Foundation Makeup

Foundation

Foundation is an important first step in your daily makeup routine. It turns your face into a blank canvas, making your complexion even and devoid of imperfections. Choosing the right foundation can be tricky, so here are some key questions and answers to bear in mind before making your selections.

This depends on your skin's undertones, which would be cold, warm, or neutral. If you're more likely to get sunburned and your veins appear bluish to deep purple, your skin undertones are probably cold. If you tend to tan easily and your veins appear more greenish, it's likely your skin undertones are warm or neutral. Choose a shade of foundation that falls into the same category as your skin's undertones.

There are exceptions, of course. If your skin is beige, tan, or dark brown, but you have reddish undertones, then you might want more of a brownish-red foundation.

Pressed and loose powder foundations work wonderfully to minimize shininess in oily skin, leaving you with a fresh-faced matte finish that looks airbrushed and flawless. On the other hand, cream and liquid products provide much-needed moisture to dry skin, giving you a youthful, dewy look. Moisturizing liquid foundations are also advisable for normal skin as they tend to leave a satin or satin-matte finish. Liquid and cream products are often sources of SPF 30, which contributes a handy layer of protection from UV rays.

Ceramides are a class of waxy lipids naturally present in your skin. Ceramides, fatty aids, and cholesterol are the building blocks of your skin's moisture barrier. Your skin's moisture barrier controls your skin's hydration levels. Foundations with ceramides replenish your skin's moisture barrier, resulting in supple skin. Moist, supple skin is less likely to develop fine lines.

Stick foundations can be your friend, especially if you lead a busy life or if you're on the road. Stick products provide medium to full coverage, concealing your imperfections at the stroke of a pen. They glide on like liquid and have the weightlessness of light powder. They are about the size of a pen, so they fit into an inner zip pocket of your purse or clutch. They're very convenient for quick touch-ups throughout the day, the evening, or when you're en route to an event.