Choosing the Perfect Foundation | 5 Top Tips

How to Choose the Right Foundation

Choosing the correct foundation is probably the most important thing to get right when looking at makeup. This is because it will be very noticeable of you get it wrong and it is the base of you makeup and whatever you put on top will look wrong if the foundation isn't right.

I am a bit of a foundation addict and like to try out lots of different ones, last count I think I have 15! So you would think that because I buy them often, I'd get it right. Wrong! I still get foundations wrong if I don't follow the correct steps to getting the right one.

Some of the foundations I own.

I have put together 5 top tips to make it easier for you to get the correct one.

1) Know Your Skin
You need to know what skin type and tone you are to know which foundation to wear.
Do you have dry, normal, oily skin or a mixture? Many makeup brands have foundations for specific skin types so look for the ones in your skin type.

You should also look into the undertone of your skin as this will affect the foundation that will match your skin, is it more pink or more yellow? Or maybe it is neutral. If you are unsure you can always ask a makeup artist at a counter in the drugstore to check it for you.

2) What Do You Want The Foundation To Do?
Unsurprisingly different foundations do different things! So have a think about what you want the foundation for, to mattify skin, to brighten up dull skin, to give a healthy glow?

Also think about the coverage you want - light, medium or full.

3) Do Your Research
Research different products for your skin type and tone. See what other people with similar skin to you recommend.

Don't buy a foundation because you like the packaging or because your friend uses it as it probably wont be any good for you.

4) Colour Matching
I think the worst mistake you could make with foundation is getting one too dark for your skin and looking orange. This is not an attractive look and I think if in doubt go a shade LIGHTER than your skin as once blended out it will look better than a darker foundation would.

I found this video by makeup artist Lisa Eldridge really helpful for colour matching.
Choosing The Right Shade Of Foundation

I also use a website called Findation.com which helps to match foundations to your skin based on other ones that you know do match.

Basically you enter in the brand, product and shade of two or more foundations that you know are right for you (the more you put in the more accurate it will be). It then shows some others in the correct colour for you. This website is great because it has both high end and drugstore foundations and you can input foundations that have been discontinued.

I would highly recommend this website but would still advise you to still go and test the foundation out first before you buy it.

5) Go Outside
Also lighting in shops is really bad because they use florescent lights. Try to go outside when you have the tester on your skin as the natural light gives a better gauge of whether the colour is right.

If you have followed all these steps you should have the perfect foundation for your skin, yay!

Remember throughout the year your skin colour changes, i.e. in the summer it will be more tanned so you may need a slightly different shade on the hotter months.

I hope all of these tips have helped, thanks for reading!

Love Hannah xoxo

Instagram: hannah_price93