Choosing Quality Foundation for Flawless Skin
If there's one thing you should know about me when it comes to makeup, it's that I love the look of flawless skin.
While I take pride in holding a fairly decent skincare regime, I know that my skin isn't perfect. However, I've learned that using a combination of different makeup products can easily mask that fact. One of the most important makeup products to achieving a flawless-looking complexion is foundation.
Foundation is something that I used to say for a long time was something that you didn't need to splurge on. However, over the years, I've learned that choosing a nice, quality foundation is not only beneficial to your skin in the long term, but it really makes a difference in photos and in real life.
"Quality foundation" seems like a very vague term, and trust me, I know that instinctual eye roll that comes with reading that phrase. But here are the things that, for me, make a foundation high "quality":
Consistency - Even your most high-coverage foundation shouldn't feel heavy or sticky. High quality foundations are smooth, soft, and almost water-like.
Breathability - This goes along with consistency. If your foundation makes you feel like you can't move your face or just feels heavy on your skin, it's probably going to clog your pores. Quality foundations are typically oil-free, sulfate-free, and silicone-free.In a makeup certification class, I learned that you should always be able to see your skin through your foundation. This means that your foundation, even if it's high-coverage, should blend into your skin seamlessly...not just sit on top of it.
Color - Cheap, low-quality foundations oxidize. This basically means that as the foundation wears throughout the day and is exposed to oxygen, it changes (usually in color).
Application - If you can't apply it easily with your fingers or a Beauty Blender, just throw it away. Foundation application should be quick and easy. If your foundation is dripping and sticking all over the place and not blending, then it's not the right one for you.
Wearability - Your foundation should last at least 3 hours without having to be set with a powder or spray. It shouldn't move or wear off easily. Quality foundations stay on your skin and really make a difference in wear time.
Those are the credentials I usually follow when it comes to separating high and low quality foundations. Sadly, most of the high quality foundations do come with a little bit higher of a price tag, but in the long run, using less of your expensive, quality foundation makes more sense economically than using more of your cheap foundation to constantly be touching up throughout the day. Plus, once you wear a really nice foundation, you'll see the difference and you'll feel that much more confident and beautiful.
Personally, my all-time favorite is one that my sister got me hooked on: Estée Lauder Double Wear. This foundation has become my ride-or-die over the past few months. I have two shades I usually wear. The first one is 1W2 Sand, and the second is 4N2 Spiced Sand for when I'm tan or have faux tan on. They mix together beautifully if I'm between shades.
This foundation is about $40, which may seem expensive for some, but it is entirely worth it. I don't have to set the foundation at all, but if I do feel like using a setting powder, it just makes it look even more seamless. The foundation has an almost matte finish, but you can easily make it dewy with the help of other products or techniques, such as mixing in an illuminating primer with the foundation.
Other quality foundations I recommend are: Chanel Perfection Lumiere Velvet, Kevyn Aucoin Sensual Skin Fluid, NARS Sheer Glow, and Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk.
If you have questions or need any more recommendations, feel free to contact me!
