10 Tips For Picking Foundation

Yesterday I realized I was one pump away from being out of foundation. Completely out. Since foundation is a necessary part of my makeup routine, I was at first annoyed that I hadn’t noticed this sooner. But then I realized that somewhere about 3/4 of the way through this brand of foundation, I really didn’t like it anymore at all. Something about it was just a bit too heavy, didn’t go on smoothly and the color wasn’t quite “right” anymore. Annoying, yes…but this also meant I had the perfect chance to find something new.

Image: sxc.hu

Here are the ten things I recommend you keep in mind when you’re shopping for new foundation -

1. Know your skin type. If you have dry skin, opt for maybe a tinted moisturizer. If you’re dealing with acne, a heavier foundation is probably a good choice.

2. Know your budget. You can spend a lot of money on makeup. It’s best to find the right type of makeup for your skin…and your wallet. There’s no use spending lots of money on a bad choice if you could have spent a little more time testing out economical foundations.

3. Ask your friends. Everyone has an opinion about makeup. See what your friends have tried, what they liked and what they didn’t like. You may not always agree, but at least you will have a little anecdotal research for your final decision.

4. Think about the seasons. Right now I have that pasty glow of winter coming to an end. I’m fair, but I know that once summer comes around my skin will be a few shades darker from all that walking to/from work. However, buying makeup for what my skin will look like is a bad decision. Find the right shade now and err on the side of lighter than darker.

5. Say no to oil. Is there anyone out there that actually uses products that contain oil? Maybe it’s just my pimple prone skin that’s causing me to think this is a definite no-no, but I just can’t see a reason to ever go near something that didn’t prominently say “oil free”.

6. Use your hands. The back of your hand is the best area for testing foundation when you’re in the store. Consider how it looks and what it feels like before deciding if you have a top contender.

7. Be adventurous. I know you have a favorite brand. I do too! But sometimes that brand that does every single thing right…does foundation wrong. So don’t feel like you have to have a whole counter full of “the same”…you need to find the right type of foundation for you, not the right brand.

8. Ask for help. There is a reason stores have a staff waiting to help you. Yes…partially to convince you that more products are necessary…but also because these are the people armed with information about all the products in the store. If you’re ready for something new and don’t know where to start, your best bet is to start by talking to a rep before making any assumptions.

9. Resist packaging. It’s pretty…it promises all the right things…and it’s totally wrong for your skin. Don’t be swayed by packaging. It’s not the “pretty” label that will make your skin look beautiful and flawless. It’s the product.

10. Bring it back. If you made a bad choice and the foundation isn’t what you thought it was, bring it back to the store. You should always chose stores like Sephora for these kinds of purchases, since they will let you return semi-used products for a refund or exchange. Then…start at tip #1 to begin your search for new foundation again.