Gone are the days when you could only choose from three foundation shades — light, medium, dark. With the obsession to look fairer or make your skin lighter dying down, women are embracing their natural skin tones and opting to use foundations that best enhance their features, versus whitewash them. And, brands have caught up with this evolution too; most now provide a whole range of foundation shades (from 6 to as many as 48) to cater to every ethnicity. And this is great news for us desi girls. You can find your fit and create the right base for the rest of your makeup.
The incorrect foundation shade has an ageing effect and can actually make your skin appear dull and grey. Here are some basic rules when choosing a foundation.
Tips To Keep In Mind When Investing In A Foundation
While many brands now allow you to do patch tests on the skin and even have sample sizes for you to experiment with, other checks can be done when you’re deciding which foundation shade to buy.
1. Know Your Undertone
Figure out your skin’s undertone by noticing the veins under your wrists. If your veins look olive, you have a warmer undertone. If they’re more bluish or purple in colour, then your undertone is cool. Choose a shade of foundation which complements your undertone. Warm tones look the best with yellow or peach-based shades and cool tones work well with pink-based colours. If you’re more of a neutral tone, yellow shades should be your choice.
2. Always Patch Test Against Your Jawline
If the store where you’re buying the foundation from provides you with a sample, always remember to do a patch test against your jawline instead of your forearm. Find natural light outside or somewhere inside the store and dab the foundation directly on your jawline. In this way, you can actually see if you can use it to blend your face and neck skin tone seamlessly. Do multiple tests if needed and always experiment with one shade up and one shade down to find a clear winner.
3. Decide On What Type of Coverage You Want
You can choose your foundation depending upon the type of coverage you’re looking for. If you’re looking for light coverage, a tinted moisturiser like a BB or a CC cream would do the job. A medium-coverage foundation is preferred for a more airbrush look. If you have pimples and acne scars, you may want a full coverage foundation. The makeup assistant at the store will be able to help you once you bring this to their attention.
4. Choose A Formula Based On Your Skin Type
If you have dry skin, pick foundations which are liquid-based because they will have a creamier texture which can provide you moisturising benefits. On the other hand, if your skin is oily, go with a powder-based foundation that will help in absorbing the excess shine and provide a matte finish. If you have combination skin, it doesn’t have to get difficult at all since it’s just a matter of being careful when you apply the foundation. However, powder formula is still preferable since it is easier to build up.
Top 5 Makeup Brands That Carry Foundations Suited To Indian Skin Tones
1. Maybelline Fit Me
As the name suggests, Maybelline’s Fit Me is every Indian girl’s fit when it comes to being the perfect affordable foundation. With its range of 18 shades, Maybelline has made a place in every Indian girl’s makeup pouch. The main advantage here is the price point. This foundation can be your best friend if you have oily skin as it promises a poreless matte finish. Here’s a medium-coverage foundation perfect for those natural makeup looks we all swear by.
Price: Rs 299 to Rs 600
2. Nykaa SkinShield Anti-Pollution Matte Foundation
The quality of a product plays a vital role when it comes to cosmetics. This matte foundation by Nykaa packs in a great finish and provides medium coverage. It’s good for everyday wear when you’re travelling and exposed to pollution. You can choose from as many as 15 different shades.
Price: Rs 479 to Rs 799
3. L.A Girl Pro Coverage Illuminating Liquid Foundation
L.A Girl is taking care of all of us with dry skin. They have 16 different shades perfect for your skin type. It is a full-coverage foundation with a lightweight formula which improves the skin’s appearance. You can expect a smooth natural-looking base and this long-wear illuminating foundation which is actually paraben-free. It’s also very hydrating for the skin.
Price: Rs 1250
4. Lakme 9 To 5 Primer + Matte Perfect Cover Foundation
When talking about makeup with desi girls, Lakme will never go unmentioned? Though the very first foundation had only 3 shades, the 9 to 5 range is here with 16. It blends effortlessly giving you a natural finish and the primer in it makes your skin look smooth. With a wide range of undertones, Lakme has something for all of us.
