Razzle Dazzle Foundation: The Art of Make-Up Application

Not every woman feels the need for foundation as part of her make-up routine. Those who are blessed with a naturally even skin tone, for instance, may prefer to skip right to the powder and continue from there. The art of applying make-up without foundation is usually practiced when the goal is to project a more natural appearance. However, when a more glamorous look is the target, foundation can definitely provide the base for a flawless face.

The trick to applying make-up is not applying as little as possible - it's applying as much as needed without the caked on appearance. Applying the right foundation correctly can enhance even the most impeccable complexion. Since there are so many textures of foundation to choose from, you may become overwhelmed when trying to decide which you should buy. I have found that soft, matte foundations work best with my skin. They don't dry up on my skin like a mud mask, so it's not a distraction.

I have noted that generally speaking, women with dry skin tend to gravitate toward water-based foundations, while those with oily skin choose drier foundations. However, choosing the texture of a foundation is totally a matter of preference and usually a trial-and-error process.

Creme-to-Powder foundations have become extremely popular because they cut out the intermediary, providing both foundation and powder in one. I'm a little old fashioned in that area because I would rather apply the foundation and then apply the powder on top. I like being able to actually see the transition from an unmade face, to a face with foundation, to a powdered face, and so on. The result is astonishing!

One thing to keep in mind when deciding to purchase a creme-to-powder foundation is that you have a smaller margin of error when picking out the color that most closely resembles your own. Although I try to find the color foundation that is closest to my skin tone (using the back of my hand as a point of reference), I will settle on a color that is just slightly darker than my own, knowing that my powder shade will brighten my face to my natural skin tone blending the color on my face with the color on my neck.