The Ultimate Guide to Foundation- How to Buy and Five of My Favorite Foundations

Velvet, mousse, powder, BB cream, CC cream - we've heard it all and probably pulled our hair too with dismay! Let's be real, we all have been there, heard that, done that and I am no exception to this. Not until I became a beauty blogger, I had the least knowledge about the multitudinous world of makeup foundations. It took me a few years, four precisely to decode the language of foundations. I now feel pretty confident walking into Sephora and asking for exactly the right formula and type of foundation I need. 
I would like you to be the same and hence I have put together this simple guide that you could cue the next you are in the market for a foundation. 


When to buy a foundation? 
Ideally you should switch your foundation twice a year. Your skin tends to get darker in summers, owed to all that tanning- so your foundation will be a couple shades darker than your normal shade. In winter your skin heals and resumes its normal color. So you definitely need to hit refresh every six months. Always buy foundation during daytime. This way you can walk out the store and test for one closest to your skin tone in broad daylight. 

What are the different types of foundation out there? 

1) Liquid foundation- as the name says these are liquid in consistency. Liquids can be either a velvet finish or a matte finish. Usually they come in a bottle but tube options are also available in the market. It is the most popular type in the foundations category and is suitable for all skin types. 

2) Mousse foundation- it is more like a foundation soufflé: light and fluffy. Creamier in texture, these foundations come in a light to heavier coverage. 

3) Powder foundation - the powder foundation might be easy to carry and apply, but the drier finish makes it most suitable for oily skin types specially. These come in a compact case and can be applied with a puff. These are mostly lightweight in finish. 

4) Stick foundation - this creamy in texture foundation comes in a twistable stick case. The most easiest to use of all the foundations, a stick foundation is convenient to carry and easy to apply. 

5) Mineral powder- this foundation comes in a sifter like case. The most organic in formulation, a little of the mineral powder goes a long way. It tends to get a little messier and hence should be used sparingly. This foundation works best for oily skin types with larger pores. It minimizes the appearance of pores without clogging them. It is popularly used as a touch up, rather than as the base foundation. 

6) BB cream - BB cream stands for 'Beauty Balm' or 'Blemish Balm.' It is made with a relatively creamy formulation and can help even skin tone while moisturizing it and providing just a hint of color. 

What is the right way to apply foundation?

There is no right or wrong way to apply foundation. Some people use foundation brushes, some use beauty blenders and some resort to using their hands to apply foundation. My personal favorite is the foundation brush, no. 47 from Sephora brand. When working with a liquid foundation or stick foundation I use a foundation brush, otherwise a beauty blender gets the most use in my vanity. Hand works best coz the warmth and oil that the hand releases makes the foundation glide easily without any cakiness. 
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I won't lie, I have a bunch of foundation sitting on my vanity. Some of them are gifted, but most of them I bought. I like to switch between my foundation depending on the time of the day and the event type I am attending. For my photoshoots I like to use HD foundations. They have a smooth finish and don't grease easily. Having said that below are my top five favorite foundations of all time.

1) Givenchy Matissime Velvet-  it is a liquid foundation with a velvet finish and SPF20: win win ! This is my go-to foundation for all the photoshoots and evening soirees. It glides on smooth and provides a full coverage. I usually apply it with my beauty blender and use the small foundation brush for slimmer areas like around the nose and inner corner of the eyes. My shade is 07 Mat Ginger.
2) YSL Touche Eclat - another liquid foundation with SPF22, this one is a couple shades darker than my normal shade. I use it during summer for my photoshoots and sometimes under my evening makeup looks. This one provides a medium coverage. My shade is BD60 Warm Amber.

3) Cover FX - this ones more like a tinted moisturizer. It has a light, natural finish and is an oil-free formula. Whenever I need a light coverage, almost like a no-makeuo makeup look, I will reach out for this in a heartbeat. I usually layer my foundation over moisturizer first and then a primer, but with this I can skip the primer and use it directly over my moisturizer. My shade is N60.

4) Anastasia Beverly Hills- this foundation has my heart. This stick foundation has a creamy texture and works best when I am trying to achieve a highly contoured dusky look. The stick applicator makes it easier to apply in between contours. I use a beauty blender to soften this. The only drawback is that you have to work really fast with this foundation as it tends to dry out in seconds. My shade is HONEY.

5) It Cosmetics CC cream - It might be a CC ( color correcting ) cream, but it provides a full coverage and has a very natural finish. Suitable for all skin types, I had no idea this foundation was so popular until my SA at Sephora told me about how fast this one gets sold out. They restock and it gets sold out again and again. It is out of stock now BTW. I like to use this for my evening party looks. It is a cream foundation and has SPF50. My shade is TAN.
What are your favorite foundations to wear and how many do you currently own?
SHOP MY FAVORITE FOUNDATIONS