How do you pick the best foundation for your skin? Because there are so many colours and formulas to select from, finding a foundation that meets your skin's needs may be tough. It's also the most difficult product to deal with because it all depends on how you choose your shade and apply it; it may either give you a beautiful, perfect complexion or have the exact opposite effect if done incorrectly. You will find the ideal one with a little study and an awareness of your skin, without looking like you are wearing a mask. Your foundation has only one job and that is to make your skin look its finest. Finding the right foundation should be your current quest if you are yearning to have that seemingly natural perfection, and we have got some extremely simple tips to battle this problem faced by all of us.

1- Knowing your skin type is essential

This is likely the most important step in determining the best foundation formula. To choose a formula that will work best for you, you must first understand your skin's needs and issues. Is it better to go matte or dewy? Before swatching foundation colours, ask yourself this question. This is why it is important to know your skin type before picking a foundation. For example, Dewy foundations perform best on normal to dry skin types. On this skin type, too much brightness makes it look even oilier, and it gives the face a bad feeling. Whereas, matte foundations are best for people with combination to oily skin. In the same way, on older skin, a satin finish rather than a matte finish is ideal as more mature skin can get away with matte, but matte foundations, like dewy skin, can exaggerate defects and wrinkles since the skin has no dimension. Let’s make this simpler by breaking down and understanding different foundation types and finishes for each skin type.

Not sure what your skin type is? Take the skin test here.

I. Oily Skin

If you have oily skin, opt for a powder foundation or an oil-free liquid foundation. These contain oil-absorbing powders that provide you with a smooth, matte look. Mineral foundations are particularly good for oily skin since the dry particles absorb moisture and keep the skin from shining.

You can try: The Asa Powder Foundation provides your skin with a dose of vitamins. This product, which is rich in vitamins A, C, D, and E, not only provides excellent coverage but also absorbs excess oil while leaving your skin delightfully hydrated. It Is available in multiple shades for you to choose from.

II. Dry Skin

Choose a moisturising powder foundation, a liquid foundation, or a stick foundation if you have dry skin. These have a creamy texture that moisturises the skin and provides excellent coverage.

You can try: The Ilana Organics Soft Blur Cream Concealer + Foundation is incredibly moisturising and easy to use, providing you with a dewy, beautiful base.

III. Combination Skin

You are stuck with the worst of both worlds if your skin is oily in some places and dry in others. What foundation should you use if you have mixed skin? Avoid foundations that are meant to be emollient or oil-rich by mixing and matching products.

You can try: Ruby's Organics Skin-Tint Mattifying Foundation. This mattifying foundation not only looks and feels like natural, perfect skin, but it also helps to condition the texture and hydrate the face from the inside out. This one-of-a-kind product adapts to a wide range of skin tones while remaining undetectable. The Coco Caprylate infused in it hydrates the skin without making it feel heavy and greasy.

IV. Sensitive Skin

If you have acne-prone or sensitive skin, here is how to pick the proper foundation tone. It is recommended to stay away from chemicals like alcohol and fragrance that can irritate your skin. Mineral oil and talc are also a big no.

You can try: Just Herbs Skin Tint an Ayurvedic BB Cream that gives you a dewy, 'no-makeup' look. It hydrates your skin while also providing light coverage to hide flaws including fine lines, blemishes, and pores for a flawless appearance. This will not clog pores as it is lightweight.

2- Matching the shade to your skin tone

Swatching foundations on your forearm is easy, but the skin on this part of your body is much darker than the skin on your face. To see if the shades you are considering are perfect for you, apply them to your face and neck. It does not have to be an exact match, but it should be a shade lighter than the original because the colour will change over the day. As a result of the environment and oils on your face, foundation oxidises and darkens with time. You might also play around with different hues on your face. Apply some and go take a stroll, shop, or even look through Instagram for a while to watch how quickly or how much it oxidises, which will help you choose the correct shade. One thing to keep in mind while testing foundations is to do so in natural light.

Pro tip: Use a shade that is one shade lighter than your face if your neck is lighter than your face and you do not want your face to look as pale. (Bronzer can be used to warm up the face if your complexion is still light.) It will not be too light or too warm for your neck this way.

3- Identify your undertone

If you do not want to colour correct, do not go against your skin's natural undertones. Choose a foundation with yellow undertones if you have a warm complexion, and a foundation with pink undertones if you have a cool complexion.

How to identify your undertone?

It’s simple! Consider how golden (yellow toned) or rosy (pink-toned) your skin appears while you are bare-faced. If it is golden, you have a warm undertone; if it is rosy, you have a cold undertone. You have a neutral undertone if it's a mix of the two. Another technique to tell whether you are cool-toned is to look at the colour of your veins. If they are deep purple or bluish, you are probably cool-toned and you are warm-toned if your veins seem greenish.

4- Pick the finish you desire

The shine that a foundation product leaves on your skin is referred to as a finish. There are dewy, matte, semi-matte, and luminising finishes to choose from, each of which is lovely in its way. However, determining which one is best for you is a matter of personal preference. To be able to pull off any finish also depends on your skin type. But two of the most simple finishes are:

A. Matte Finish

If you have oily or mixed skin, this is ideal. With a poreless finish, the matte finish foundation will make you look simply flawless. You can achieve a lovely silky, powdered finish without feeling weighed down if you do it correctly. Ruby's Organics Skin-Tint Mattifying Foundation is ideal for a matte finish.

B. Dewy Finish

Keep the rest of your makeup simple if you want to go for a dewy foundation: apply a modest pigmented, non-shimmer eyeshadow and forego the high-shine lipstick. Instead, opt for a matte lipstick. You do not want a lot of sheen and shimmer because it will make your skin look oily. This works best for dry skin types as it helps hold moisture and makes your base seem healthy instead of cakey. The Just Herbs Skin Tint is a perfect fit for that dewy base you are looking for.

Some tips for a dewy finish:

• Mix any powder or matte foundation with a moisturising serum like the House Of Beauty Hyaluronic Serum or a face oil like the Ras Luxury Oils Radiance Beauty Boosting Day Face Elixir. This will keep you hydrated while also giving you a dewy appearance.

• Another pro tip is to prep your base with a strobe cream or mix your moisturiser with a liquid highlighter to get a get glass-like skin like the Ilana Celesital Pop Cream Highlighter with natural ingredients like Aloe Vera and Glycerin that make your skin look like glass.

5- Testing before you buy is crucial

Do not just walk into a store and make a buy without first trying things out. And we can not emphasise this enough: do not colour test on your hand! It does not have the same tone as your skin. Instead, sample the colour along the side of your jawline for a perfect match. Choose a couple of hues that appear to be the most similar to your skin tone and test them out by dabbing swatches on your jawline rather than your hand to achieve the most natural-looking colour. If you do end up testing on your hand or getting something without testing, chances are you will either look far lighter or darker than your skin putting all your money down in vain!

To know more about choosing the right foundation for the right undertone watch our Youtube video below

Now that you have gotten a good concept of how to pick the best foundation, it is time to put it all together and flaunt it!

-Nishita Tahalramani