The purpose of foundation makeup is to even out the texture and color of the skin while also covering slight imperfections.  There are quite a few different types of foundation available that are used for different purposes.

Foundation can be used to both moisturize and balance the skin, some will also have properties added to brighten the skin or protect from UV rays.  Some of the most common types of makeup foundation available are matte, light reflecting, and pore reducing.

Foundation makeup can be bought in a variety of concentrates that can vary from a light moisturizing cream, usually in liquid form, to a heavier consistency commonly found in block or stick foundation.

The range of shades available is ever increasing but most people will benefit most from a blend of their own.  To create your own blend of foundation you will need to purchase about three different shades of foundation, for this purpose you should use foundation creams as they are thicker than the liquid variety and provide better cover while also being much easier to blend.

When choosing your three shades you should follow these simple guidelines:

• Your first shade (base) should be an exact match for your skin type.  An exact match should disappear into your skin on application.  You should test this on your cheek rather than your wrist (as commonly thought) as the skin coloring can vary greatly on these areas.
• Your second shade should be one or two tones lighter than your base shade; this will be used when you want to lighten your blend.  Simply choose the tone that is lower than the one you chose for your base.  This tone will not disappear on the skin but will rather give a slight lightening to the skin; it should not be too noticeable.
• The last shade you choose will be one or two shades darker than your base shade.  This will be used to darken your personal blend.

The reason three tones or shades should be kept is because our skin tones can change over time and can depend on outside elements such as being exposed to the sun or cold weather.  Our hormones can also have an effect on not only the condition of our skin but the appearance and tone.

When you have selected your three shades of foundation makeup you will have a variety of shades to work with that are all closely suited to your natural skin tone.  You can now mix the tones as required to find a good match for your skin.

Tip: do not blend a large quantity of your own blend as skin tone can change and the blend you make today may not match your skin in a months time, for this reason, blend your tone in advance of when you will need it (to give adequate time to test it out) but never blend more than you will need for a week or two.  With practice you will be able to make a good blend with very little effort.  The more you do this the more adept you will become at it.  Although you should remember, even your own blend should still disappear into the skin.

Applying Foundation Makeup

You will achieve the best results from your foundation by using an application sponge, depending on the coverage needed you can use a dry sponge (gives a heavier cover) or a slightly dampened sponge for a lighter cover.

Foundation should be applied from the center of the face outwards, blending towards the outside, this way there is less foundation on the sponge as you blend giving a more natural tone and making blending easier.

A small amount of foundation can also be applied to the eyelids provided it is not a very heavy blend, this helps to create a base for the other eye makeup you will be applying later and helps to make your eye shadow stay on longer. The same technique can be applied to the lips but only if you intend to wear a brighter shade of lipstick to avoid making the lip color dull.

Tip: for everyday wear it can be useful to blend a small amount of your usual foundation with your regular moisturizer; this gives a light tinted cover with the benefit of keeping your skin hydrated.

Foundation makeup should always be applied in natural light whenever possible.