As most of you will probably know by now, when it comes to makeup, I most certainly have expensive taste. I absolutely adore premium brand makeup, but, with that said, I will never turn my nose up at a high street product if it’s got all the qualities I’m looking for. And when it comes to foundation, there are three main things that I keep in mind - shade, coverage and finish.
Foundation is a very personal thing and we each have our own specific idea as to what he perfect foundation looks like. For me, foundation is something I use to enhance my looks and to give me a more flawless finish. In terms of coverage, I prefer a minimal, almost invisible look, and finish-wise, I almost always opt for those that promise a dewy, fresh glow. If you'd like to read more about my foundation and how I apply it, head over to my 'How I Apply My Foundation Ft: Real Techniques Buffing Brush' blog post.
Again, this is a personal preference, and it isn’t right or wrong that I feel this way. That’s the great thing about makeup - there are no limits. We can wear as much or as little as we like and that decision is entirely our own. But how do we decide what works best for us, and what we like the most? Foundation is such an important product and one that many women simply couldn’t be without, so I want to help you lovely lot along he way to finding your perfect foundation with a few simple steps. I hope you enjoy!
1. Work Out What You Want From Your Foundation
This sounds like a really obvious point to make but I think it’s one that so many people don’t even really consider. We all have this terrible habit of reading a good review and just investing straight away, without really knowing whether or not that foundation will look great on us, or it wont compliment our skin at all.
If I were to advise you to do anything, it would be to really think about how you want your foundation to sit on your skin, how you want it to look and maybe even someone’s makeup style that you’d like to emulate. Years ago, I read an article about Michelle Keegan and she was explaining how much she loved the MAC Face and Body foundation - one of MAC’s sheer coverage, water-based foundations. I’d always loved Michelle’s makeup and how fresh she looks, so I went into MAC, tried it and invested.
But perhaps you’re looking for something a little heavier? Thicker foundations with a heavy coverage are great for masking blemishes and disguising imperfections, so if you have concerns about the look of your skin and a couple of marks or areas of pigmentation that you’d like to cover up, something heavier would be a great option.
2. Set a Budget And Stick To It
There’s absolutely no shame in having a budget when it comes to foundation shopping - or any makeup shopping for that matter! We each have different salaries and we can’t all afford to indulge on the most expensive brands, so if you want to save a few pennies, that’s not a problem at all. In fact, if anything, it’s great. There’s a lot to be said for having a makeup bag full of high end products but equally, there are some fabulous alternatives available on the high street and you can most certainly create an expensive look with cheaper products.
Makeup prices vary enormously depending on the brand - some are super affordable at just a few pounds, while others cost over £100 for just one bottle (yep, seriously!). No matter your budget, the best thing I would advise is to do your research. There are tons of fabulous articles online about foundations that sit below a certain budget and most makeup manufacturers now detail specifically what the foundation they are selling offers.
If I were to recommend two budget brands for those looking to keep their spend to a minimum, I’d strongly suggest taking a look at NYX Cosmetics and KIKO Cosmetics. Both of these brands are super high in quality and the range of products is great, too.
3. Think About The Formula You’d Prefer
In the same way that blusher comes in creams, sticks and powders, foundation comes in a whole variety of different forms, which is another reason why people can become so confused when shopping for it.
For me personally, nothing beats a liquid foundation. I’ve only ever used liquid foundations and I’ve just become very comfortable applying liquid formulas. I find liquid easy to blend and I like the finish I get from liquid foundation. As with anything else though, this is my personal opinion and not necessarily the ‘right’ one.
I know many people that swear by powder compacts, some that use creams and a couple of people that love stick foundations. It’s all about what you feel comfortable using and how you want your foundation to look. As a general rule of thumb, I tend to associate stock foundations with a move heavy, solid coverage and powders with a sheer, soft coverage. With that said, there are just so many different products available now, that may not be the case for every foundation product.
What I would say is that if you are big on contouring, sticks are really, really good. If you buy a couple of different shades, you can actually use your foundation sticks to create a really sleek and flawless contour. Bobbi Brown does the most fabulous foundation sticks, and for those on a tighter budget, NYX do a great affordable alternative - the NYX Mineral Foundation Stick.
I really hope you enjoyed this blog post! Foundation is such a fabulous product and it can be used in so many amazing, different ways.
What’s your favourite foundation? Do you have a budget? Let me know in the comments box below. And I’m the meantime, be sure to check out my blog post on why I’m currently using tinted moisturiser rather than foundation in my ‘Why I’ve Stopped Using Foundation’ blog post.
Until next time, lovelies!
Lots of love,
Grace x
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