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 | How do I choose my perfect foundation? |
 | Ooh, this one is tricky — buying foundation is fraught with the huge possibility of getting it so very, very wrong. Just think about how many orange- or pink-streaked jawlines you see around town, or how many cracking, end-of-day faces. Of course, you will get it right with a few basic CLEO tips!
Firstly, decide which formulation is best for your skin. Do you have a dry or dehydrated complexion? Go for a moisturising liquid base (Chanel's one is fab). Breakout-prone? Choose a light, oil-free version (like Laura Mercier's or Dermalogica's). Out-of-control oiliness? You'll be best served by a mattifying foundation, which soaks up excess surface greasiness (try those from Revlon and Maybelline). Want to liven up a dull, tired face? There's a whole slew of brightening ones out there now that pump up the wattage by manipulating the way light reflects off your face (check out such ones from Innoxa and Elizabeth Arden). Whatever the formulation, a liquid foundation helps you create a flawless face to last you through the day.
You may, however, prefer a compact foundation or foundation stick. These come in cream or cream-to-powder variations, so there's one for most skin types. Check out those by: Aveda, Maybelline, Chanel and Bobbi Brown. They're a great option if you want something you can throw in your bag for touch-ups later in the day. They're also ideal if you just want to add a little even-out coverage to certain parts of your face.
Right, once you've decided which form and formulation is right for you, it's time to hit the shops. Whether you decide to scour a pharmacy, variety shop or department store, there's one common rule — don't trust the lighting. To work out if a product is right for you, you need to look at it on your skin in natural light. This means swiping one or several options on your cheek or jawline (not your hand — the skin and skin tone is too different to that of your face) and going outside for a look. You may feel silly, and it may take a bit more time, but it means you won't make the mistake of buying just another bottle to add to that drawer of only-been-used-once beauty products.
If you have a favourite department store brand, do go and ask for assistance there. Counter staff are trained to perfectly match skin tones — thankfully, we're past the days of a face full of thick, peachy base. The trend is very much for sheer-to-medium foundations that mimic the look of skin, right down to the yellow tone. It's said that more than 90 percent of women have yellow-toned skins, which is why you'll find most companies have updated their foundation ranges to suit this skin spectrum. Some of CLEO's favourite foundation ranges are: MAC, Bobbi Brown, and Chanel. Prescriptives is also foundation central — if you only buy one thing here, it's one of their amazing bases. The crème de la crème: custom-blending, which is a foundation tailor-made to your skin type and skin tone. Now, you can't go wrong with that! |
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