There are many options for foundation. It really depends on what coverage you’re looking for or what you’re trying to cover up. Most foundations now don’t “cover up” your natural beauty, but make it shine through. Thank god, because old foundation formulas were like a mask; I’m happy we're out of that trend.

First off, before you delve into the world of foundation you need to figure out what color works best with your skin tone. I’m probably sure you heard it all before, but narrow down the three closest matches to your skin color. Now take those three and put a tiny stripe on your jaw line to see which ones matches exactly and disappears into your skin. To make an accurate decision, go outside in natural daylight and check your skin there. It’s the best light for doing any type of makeup. Now I know we are not born with perfect skin, so if you have redness or uneven skin tone it’s a tad bit harder to match your complexion to a foundation. Your neck may be a whole different color then your face; I find the best solution for that problem is to choose a color that falls in-between the shade of your neck and face. Then you cover your jaw and feather it down your neck (or even lower if you’re wearing a low cut top). The worst is having 2 distinct colors showing on your face and chest.

Follow up:

Liquid Foundation: This foundation is best for all skin types and it’s the classic go-to foundation. Most liquid foundations nowadays feel light and cover minor imperfections (scars, redness). You can build coverage by letting the first layer set for a minute and adding another layer where you need more coverage, or lighten the coverage by dampening a sponge. This foundation is available in oil-free, hydrating, firming and so many new formulas that are created daily it seems.

Tinted Moisturizer: This foundation is best for normal to dry skin that contains barely any flaws. I know those people are out there because I'm envious of their skin. Tinted moisturizer contains barely any color and adds a barely there layer of coverage. They are more of an aid in moisturizing and slightly help by evening out skin tone. Most now contain a SPF so you can skip that extra step in the morning.

Cream Foundation: This foundation works best with dry or older skin. The pigments in cream foundations last longer and don’t sink into pores as quickly. They have been perfecting the cream formula so it doesn’t feel heavy or cakey anymore. They have now cream to powder formulas and cream sticks. Most cream foundations are oil based so they help cover dry patches better than most foundations.

Aerosol Spray Foundations: This foundation is great if you need extra coverage with tons of staying power. It’s a take on air brushing used by makeup artists. The foundation gives you a flawless crease-free coverage that lasts all day by misting your face and blending with a sponge, or spraying the sponge first and blending afterwards. This method is easy to control and gives you options for different amounts of coverage you can achieve.

Mineral Powder Foundation: This foundation is perfect for sensitive skin like mine. Mineral foundation is a full coverage foundation, but feels barely there. It’s great because it contains no chemicals or dyes, the minerals are all from the earth such as zinc or iron oxides, so it helps with problem skin. I used to apply using a kabuki brush, but I find for even more coverage it’s great to use a flocked sponge - just make sure to wash it regularly.

I’m sure there are many types of foundation I didn’t cover, but these are the main ones and they get the job done. Next I'll write about prepping your face. If you have any questions just leave a comment and I'll get back to you. This information was taken from my classes at makeup school.