The same is true of cosmetic foundations. Also known as base, these skin-toned creams lay the necessary groundwork for a complete look. Once the foundation is laid, you can confidently build upon it with shadows and shades that enhance your already-gorgeous features. (Yes, I said gorgeous! Don’t forget that God designed you. Read Jeremiah 1:5).

What makes foundation so effective? It evens out your skin tone by giving a unity of color to your face. Foundation lightens undereye circles and tones down red cheeks or purplely eyelids. It will even give your skin a smoother appearance.

Choose Wisely
There are several types of foundation available. To help you choose one that is right for you, decide on the coverage and finish you desire. Liquid and mousse foundations offer a sheer-to-medium coverage, yet they tend to look fake on teens. Your goal is a natural look. Next select a finish. Does dewey (not oily) perk up your look, or does the shine-free feature of a matte finish have more appeal?

Narrowing down the foundation with the best formula for your skin has become something of a task. One popular company alone offers nine different formulas! Replenishing, balancing, oil-minimizing, hydrating, clarifying . . . confusing! Bottom line: Select a fragrance-free, hypo-allergenic formula that matches your skin type (oily, dry, normal or combination). Those that contain sunscreen are a plus for protection from harmful rays.

Perhaps the most important factor in selecting a foundation is the color. It is essential that the foundation shade matches your natural skin tone. Too dark looks too obvious. Too light looks too ghostly. Plus, you don’t want your face to be a different shade than your neck and body.

Test the foundation shade along your jawline, not on your wrist or the back of your hand. The color should blend into your skin so well that you can hardly tell where you applied it. If a tester is not available, hold the bottle against your skin, and check it out in a mirror. This is harder to match, but do your best. The color that’s the closest wins! You may find that you need to blend two foundations together to get the shade you need. If the color you select has a tendency to turn dark or orangeish after you’ve had it on for a while, try a different brand. The ingredients are the wrong mix with the natural oils in your skin.

To prevent foundation from looking like it’s just “sitting” on your face, prepare your skin first! The regular use of a facial scrub (several times a week) and the daily use of toner should do the trick. Always moisturize before applying foundation.

Dab Away
You are finally ready to apply the foundation. Pour a penny-sized dot on your first two fingers, then rub it with the first two fingers of your other hand. In a circular motion, gently apply to your entire face, being extra careful to blend on your eyelids, under your eyes, near the hairline, and around the nostril area and lips. You may want to use a cosmetic sponge, because it helps to blend and press the foundation onto your skin. Use the quick patting movement or press-and-release method called “stippling.”

You don’t need foundation on your neck. Just feather the foundation along your jawline with a sponge or tissue. Turn your head to one side and look in the mirror to make sure you don’t have a “line” of foundation on the edge of your jaw.

Wearing foundation can definitely add an even and smooth look for your special occasions. Keep in mind there are occasions when foundation is out of place: working out, swim parties, beach days and superhot sweaty outings! And . . . foundation needs to be omitted if your folks are uncomfortable with your wearing it on a daily basis. Don’t allow silly things like makeup to cause conflict between you and your parents.