by Cassandra Rae Ferguson

Created on: July 16, 2008

An often underestimated step in makeup application, foundation (or base), is designed to perfect the appearance of your skin, evening out the tone and making it appear flawless.

Foundation plays an important part in makeup application, however many get it wrong time and time again. Some apply too much; others use the incorrect shade or apply it incorrectly. However, choosing & applying foundation can become a very simple process with the right knowledge & tools. Here's how to achieve a flaw-free base.

PERFECT MATCH

When looking to purchase foundations, you need to find one that is in the same tone as your skin. It needs to match perfectly, to avoid looking like a mask. Generally speaking, foundations will either have undertones of pink, or undertones of yellow. If it is too dark or too yellow for your skin tone, it will be more difficult to blend and it will appear mask-like. If it is too light or too pink, it will appear ghostly and make you look washed out. Most cosmetic counters will be able to mix a perfect tone for you. If you cannot find one to match However, you can always mix them yourself to get the desired tone.

Many people with darker-toned skin cannot find a foundation to match their skin tone. They find that the colour is too light and/or too pink-toned, resulting in an ashy' finish. The key is to find a deep, yellow-based foundation, which is not too red or orange. Remember that foundations mixed together can achieve an exact match.

When colour testing at a shopping counter, walking out into the daylight and looking into a mirror outside will give you a more accurate idea of the result, as natural light is always more honest than powered lighting.

Tip: To match a foundation to your skin, test it on your neck and chest, as the chest is where it ultimately has to meet and blend.

APPLICATION

Foundation is not designed to look like a mask, but neither should it feel like one. If it does, there may be too much on your face. It can be applied with your fingers, a sponge, or a brush.

Whatever tool you use to apply base, remember to blend into your neck and hairline to avoid any obvious lines. If you are wearing your hair up or have short hair, blending the foundation toward the back of your neck and behind your ears will avoid any prominent edges. All types of foundation can be applied as sparingly or as heavily as you wish, as long as it is well blended and does not appear or feel like a mask.

Tip: A foundation brush will absorb less product than a sponge,

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