people with blemishes or that love a glam makeup look.
You can always sheer out a full coverage foundation for days you want lighter coverage. If you're using a liquid foundation, you can mix in a little moisturizer to sheer it out. HIDE Premium Foundation offers medium to full coverage. It is buildable, so you can customize the amount of coverage you want.
Applying Your Perfect Foundation
Applying the perfect foundation for your skin is easy. You'll need a makeup tool to blend it out. A foundation brush or damp makeup sponge works well. Stipple or dab the product into your skin and blend it out on your jawline and down your neck.
Start with a small amount of product and add if you want more coverage. You can also use concealer to hide any blemishes or imperfections. HIDE Premium Concealer is an excellent option.
Examine your makeup in natural light to double-check that everything is blended. Once you're happy with your complexion, you can set your face with a translucent powder or setting spray.
In Summary
Finding the best foundation for your skin type is possible with a little effort. When you consider your undertone, skin shade, formulation, finish, and coverage, you'll find the right foundation. HIDE offers a high-quality foundation that is an excellent choice for anyone!
Get the Look
Shop the look at HIDE for makeup that will be a perfect match for your skin type. Our products are easy to blend out and will give you a flawless complexion.
- Foundation: HIDE Premium Foundation
- Concealer: HIDE Premium Concealer
Sources
Sunburn Treatment: Photosensitivity, Light Eruption, Tips, Sunscreen | Web MD
Skin Types: Overview and More | Very Well Health
Skin Undertones Chart: Warm, Cool, Neutral, Pink, Yellow, and More | Healthline