Foundation comes in all shades and finishes. It is one of the difficult beauty items to choose as there are so many different types out there. A good foundation can often run you upwards of 60$. For the most part, you get what you pay for, but there are hidden gems that work just well as the high-end foundations. You can find these if you know what to look for.
Today I'm sharing 10 qualities of a good foundation that will make you a pro at spotting the best foundations on the market no matter the price.
The most important aspect to consider when choosing a foundation is its formula. The first thing to find out what is your skin type. Based on the composition of the product you'll be able to determine if it will work for your skin needs. The basic formulation of the product will also affect how it will react to the other products you apply on your face (skincare, primer....). There are 4 basic types of formulas to consider: Water-base, Oil base, and Silicone base and Powder. More than the base, you'll want to look at the ingredients used to make the foundation. Are they non-comedogenic? Are they vegan? Do they contain any toxic ingredients? A good rule of thumb, is to look up the foundation on cosmetic ingredients websites, they give a full list of the ingredients in virtually any beauty product you can think of, and rate them on how safe they are for your skin.
Here are some of my favourite resources:
EWG Skin Deep - A handy tool that helps you search up how safe, or irritating a product on the market is for your skin. Simply type in the product and get an instant rating with a simple ingredient breakdown.
Paula’s Choice - Paula Begoun has an extensive beauty ingredient list for those who want much more details about ingredients so you know whats in your cosmetics.
Logical Harmony - Fellow beauty blogger Tashina Combs , shares a complete list of clean beauty products, from cruelty free to vegan and much more!
With endless beauty and makeup products on store shelves, it’s hard to know which ones are worth your buck. Putting together a makeup box kit can be difficult for even the best makeup gurus.
Why? Makeup is an art. It lifts your look and highlights your best features. It takes trial and error to really curate a collection that works for you.
To build the ideal makeup collection, start with the basics. This will ensure that you find the products you need without having to buy so much that you're paying the full makeup kit price. Try to focus on buying products that do it all: hydrate, polish, and provide good coverage.
Regardless of which specific products you choose, here are five things that should be in all makeup sets for women:
1. Primer
It’s can feel impossible to know where to start if you’re new to the world of beauty and makeup. First things first, it’s always best to start with a primer.
What does primer actually do? Primers provide the baseline your skin needs to look even and smooth. Primers allow your foundation, concealer, or eyeshadow to sit well on top of your skin and last longer throughout the day. Different types of primers can target various problem areas and goals, depending on your needs. Primers can be hydrating, blurring, correcting, mattifying, and more. They keep your makeup in place, brighten your face, smooth your skin and add moisture.
Pore-blurring and- minimizing primers, specifically, can do wonders for your skin. They primarily are used in T-zones to reduce oiliness and on your cheeks to minimize the appearance of pores with blurring effects. Correcting primers blur and fix redness. Gripping primers, such as Milk Makeup’s Mini Hydro Grip Primer, are best for holding your makeup if you live in humid or hot location where you may be easily sweating your makeup off.
Primers such as Make Up Forever’s Step 1 Primer Pore Minimizer and Benefit’s Pore Professional are makeup artist favorites.
2. Tinted Moisturizer
Next comes time for some more color and coverage. A tinted moisturizer is a good basic to have in your makeup collection at all times.
Tinted moisturizers provide lightweight but full-face coverage, allowing the skin to breathe and creating a glowy, hydrated look. The liquid formula creates a more natural look for your skin. Use a sponge to tap the product in for a flawless blend and natural finish. Tinted moisturizers that include SPF are always an added bonus.
A tinted moisturizer is the perfect middle ground choice for face coverage as it's not too light and not too heavy. If you want to cover up some problem areas or build-up to create a heavier look, add some concealer.
3. High-Coverage Concealer
Concealers are always a great way to add to your look and give you more coverage. They can also spot treat acne or dark circles or even build them up to act as a foundation if you want more coverage all around.
One trick to lift your face is to add concealer on the inner corners and outer corners of your eyes to give your face a lift. Use a sponge for a smooth blend.
Some guru favorites include Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer, Maybelline Instant Age concealer, and IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Under Eye concealer, just to name a few.
4. Mascara
A little mascara can easily elevate your whole look. Some curl and a lash lift can snatch your whole face, making you look brighter, fresher, and more awake.
To avoid clumpy mascaras, you typically want to find those with thin wands that are made with a lightweight formula. Tubing mascaras are the best. They are made with polymers that coat and cover each individual lash to give you length and drama — and long-lasting wear.
5. Brow Gel
Once you have your base coverage figured out, it's time to move to brows. Eyebrow trends have evolved over the years. We've gone from the thin eyebrows of the 90s to the bold, bushy brows of today. Whatever brow look you're going for, you'll want a good brow gel that will hold your brows in place for the entire day and give them the shape you desire. If you want some added color to make them thicker or fill in gaps, opt for a tinted brow gel.
Altogether, these five products are great key basics for any makeup box kit. To learn more about makeup or in pursuing a career in the beauty industry, get in touch today.