Have you ever felt like finding the perfect foundation was like looking for a needle in a haystack? Well, you’re definitely not alone because as a makeup artist who works specifically with women over 50, one of the most common questions I get asked is: “How do I find the best foundation for my mature skin?”
And this question is not surprising since the sheer number of foundations that are out there is mind boggling: L’Oreal has 9, Maybelline has 10 and Cover Girl has 13. Luckily there are some key must-know tips and tools I’ll share with you that will save you time and money and help you find the foundation that’s perfect for you.
First, I’ll share some general tips for finding the perfect foundation. Second, we’ll focus on important tips if you’re heading to Sephora, Ulta or a department store makeup counter. And third, we’ll cover must-know tips if you’re purchasing a drugstore foundation.
General Tips
These six tips are questions you need to answer for yourself before you start your foundation search.
Question #1: What Is Your Skin Type? Is It Dry, Oily or a Combination?
Knowing your skin type is crucial because there are many foundations that will work on dry skin, but will leave oily skin looking like an oil slick. And a foundation designed for oily skin will make those of us with dry skin look like we’ve been wandering the desert for a few days.
Question #2: How Much Coverage Do You Want?
If you’re looking to cover up discoloration and age spots, medium coverage will usually work well. If you prefer more coverage, be on the lookout for a full coverage makeup. “Full coverage” used to mean a foundation that looked heavy and mask-like. But thank goodness the days of pancake makeup that barely let our pores breathe is long gone.
Recently, a full coverage foundation came on the market that was amazingly lightweight but also provided remarkable coverage. It’s the Good Apple Foundation from KVD.
Question #3: Do You Want a Foundation with an SPF Included?
Many foundations have an SPF of 15 which is not enough to protect us. However, there are some foundations with sun protection which is much higher. An SPF of 30 blocks about 97% of UVB rays while an SPF of 50 blocks about 98% of UVB rays.
Question #4: What Type of Finish Do You Want – Matte, Natural, Satin or Dewy?
Matte foundations give the skin a shine-free, polished, and velvety look. It’s often preferred by people with oily skin because it helps control shine and can last all day. If you want the look of a natural, semi-matte appearance with a hint of gloss, satin finishes are fantastic.
Natural finish foundations are designed to be breathable, lightweight, and easy to wear. They provide just enough coverage to hide acne scars. Dewy finishes give a vibrant, youthful glow and are great for those of us with dry or dull skin.
Question #5: “What Is the Tone or Shade Depth of Your Skin?
Would you call your skin shade fair, or is it light, medium, dark or deep in color?
Question #6: What’s the Undertone of Your Skin?
This is by far the most important question to address. The undertone is not the shade of your skin on the surface, it’s the color beneath the surface of your skin which can be warm, cool or neutral. The best way to determine the undertone of your skin is to look at the veins on the underside of your wrist and arm.
If they’re decidedly blue, you have a cool undertone. If they’re definitely green, you have a warm undertone, and if they seem somewhere in between, you most likely have a neutral undertone. And if you’re still not sure, be sure to check out the video below which goes through nine ways to determine the undertone of your skin.
It’s not only important to know what your undertone is for your foundation selection, but it’s also crucial in determining what blush and lipstick colors will really make your skin come alive.
Tips for Finding the Best Mid to High End Foundation in a Department Store
Fortunately, most mid to high-end brands mark their foundations with a “C” for Cool, “W” for Warm or “N” for neutral. However, there are two brands that label their foundations in just the opposite way: MAC and Haus Labs.
If you shop for a foundation from either of these brands, NC on the bottle means “not cool,” that is, warm. NW means “not warm,” but cool. I know, it’s crazy and a total mystery why these two brands make it so confusing to find the right foundation in their lines.
In the accompanying video, I demonstrate the best techniques for swatching foundations when you’re in a department store. It’s very important to swatch halfway down your face and neck, not on the back of your hands, the front of your neck or your arms. And two other things are also crucial: first, let the foundation totally dry before making a decision about it. A foundation that’s wet will look lighter because it reflects the light. The shade that’s right for you will literally blend in or disappear into your skin.
Try to narrow your choices down to two shades and cover most of one side of your face with one foundation and most of the other side of your face with the other foundation. This will give you a much better way to judge which is the best foundation for you than just comparing two stripes down the side of your face.
It’s also very important to look at the shades in natural light because store lighting is notoriously bad. Let the associate know that you need to take a look at the shades in natural light and then take a mirror with you to the nearest store windows. Look at the shades close up in the mirror and then also step back because it’s important to take a look at the shades from a distance as well as up close.
If it turns out that you’re really not sure which is the best shade, ask the associate to give you samples to take home with you so you can take your time and check them out at home in natural light. And if you already have one good foundation shade that you love, but you’re looking for a new one, take the shade you love with you to the store so you can compare it to the new shades you’re looking at in the store.
Tips for Finding the Best Drugstore Foundation
It’s well worth taking some time to do a little research first. Head to the website of the brand you’re interested in and read the descriptions of the foundations so you can narrow down your choices. Unfortunately, shade names can often be pretty confusing or generic like “classic ivory” or “pure beige” which don’t give you any hint of the undertone of the shade.
But thankfully, most drugstore online sites now let you filter the shades by the undertone, so you can click on “Warm,” “Cool” or “Neutral” and narrow down the options in that undertone. Or, they may have a shade name like “classic ivory” but provide additional words to describe the shade such as “light cool ivory.” Many sites also have shade finder quizzes or a way to get an instant match if you know a shade in another brand that’s a great match for you. Some sites also offer virtual try-ons if you upload a photo.
There are also two online sites which can help you find the correct shade in another foundation if you already have one shade in a foundation that really looks beautiful on you. The sites are Findation.com and MatchMyMakeup.com.
And two last tips for finding your perfect drugstore foundation are – one: never go by what the color looks like in the bottle since colors can oxidize and the bottle can be frosted which distorts the color. And two, since it’s so very easy to end up with the wrong foundation shade at the drugstore, always shop at a drugstore where you can return foundation shades – even if they’ve been opened.
Stores where foundations can usually be returned include CVS, Wal Mart, Target and Walgreens. However, always call the store first and check because I once went to a Walgreen’s that didn’t take foundation returns. So apparently whether they take returns may sometimes depend on the individual store policy.
I hope these tips will help you find the foundation that looks absolutely perfect on you.
Let’s Have a Conversation:
What is your biggest challenge when looking for a foundation that’s right for you? Have you been able to return opened foundation? To which store?
