HOW TO: Choose the best foundation for your skin

All of us have different skin types, skin needs and daily routines. Naturally this means that not everyone can use a certain type of foundation. Some women constantly make the same mistakes when choosing foundation and this leads to a lot of frustration. Finding your perfect foundation isn't easy, but following a few simple rules usually saves a lot of time and money.

1. If you have an oily or acne prone skin that needs good coverage opt for a foundation that is matte and long wearing. This means you need to look for a foundation that has words like "oil free", "non-comedogenic", "longwear" etc. Avoid foundations that say that they are "illuminating" or "radiant" as this usually means that they give a more dewy finish to the skin, and as an acne prone or oily skin you would want to avoid that.

Choose:

          

Revlon Colorstay Foundation for Combination/Oily skin retails for £12.50 and US$13.00

Estee Lauder Double Wear Foundation retails for £27.00 and US$35.00

Both foundations are oil free, matte and long lasting.

(If you want to know which I prefer, scroll down for my review)

2. If you have fairly good skin and only want to even out your skin tone, your best bet is a tinted moisturiser. It hydrates your skin while giving you a tiny bit of colour and coverage to boost your complexion. Also, tinted moisturisers are great for ladies who dont like the feel of a heavy foundation on their skin. Therefore, they are great for the summer months or humid conditions.

           

Neutrogena Healthy Skin Enhancer is a great drugstore option. It is a tinted moisturiser that  "nourishes skin and protects against future sun damage with a weightless SPF 20 moisturizer." It has vitamins that boost your complexion while providing natural coverage. It retails at US$10.50

Laura Mercier tinted moisturiser is honestly the best one out there! Just enough coverage on the skin so that it looks natural, a lightweight feel and sheer cover that lasts hours. It is available in an oil free formula as well and has an SPF20. It retails at £33 and $42.

3. If you are the type of girl that likes to keep the products on your face as natural as possible, opt for a mineral foundation. Mineral Foundations can be in powder and liquid form, although they are mostly powders. They are talc and fragrance free and do not have as many added ingredients as many foundations do. 

Mineral make-up usually doesn't contain fragrances, binders, synthetic dyes, talc, and preservatives. therefore, it is considered purer and can be kinder to the skin. However, if you are looking for a high coverage foundation to hide scars or spots, this isn't the best option for you.

 

Maybelline Mineral Powder Foundation and Bare Minerals Foundation are great choices. These foundations are buffed into the skin using Kabuki brushes and give a natural finish. In my opinion, they are a great alternative for sports women or girls with oily skin who don't want to use a tinted moisturiser.

Maybelline Mineral Powder: US$10  £6.00

Bare Minerals : US$27  £ 24

Hope these tips help you on your next foundation shopping trip :)