Visage Fashion V: Foundation and Common Misconceptions

Foundation is only necessary when one has acne problems.

Not true. I would say, if you have acne problems, you are better off with a concealer. Foundations help cover many other problems, such as uneven skin tone, visible pores, irritation, shine, etc. In addition, foundations help protect our skin from the every day sun damage, contain vitamins and sometimes light reflecting particles that (among other things) visibly reduce lines and make you look younger.

Foundations harm skin.

Well, maybe it could be true 30 years ago but modern cosmetic items actually contain ingredients that benefit skin. It is just important to use a foundation correctly and not to forget to remove it at night.

Foundations clog pores.

Actually, many modern foundations let your skin breathe freely at the same time protecting it from oxidants and other harmful factors.

Frequent use of foundation speeds up aging.

Again, not true. Lots of foundations can be beneficial to skin thanks to vitamins, oils and other ingredients. It is very important to use them correctly though and cleanse your skin regularly.

All foundations are visible at some point

If this is the case, it simply means that you did not choose the right foundation. Keep searching and try various ways of application (wet or dry sponge, brushes, etc.).

Visage Fashion IV: Foundation FAQs

Should I use any foundation if I have difficult skin and how?

Yes. I believe that foundation is the most beneficial to women with difficult skin because it’s an excellent opportunity to hide the problem areas and look fantastic. But one has to very selective about the products to use and take into account the type of skin, age, cosmetic ingredients, etc. To be short, here is what you use when you have:

Dry skin: moisturizing foundations with creamy textures (usually contains vitamins and other good stuff). Apply a foundation with a wet sponge to assure natural look and flawless coverage.

Mixed skin: the best practice is to use a liquid foundation and some loose powder on problem spots to avoid shine.

Oily skin: preferably liquid foundations without any oils and long lasting foundations. If necessary, apply some loose powder on top to prevent shine.

So, what is the best way to apply a foundation?

If you are using a liquid foundation, it is perfectly ok to apply it with fingers (just make sure that you wash your hands beforehand). Otherwise, use a sponge (wet or dry depending on the result you are trying to achieve). For loose powders use brushes. Here you can find everything about makeup brushes including advice on how to take care of them.

What if my skin is inflamed?

Today there are special antiseptic foundations and concealers for inflamed skin that contain anti-inflammatory ingredients and provide great coverage. When applying such a foundation, forget about sponges or brushes, simply use a cotton ball and throw it away after each application (I know it sounds obvious but amazingly not everyone does).

Is it necessary to use a moisturizer before applying a foundation?

Well, it is obviously not obligatory but if you want to protect your skin and take good care of it, it is strongly recommended by all skin care and makeup specialists to cleanse your skin before every makeup application and use some moisturizer. It is also strongly recommended to thoroughly remove makeup at the end of the day. Modern cosmetic items are far from the ones that our moms used in 50-s and 60-s; they do not only look much better but also often protect our skin from various damaging effects of the environment, such as oxidants, sun damage, etc. But it does not mean that we as consumers are not responsible for the effect of these or any other products on our skin health. If we do not apply them correctly and do not take good care of our skin, no cosmetics will help.

Does a foundation have a shelf life?

Yes! Every cosmetic item has a shelf life. And to my opinion, this is on of the factors that is frequently overlooked by consumers. Most of the times we do not see expiration date of cosmetic products on their boxes, so it is important to know how long these items last. For liquid foundations it is usually 1 year, for the creamy ones it might be up to 2 years but I would certainly not purchase anything that is over 2 years old.

To be continued…
Visage Fashion V: Foundation and Common Misconceptions

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