Foundation: How To Achieve Flawless Skin

The main purpose of foundation is to even out skin texture, balance and enhance colour and, disguise any minor blemishes or imperfections. Many foundations also incorporate a sunscreen (SPF) to protect skin from harmful UV rays while still providing a smooth finish for the base of your make-up.
The right foundation is the most important product in your make-up regime as the depth, tone and colour can all affect further products used.
From pore reducing to light reflecting, moisturising to photographic, the range is extensive and can be overwhelming for even the most advanced beauty addict.  
Following my useful hints and tips will make sure that you find the perfect product for you.

Choosing a foundation to match skin colour and tone.
It is important to select the perfect match when choosing your foundation but you should be aware of various tones that occur naturally in the skin by pigmentation in the epidermis (the outer, protective, nonvascular layer of the skin). A simple tip to remember is that skin is divided into three categories:
 Light
 Medium (containing neutral, pink or blue tones)
 Dark
You don't want your base to look fake with an orange tinge or be too pale that it gives a ghost like dull affect. It shouldn't be too heavy or artificial and should be so perfectly matched to your skin tone and texture that it disappears to create a smooth, flawless canvas. 

Finding the perfect foundation for you can take a lot of time, money and patience. A great tip is to pop along to your local cosmetics counter and ask a beauty consultant for a colour match which best suits your skin tone. If, however, you are anything like me and prefer to find what best works for you without the influence of a pushy consultant, test a small amount of foundation on your jaw line. If the colour becomes darker or has an orange tone, opt for a paler or slightly cooler shade instead. You may also want to take into consideration that hair dye can alter the skins colour and tone drastically. What may have worked for you as a brunette may not necessarily have the same affect as a red head.



Foundation application
I always start my make-up application with a good cleansing routine. If like me your subject to dry dehydrated skin, opt for a cream foundation and make sure you moisturise thoroughly prior to applying your base.
Foundation is best applied with a clean sponge or flat brush. To achieve a slightly thinner, more natural look I personally like to use a damp sponge but this is down to personal preference and your desired look. Dampening your sponge however is ideal for blending foundation into your hairline but can leave streaks so take extra care to blend thoroughly. If you require a heavier coverage this can easily be achieved by opting for a dry latex sponge which are often less expensive and provide a smoother finish.

Blending

Foundation should always be blended from the centre of the face to the hairline. This prevents clogging and allows you to achieve a more polished finish. 

Always remember to cover the eye and lip area. This will provide a good base for your cosmetics to sit and allow them to last a lot longer.

A great tip when applying foundation to more mature skin is to consider adding a little moisturiser. This thins out the foundation and helps to prevent any creases which may sit in the crepey skin around the neck and eyes.

Always remember to check your final application around the nose, hair and jaw line. This will ensure that a smooth finish has been achieved and that there are no visible lines.