Oily, dry, combination, blemish-prone skin…it’s important when choosing a foundation to select what is right for your skin type. Still, with so many foundations promising to deliver an array of benefits as well as the multitude of formulations from liquid to powder, stick to tinted, it is a wonder how any of us manage to get it right, and that’s before having to wrap our head around selecting the correct shade too!
Well, you’ve asked us for our guidance, and here we are to help! Read on to determine once and for all your perfect foundation match!
UNDERSTAND YOUR SKIN TYPE
This is fundamental when choosing your foundation, as the last thing you want to do is invest in a formulation that is only going to exacerbate your dry skin or pesky pimples.
Oily skin
If your complexion is prone to that 3 pm shine, opt for a matte powder or oil-free liquid foundation and avoid dewy formulas. Mineral foundations work well on oily skin because the dry particles tend to absorb moisture and prevent shine.
You can also try prolonging the wear of your foundation with a primer and then setting it with a translucent lightweight powder.
Dry Skin
If you tend to have dry skin, choose a hydrating liquid foundation. These have a creamy consistency, which delivers moisture to the skin and offers great coverage, too.
Try ELES Mineral Sheer Tint SPF 20 for natural, radiant coverage or ELES Luminous HD Foundation for even more luminosity.
Combination Skin
Avoid powder formulations since they can make dry patches look even dryer, and treat extra oily spots with a mattifying primer before applying your base.
Try: Liquid Powder Mineral Foundation
Sensitive Skin
If you struggle with blemished or sensitive skin, you really need to navigate the ingredients in a foundation. It’s best to avoid skin irritants like alcohol and fragrance, which can be found in many foundations, and opt for a mineral formula every time. These contain no chemical nasties and will allow your skin to breathe freely.
Try ELES Liquid Powder Mineral Foundation or ELES Mineral Powder Foundation
PREP YOUR SKIN
It is important to have clean and well-moisturised skin before trialing foundations; this will stand you in good stead for finding your perfect match!
KNOW YOUR SKIN’S UNDERTONES
You want to choose a foundation shade that has the same undertones as your skin. Either ‘cool’ or ‘warm’. If you have a warm complexion, go with a shade that has yellow undertones; if your complexion is on the cool side, a foundation with a pink undertone will be best.
To tell which undertones your skin has, look at your veins on the back of your arms. People with blue or purplish-looking veins usually have cooler undertones. If your veins, on the other hand, look a greenish color, then you have warm undertones.
FIND YOUR SHADE MATCH
Finding the perfect shade is the single most important part of foundation shopping. The ultimate goal is to find a shade that looks like your own skin but better!
Firstly, select three shades that you think are a close match to your skin color. Forget testing them on your arm and push directly on the face instead, swiping all three side-by-side down your cheek towards your jawline. The shade that seemingly disappears is the one you want!
Make sure you test in good natural lighting.
ADAPT TO THE SEASON
In the winter months, our skin tends to be paler, so you need to adapt your foundation shade accordingly. We recommend having one key shade for spring/summer and another for autumn/winter.
Now go forth and be flawless!
