Toning is the use of a transparent cream or emulsion tinting agent to give the skin a certain tint. They hide small flaws well and make the skin color more even, the tint is always applied on top of the day cream, it consists of fat, moisture, powder and pigments, as well as nourishing substances that protect the skin from ultraviolet radiation. With the right foundation, which is carefully applied to the skin, you can hide bumps, blemishes, pimples, irritated areas and even small scars.
Makeup artists consider foundation as the basis of makeup. If the skin is of a beautiful even shade, the face will acquire a healthy appearance. On such skin, lipstick and eyeshadow look more beautiful. On skin carelessly covered with foundation, or without it, eye and lip makeup quickly becomes colorless and sloppy. Choosing the right foundation is hampered by the wide range and the many names: Foundation, Fond de Teint, Teint-Make-Fluid, Transparent-Make-Up or just Make-Up are essentially the same thing. Means differ primarily in their consistency and, as a result, in the degree of transparency. Lightweight, liquid foundations contain a lot of fat and moisture, but little powder and pigments, so they slightly camouflage skin imperfections. Thicker, more compact foundations contain a lot of powder and pigments. They hide minor flaws better.
Foundations for various skin types
When buying a foundation, first of all you need to know your skin type. Face tint is also important. Of course, you must assess the condition of your skin, see small flaws. Below are 25 important recommendations.
For oily skin, liquid foundations (in glass jars or bottles) are best. They contain little fat, but a lot of very fine powder. This powder absorbs excess sebum from the surface of the skin and makes it smooth and silky matte over time. Products with extracts of quince seed and licorice root are optimal. They nourish and protect the skin while regulating sebum production. In addition, liquid foundations cover the skin with a thin layer. It becomes dull, its surface is slightly leveled.
For inflamed skin with rough pores and pimples, it is best to use a foundation or compact powder (usually sold in a powder box). They contain more pigments and powder than other foundations, so they cover the skin with a thicker layer. With their help, you can easily hide rough spots. For this skin type, special products containing microscopic grains of powder are very good. This cosmetics is very evenly distributed on the skin surface, does not accumulate around the pores. As a result, the pores become lighter and more invisible. The complexion seems more delicate. The antibacterial additives contained in the products, for example, Philodendron extract, are also of great importance. Thanks to them, acne, acne and comedones heal faster, new inflamed areas do not appear. Foundation powder and compact powder are applied with a cosmetic sponge (usually included in the package). The foundation will lay down more evenly if the sponge is slightly moistened.
For dry, sensitive skin, foundation creams (usually sold in bottles) are ideal. They contain a relatively high amount of fat and moisture, as well as nutritional supplements such as vitamins A and E. Cosmetics with hyaluronic acid have proven themselves to be excellent. It retains moisture in the skin for a long time and prevents makeup from drying out. The skin looks “plump” and more elastic. Foundation creams cover the skin with a fairly dense layer and almost completely hide red spots and spots. The foundation is rubbed in either with your fingertips or with a moistened fine-pored cosmetic sponge.
For mature skin with more or less deep wrinkles, it is better to take a liquid foundation (most often sold in jars or bottles). It equalizes (evens out) the complexion, at the same time increases the elasticity of the skin and intensively nourishes it. A novelty are liquid foundations with pigments enclosed in a moist shell. This coating prevents the pigments from settling inside the wrinkles, which often happens with ordinary makeup and looks very ugly. Preparations with chitin or with wheat proteins have proven themselves excellently. Studies have shown that these substances strengthen tissues and make mature skin more elastic and resistant to external influences. Liquid foundations have the consistency of thick liquid and are usually applied with your fingertips. They cover the skin with a more or less dense layer.
For normal skin, a foundation day cream is sufficient. This is a regular day cream enriched with pigments. If you naturally have a relatively even complexion, you will be satisfied with this remedy. For a modest daytime make-up, a tonal day cream is enough to give the skin a delicate transparent shade. In addition, the cream contains nutritional supplements. However, for a bright evening make-up, the foundation day cream will be too transparent.
