Makeup Monday: Choosing the Right Concealer, Foundation and Powder for Your Skin Tone

We've all been there, standing in the cosmetics aisle with the daunting task of trying purchase new makeup. It's Christmas time so you want to add a little color to your face but the wrong blush, lipstick, or eyeshadow can leave you looking like a holiday clown. Not to mention what the wrong shade of foundation can do; umpaloompa anyone?  With a few pointers from this blog you will whiz through the cosmetics aisle like a champ. 

Let's start with the basics:

Foundation:

One thing to remember is that the right shade and best foundation for you will dissapear on your face. It will hide imperfections and even out your skin tone without sinking into your wrinkles and pores. It will be virtually invisible and look as though you have no makeup on. 

If you can afford to purchase foundation at a department store then do so. They will be able to match your skin tone perfectly. If you are a drugstore girl like me there are a few things you can do to make the process a little easier. First, always try the foundation on clean skin. If your store doesn't have samplers then buy a few bottles and you can return the ones that don't match. The best shade for you is one that disappears on your face. To test, apply a stroke of up to three colors on a cheek or even better, the jawline. Always go outside to see how it looks in natural light. That will be the true test and if it blends in you are good to go. My personal choice for foundation is Neutrogenas healthy skin enhancer in ivory to fair.

Concealer:

They conceal dark spots and those horrid little visitors we all get, pimples. 

They change the color of the dark spot or pimple into a tone that is closer to yours therefor concealing it. There are generally three types of concealers, thick, thin, and liquid.  Thick concealers will provide full coverage for severe discolorations but the downside is that they can look cakey and settle into fine lines and wrinkles, especially under the eyes. Lightweight concealers will hide flaws and are less likely to build up on the skin making wrinkles and fine lines look worse than they really are. Lightweight concealers are ideal for the under eye area where there is typically a lot of movement. Liquid concealers provide the least coverage and should only be used on light imperfections. When choosing your concealer the right shade makes all the difference. The right concealer for you should be one to two shades lighter than your foundation. If you are someone who prefers not to wear makeup follow the same rule but look for a shade that is one to two shades lighter than your skin tone. If you suffer from under eye circles the best way to choose a color is to test it on the back of your wrist. If the concealer covers up your veins it will most likely cover up those dark circles. When applying concealer use a brush or your fingertips. If you use your fingertip pat, don't rub. Rubbing the skin can be damaging and you will end up rubbing away the foundation underneath. Always start with a small amount and layer as needed. The last step is to top it off with a dusting of powder. My personal choice for concealer is Neutrogenas skin clearing concealer. 

Powder:

Powder is the finishing touch to a beautifully made up face. It acts as a sealant for your foundation and concealer. Generally, there are two types of powder; presses or loose. Loose powder can be applied with a powder puff or powder brush and gives the skin a light refined, porcelain appearance. 

Pressed powder is the easiest to travel with. It can be bought in portable compacts that can be popped in your purse when your on the go. Pressed powder provides more coverage than loose and gives the skin a matte finish. 

Wether you go with pressed or loose is up to you but be sure you choose the right color, otherwise your face will end up looking like someone smudged dirt all over it. For a natural and flawless finish, select colors that match your skin tone or foundation as closely as possible. Be sure to wear your foundation to the department store or before you test that drugstore powder. That way you can match the color as closely as possible. Once you have applied your powder test it in good lighting, or step outside in natural light to see if your choice was the right one. Look for a color that blends with your skin, rather than sitting on top of it.  Some women swear by translucent powder but I find it leaves the skin looking pasty.  The best thing you can do when shopping for either foundation, concealer, or powder is to bring a friend. They can help you choose the best shade for your skin tone. My personal choice for powder is cover girls clean pressed power in classic ivory. 

I hope this post was helpful to all of you women out there who find it difficult to match your skin tone with the perfect makeup. Tune in for the next makeup Monday when I will be advising you on how to choose the right eyeshadow, blush, and lipstick based on your skin tone and eye color. Until then I hope everyone has a fabulous week.