Beauty Duty

WRITERS, BLOGGERS, PROS AND PEEPS WHO KNOW THEIR BEAUTY STUFF

The Ultimate Foundation Shopping Guide

Tue, 9 March 2010 11:16AM

Last week, as I used about five different cotton buds to scrape out the remnants of my foundation, it occurred to me that I was going to have to bite the bullet and buy a new foundation. I wasn’t totally happy with my old one so I guess it came at a good time but the very idea of going shopping for one and testing them all out made my head hurt.

So I devised my own little plan to make the process less painful and you know what? It worked. I know, I know, I obviously have way to much time on my hands but my lack of busy benefits you, Primpers, so read on for my shopping guide to buying the best foundation you have ever had. Ever.

Plan
Before you even hit the shops, sit down and think. And plan. Make lists even. How often will you be wearing it? Daily? Just at night? Will you be in an air conditioned office all day? If so, you’ll want something that can help keep your skin hydrated. Outdoors in the sun while you wear it? Look for one with an added SPF. Do you want sheer coverage? Or fuller? Love the look of dewy skin but hate the matte look? That’s a big fat no to any powdered foundations. Also think about your skin type!

It might sound boring, but it’s going to save you a lot of hassle. There are so many foundations out, if you don’t know what you’re after how are you ever going to be happy with whatever it is the sales assistant pressured you into buying?

Research
Another slightly boring step, but yet again, one that will save you in the end. Now you know what you’re after, browse around the interwebs. Hit up beauty sites and forums with the key words of what you are after and check out Primped’s Product Finder. Look up the websites of your favourite brands and see if they have anything that fits the bill.

Try to have a finalised list of a few choices from different brands. The next step is the fun one.

Try
Instead of wandering aimlessly in the glaring department store light, drifting from one shiny brand to the next with a confused frown on your face, you’ve planned this. Hurrah! Now you can go test out your chosen foundations and through a process of elimination, you will have your perfection in a bottle. Or compact.

There are a few things to remember at this stage:
1. Go foundation shopping bare faced. It’s just so much easier than having to worry about how good their makeup remover is and you’ll be able to tell if it’s the correct shade
2. No matter what, DO NOT buy on the spot. Go outside. Yes, in the sun. Shop lighting is horrific and you will really have no idea what the correct colour is. You must check it in natural light.
3. When testing out shades, don’t use the back of your hand. It’s not the same skin that’s on your face so it’s useless. You need to test them out on the side of your face. The winner is the one that is invisible on your skin.

To make the choice even more easier, Primped recommends you give these a shot:
Estee Lauder Double Wear Stay-in-Place Makeup SPF 10, $68, Clinique Superbalanced Makeup, $48, Revlon PhotoReady Makeup, $36.95 and Lancome Color Ideal, $72.