When you try a sample on yourself, do not try to match your face, but your neck. Generally, the face tends to be lighter than the neck. You need to get the right tone to match your neck and face.
If you cannot find the perfect match for your neck or somehow any colour seems wrong, get two different tones: one slightly lighter and the other slightly darker than you.
With these two tones, you can use the light one as a highlighter and the dark one for shading. Or, you can mix and blend them together to create your original, perfect match.
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Especially during spring and summer, we all get tanned by the sun each time we go out. It may not be noticeable, but you are getting darker every day. Hence, once you bought and created the right tone, don't imagine it will stay right forever.
You need to check that the colour still matches your neck each time you apply foundation.
1) Liquid Foundation and Tinted Moisturiser
For those of you with near-perfect skin and without any particular skin problems, a light-touch liquid foundation or tinted moisturiser may be all you need.
Always use finishing powder for a long lasting effect and for anti-shine.
After applying the foundation (or the tinted moisturiser), put a small amount of powder on a face brush. Lightly brush your face evenly all over. Repeat if necessary.
Under the eyes and around the nose, use the tip of the brush to eliminate shine.
If your skin is on the dry side and needs moisture during the day and night, a rich formula cream foundation works well.
Because cream foundation is heavier than liquid foundation or tinted moisturiser, freckles, spots and uneven, patchy skin areas can be covered more easily.
Use your fingers or a sponge to apply carefully.
Foundation dries very quickly, so be cautious and work quickly to avoid a patchy application.
Do not forget to blend around the facial outline - the temples, beside the ears and around the jaw and chin.
Always use finishing powder.
Cream foundation contains a lot more oil than other products, which means that your face tends to get shiny easily.
To avoid being shiny and greasy looking, the use of plenty of powder is very important. Apply with either a cosmetic puff or a face brush.
Do not be afraid of being caky - matte, smooth faces look good in photographs, especially in black and white.
No matter how old or young you are, wrinkles are your constant companion. Don't be ashamed of wrinkles - find the right solution. If you have wrinkles or oily skin, I recommend powder foundation.
Liquid and cream foundations tend to create crease lines on wrinkles.
Oily skin does not want extra grease.
If you are using powder foundation, it is advisable to use "make-up base".
Because you are applying powder directly to your skin, it needs something to stick to.
Make-up base not only evens the skin surface, but works as glue to fix the powder foundation.
When you buy powder foundation, remember to get make-up base at the same time.
As mentioned before, your skin tone does not stay exactly the same colour all through the year - I therefore recommend that you get translucent powder.
Translucent powder does not contain any particular pigments. You can use it on any skin tone.
Even though the powder looks pale, once applied to your face it will become transparent. This means that you can use it on any skin, from very pale to very dark.
Translucent powder does not affect your highlighting and shading.
If your skin looks dull, you can also use "shimmer powder" to create a pearly effect, which makes your face look bright. This can be effective for a dewy look or for highlights in black and white photography. Because the pigment contains micro pearls, it reflects the light and gives your skin a lovely glow.
It can also be used on the body, if required.
