Foundation for Success.... Part 1!

A client of mine has recently been pondering foundations, the best brands, when to use them and for what....I realize it's a bit of a zoo right now, with BB creams and airbrushes, it can seem daunting to pick a product let alone a shade. And it does always seem like we are being sold on something that seems complicated, or too involved for right after we get up in the morning...it's just not fair for a sleepy brain and sleepy hands. So I've decided to do a series on foundations. Go through the top five brands and what product within their line is the best. What products are best to keep in your kit, best left to the pros, or best left in the store.

I. Mineral Makeup

It seems like a few years ago this was all the rage and it's taken a bit of a back seat lately to "HD this" and  "Pro- Line that." But let's step back a moment and consider. When you are at your job, unless your job involves you being in front of a camera, do you need HD makeup? Do you need to wear industry strength product? Not only do you not need to, but it's not very good for your skin. And I say that as one of those pros. Unless I'm getting gussied up for some kind of event, I don't wear that kind of, or level of, product. 

I still reccomend mineral makeup to most people for daily wear. why? 

1. It's pretty harmless as far as your skin is concerned. If you have a lot of sensitivity issues with your skin or in your body that may show itself on your skin--allergies, endocrine disorders/hormonal imbalances, rosacea, acne, eczema, auto-immune disorders (sadly these days, the list goes on and on, I personally fall under three of these categories) then mineral makeup is still really your best and safest bet. 

2. It can help protect against sun damage and burning, as a number of them naturally have SPF due to the inclusion of Zinc Oxide. 

3. Good brands tend to have very few ingredients and if you're an ingredient counter the nicer brands tend to only have 6.

4. Easy to apply. Seriously, swirl, tap, buff. Takes 5 seconds. So simple in the morning. So simple after the gym. Easy to take with you if you wash your face mid-day at work and then re-apply. No air compressor required.

5. A party person's best friend. If you know you party a little too hard on the weekend and wake up 2pm Sunday in the same clothes you wore to that dance party in Willamsburg last night....(I'm not pointing any fingers) then this is your makeup because you can sleep in it and you won't break out badly, well, from the makeup anyway.

6. You can dress it up or down. As nice looking on the experienced artist going out as it is for the beginner just starting to wear makeup. 

7. Perfect for those days when you just have to wear a little makeup to the gym, you can sweat in it and not break out or have it melt down your face. Because we all have those days and that's ok, because you still love yourself and you're still a natural woman, (in fact listening to the song Natural Woman on those days will probably make you feel better.) Also not that you care at all what anyone else thinks, but that one trainer is super attractive....

What (in my opinion) is the brand to buy. 

A bit obvious for this one, but, Bare Minerals. Skip the drug store money saver on this one. Sorry, I'm always one for a good deal, but if you want all the benefits listed above you need to shell out for the high quality brand. Economy brands fill with chalks and talcs which clog the pores and don't allow your skin to breath = cakey appearance & zits. I'll go ahead and be the weirdo who has multiple drug references on her blog and say it's like cocaine. The cheaper it is, the more they've cut it.

What to leave to the pros.

Not anything on this one really. Extremely user friendly. A great product in that regard.

What to leave on the shelf.

ALL THE ADD ONS!!! You do not need a DVD to teach you how to swirl a brush. Have a nice sales associate show you, try it once yourself, and you're golden. Trust me, you're a very smart individual :)

Any large powder brush works well with these. The kabuki brush isn't bad per-say it's just really pricy and it picks up A LOT of product, which if you're a makeup retailer is a good thing. Customers go through product quickly = buy more product = more $$$. But if you are spending you're hard earned cash on a $27 foundation then you want it to last,  so use a powder brush and skip the kabuki. 

The mineral veil. This product is the achilles heel of this line. It shimmers. You've just made your skin look flawless and then they want to put sparkles on it???? N. O. Don't do it. No. Just don't.

What to have in your bathroom, makeup bag:

Skip the "kit," and for daily wear get. 1. One foundation that matches you in the winter.* 2. One blush that compliments you in the winter. 3. "Warmth," the matte bronzer powder. (This you can gradually mix in with your winter color when your skin gets tanner in the summer months. Or gently use like a blush for those winter doldrum days.)  4. A "bisque" concealor. They make five now for a variety of skin tones. 5. A "well rested" for under eye realness. Unless you are one of those perfect people who never ever has dark circles or bags for any reason, and I should also add at this point that I intensely dislike you.... 

* If you feel strongly about it, you can go ahead and do a separate shade for the summer. I personally have found it easier and more cost effective to match my basic undertones and then just add tan in as I need it. But it's your call. 

For a finishing powder I recommend Peter Thomas Roth. His mineral sunscreen sticks are the best for this. They're Matte and have higher SPF too. 

Here endeth the first lesson.

BKBTY