There are 3 types of people when it comes to foundation. Which one are you?
• The Clueless - who've never really tried foundation
• The Angelic - who've got almost perfect skin are completely blemish-free
• The Converted - who love and wear foundation
The people who ask me this question are always Clueless or Angelic. If the people in the first category had worn foundation before, they wouldn’t be asking the question - they’d fully understand how essential foundation is.
But those in the second group are right to be confused because they don't have a need for foundation, since foundation is used to cover blemishes and even out the skin tone.
Which group are you in? Me? I'm definitely in that last category. I have been a total foundation convert for almost 20 years. I started wearing foundation when I was 10 not because I wanted to be beautiful, but because I had crappy skin. At 12 I started wearing it everyday to school. It wasn't until this year that I finally discovered how to clear up my skin and even now I still use foundation whenever I wear makeup.
Using concealer or foundations etc is not about vanity. Foundation is a basic tool anyone can use to conceal what they don't want themselves or others to see.
Above: Most models are total foundation Converts. Supermodel Cindy Crawford once said, "Even I don't wake up looking like Cindy Crawford."Some models have 'Angelic' skin, but all models will admit that foundation makes a positive difference. Why? Because: Apart from covering specific blemishes, spots, birthmarks or scars, foundation exists because most people‘s faces are more than one colour. For example, it is not unusual for a naturally beige-skinned woman to have flushed cheeks (red), dark circles under the eyes (blue or purple) and patches of hyperpigmentation on her forehead (darker brown). Take a look at your bare face in the mirror. What colours or shades do you see? Chances are, there are more than one.
Above: Before. The inside cover of 'Makeup Makeovers' by makeup artist Robert Jones shows everyday women, his sisters and some professional models before he has applied professional makeup.A patchy or uneven skintone can undermine the effort you put into applying colour cosmetics because it clutters up what could be a clear ‘canvas’. For example, on a bare face, applying even the most gorgeous berry lipstick can be a mistake, as it will draw attention to other areas of redness you may have. And beautifully applied eye makeup can't attract attention to your eyes, if dark under-eye circles or blemishes are taking centre-stage. Beauty is about harmony, simplicity and balance. Foundation is the first step to achieving this in your makeup look.
Above: After. The same women, after professional makeup (and hair, lighting etc).When you choose and apply your best foundation in the right way, you’ll appear healthier, younger and fresher. And it will be obvious to you why foundation is not to be missed.
Are you benefitting from wearing your perfect foundation? What shade best suits your skin tone? What formula will last on you the day? Which format is the best fit for your lifestyle? It's not necessary to go trawling through the testers at your local department store. And there's no point to getting sucked in to buying the most expensive foundation by a salesgirl who's only trying to achieve her sales targets.
So how can discovering your perfect foundation match can be pain-free? And take minutes, instead of years? If you're in Tauranga and are yet to meet your perfect foundation match, come meet me in the mini-salon near Bayfair Mall for a no-charge foundation matching. I'll test a few foundation from the Mary Kay Cosmetics range which I use in all my professional makeup work (Along with many other brands). Mary Kay can only be accessed through their 'beauty consultants'. After a few quick questions, I'll introduce you to your best foundation options. You'll benefit from an experienced makeup artist's opinion that you can use to your advantage e v e r y d a y .
