Thursday, December 10, 2009

Foundation Nation

Let me start off by saying that your face and neck will always be lighter than the rest of your body. It does not matter if you fake and bake or spray tan, they will always be lighter. I understand that it's not attractive if your face resembles Casper the friendly ghost and your body looks like you have spent a month on the beaches of Cabo, however, there are ways to handle this situation properly.

ALWAYS match your foundation to the skin tone on your face. I do not recommend purchasing a foundation that you can't try on before you buy it. To know if it is the correct foundation for you, you need to be able to see what it looks like on your skin, feel the texture to see if you like it, and make sure it is the appropriate coverage for you. Foundation is one makeup item you should not mind splurging on. (OK, So I splurge on every type of makeup, but if I could only splurge on one, foundation would be it.) Going to a professional makeup counter is a great idea because the artists that work there are familiar with how to match a foundation and they can explain their products in detail. ALWAYS have them apply it for you and DO NOT buy it right then. Wear it for the rest of the day. Walk outside, and look at your face in the sun light. Double check to make sure it is the right shade, and make sure it lasts through your daily activities. Ask for a sample (they should always give you at least a small one.) and use that sample for a day or two. If you like it, then go back and purchase it.

If you need to darken your face and neck to match your body, use a bronzer. Apply your foundation as you normally would, follow with a light powder such as a blot powder to set the foundation. Then follow with a pressed, MATTE bronzer. (I love Matte Bronze by MAC) If you do not apply a light powder between the bronzer and your foundation, the bronzer will "stick" to the foundation in certain spots and look uneven. You can apply as many coats of bronzer as necessary to bring your face up to the appropriate shade. Avoid using bronzers with shimmer in them. You do not need your entire face and neck covered in shimmer. Gross. Shimmer should only be used to highlight certain areas. Remember, shimmer down ladies, shimmer down.

NOTE: Orange foundation looks good on no one. Let me repeat that. NO ONE. Not even you. Slathering your face in foundation five shades too dark is not going to solve anything. All it is going to do is make you look orange and uneducated. Not to mention, it gives you a crusty makeup line. Ew.

You should have at least two different foundations that you switch out for different seasons. For example, in the Summer, I like to have a foundation with a little less coverage and I like it to feel light on my skin. I usually go for a mineral powder. It is so hot here in Las Vegas, so a powder works really well for me during the summer. In the winter, I like a little bit more coverage so I tend to switch to a medium to full coverage liquid foundation.


Some foundations I LOVE are:

Bare Minerals SPF 15
: I love this powder foundation. It is like magic fairy dust and is perfect for a sheer to medium coverage. It does have a little bit of radiance (NOT shimmer :)

Studio Sculpt SPF 15 by MAC: This foundation is a mix between a cream and a liquid and is perfect for medium to full coverage. It glides right on and stays in place all day. I like to rub it between my hands before applying it to warm it up so that it glides on my face flawlessly.

Lancome Absolue Makeup SPF 20
: This is a foundation that feels like a whipped dream on your face. It gives beautiful full coverage without feeling heavy or looking muddy and thick on your skin. It is a little expensive, but very worth it. Whenever I wear this foundation, I always get a ton of compliments on my skin.

Studio Tint SPF 15 by MAC: This liquid foundation is a simple and to the point tinted foundation. It is super sheer coverage, and works well for people who don't like much coverage in a foundation. It is also perfect for those days you are going to hang out by the pool and you want to have a little something on, but don't want people to know about it. It also has the built in SPF. Perfection!!

NOTE: All of these foundations have SPF... obviously that is very important!

xoxox
Allyson Stagg
CEO of The Las Vegas Style Sirens
www.LVStyleSirens.com
LVStyleSirens@yahoo.com

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