Price: Rs 299 to Rs 600
5. M.A.C Studio Fix Fluid SPF 15
Here’s a premium foundation which is certainly an investment. M.A.C. cosmetics has a luxe foundation range with as many as 48 shades. The Studio Fix foundation with SPF 15 lasts for a full 24 hours, and when tested M.A.C is comfortable for all skin types. A non-acnegenic, oil-free formula makes this foundation non-cakey and a big hit with many makeup lovers!
Price: Rs 2,700 to Rs 2,900
Tips For Flawless Concealer Application
Concealers can do more than just hide your acne and blemishes. If you think concealers are just for your under-eyes then you’re absolutely wrong. You can use them on your collarbone, eyelids and even your back! Here are top tips to keep in mind when using concealers.
1. Always Draw Your Under-Eye Concealer In A Triangle
If you just swipe your concealer right across your under-eyes, instead of concealing it you’re actually defining your eye bags and dark circles more. Therefore, always draw an inverted triangle under your eyes, with the tip pointing towards your cheek.
2. You Can Prime Your Eyelids With A Concealer
You don’t have to spend your bucks on a separate eye shadow primer. Use your concealer to create a base for your eyeshadow without creasing. Just dab a bit of concealer properly on your eyelids before you wear that smokey eye makeup and you’re good to go!
3. You Can Use Concealer On Your Body
You can apply concealer on your chest or back to cover discolouration, patchy skin, and even stretch marks. Dab on a creamy concealer and just set it using a good setting powder. You can continue alternating between the concealer and powder, keeping a five-minute drying time gap between each coat for a good amount of coverage.
4. Load Up Your Makeup Collection With Colour Correcting Formulas
If you’re dealing with discolouration and pigmentation, you should have a have few colour correcting formulas in your makeup pouch. These entirely depend upon your skin tone and the concerns you have. If you have a fairer skin tone, you must look for pale-pink concealers that hide the blue zits on your face, peach colour to neutralise any blue/dark shadows for medium-toned girls, green concealer to neutralise any redness, and lavender to cancel out any yellow spots on your skin.
Celebs & Their Beauty Favourites
Here’s a list of foundation brands used by Bollywood celebs that you might want to experiment with for a flawless base.
- Kavita Das who works for Bhumi Pednekar & Sara Ali Khan swears by foundations from Bobbi Brown’s Long-Wear Weightless Foundation, Armani’s Luminous Skin Liquid Foundation and Kryolan. She further mentions how Armani is well-suited for fairer skin tones, and Armani and Bobbi Brown for medium to dark Indian skin tones.
- Adrian Jacobs, who works for Kriti Sanon and Kiara Advani mentions that he usually mixes two foundation colours together and also swears by Armani’s Luminous Skin Liquid Foundation.
- Shaan Mutthathil, a celebrity makeup artist who works with Jacqueline Fernandez says that his favourite foundation to use is the Estée Lauder’s Double Wear Foundation, which is lightweight and has buildable coverage that lasts through all the heat and humidity.
- Ojas Rajani, another celebrity and bridal makeup artist swears by Fenty Beauty’s Pro Soft Matte Longwear Foundation which is great for Indian skin types thanks to their sweat-proof properties and amazing shade range.
Achieving that perfect base is not that difficult if you just keep a few things in mind. Taking care of your skin is very important too, hence don’t forget to remove your makeup at the end of the day. So no matter how good the foundation looks you don’t want to sleep wearing it.
FAQs – Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Why does my foundation crack?
A. If you’ve not used a moisturiser before applying the foundation it is most likely to start cracking after a few hours of wear. A good base doesn’t start from the foundation but it starts from prepping your skin. Use a moisturiser to suit your skin type and apply a generous amount on your face and neck.
Q. How to get an even tone skin with the help of makeup?
A. If you’re someone with pigmentation on your skin, try using a colour corrector on the pigmented areas. Then cover it with a concealer and blend it seamlessly. After this you can apply your foundation to get that even tone base.
Q. How to apply foundation perfectly?
A. To apply the foundation you can either use a beauty blender or a buffing foundation brush. Take a little on the back of your hand and pick it up with whatever tool you are using. Blend and press it into your skin using upward circular motions. Use a setting powder to seal the look.