The color of the foundation should match your complexion. The foundation should not change your natural color, but only make it more beautiful. When buying a foundation, ask for samples. Test them first at home in daylight. Do not check the color, as previously recommended, at the bend of the elbow. It is better to apply the foundation on an unpainted face: part on the chin, part on the cheeks. Experts call this test the test of the foundation. Wait 10 minutes. Almost every foundation will darken slightly during this time. Buy a cream that matches your natural complexion within 10 minutes.
Tips for applying foundation
Before applying foundation, spread day cream on your skin and let it absorb well (for at least 5 minutes). Blot any remaining cream with a paper towel.
Apply foundation in a circular motion from center to periphery. If you do it in the opposite direction, large pores and wrinkles will absorb too much makeup and will be clearly visible.
For daytime makeup, it will be enough to cover only the central areas of the face and distribute the remains of the foundation towards the periphery. To do this, grab some cream with your fingertips and rub it into your skin with gentle patting movements. The warmth of the fingers distributes the cream perfectly.
Never put cream on your face in large portions, apply it in small peas. This will distribute the paint more evenly and look natural.
Be careful with foundation with a pronounced brown tint. It’s easy to succumb to the urge to look healthy and tanned. However, this is not what makeup is for. If the natural complexion is even slightly different from the foundation, the entire face will appear mottled or mask-like. You can only use tonal means of brown shades if you are very tanned. Otherwise, choose shades of beige, peach or honey.
In the summer, use a foundation with a UV protection rating of 8 and above. It will block the negative effects of the sun’s rays for many hours. In addition, it is practical: you will not need to additionally lubricate your face with cream when you go out into the sun.
Do your makeup in daylight whenever possible. He will clearly identify all errors. If your bathroom only has artificial lighting, be sure to test your foundation in daylight.
If you use foundation compact powder, you will need a cosmetic sponge. Take a sponge with your thumb, forefinger and middle finger and rub the powder gently into your skin. Do not smear it in different directions. Pay attention to the material from which the sponge is made. The best are natural rubber cosmetic sponges. They are elastic and finely porous. Coarse sponges absorb too much water or cream and make it difficult for the paint to spread. Rinse the used sponge immediately with warm water and hang to dry. Otherwise, a lot of pathogenic microbes will appear on it.
If your regular makeup seems a little rough and artificial, try mixing a small dose of foundation with a one-to-one ratio of moisturizer on the outside of your hand. Apply this mixture with a damp sponge to your face. The skin will look almost undyed, but it will acquire a very beautiful fresh and even shine.
If you look paler than usual today, your foundation may be too dark. Try mixing it in a small bowl with a special white foundation and picking the right shade. For foundation you will need a creamy illuminator, for liquid you will need a liquid one. Apply the mixture with a damp cosmetic sponge. As a result, the makeup will be in harmony with the complexion and hide all uneven skin areas.
Cover with red “nodules” or spots on the skin before applying the usual foundation with a special green concealer. It is applied in a very thin layer and rubbed into the skin, gently patting it with your fingers. Why is this cream green? Because optical green neutralizes red. If you apply a dense tonal compact powder of flesh color on it, there will be no trace of red dots and spots.
For women who do not have the opportunity to correct their makeup during the day, “leave-in” cosmetics are perfect. Due to the special composition, such tonal means last for at least 12 hours and are well fixed on the skin. They do not leave marks on blouses or scarves. However, using such a tool is not so easy. You must learn to apply it immediately in a very even layer. Corrections are excluded. Exactly one minute later, the foundation firmly “sticks” to your face, like a second skin.
Sometimes the face, despite toning, looks tired and rumpled. In this case, first apply the liquid from the ampoule, which gives the skin elasticity, and then the foundation. The combination of these products will give the skin an “energy” boost. The skin will become taut and elastic. However, ampoules should only be used in exceptional cases, and they are quite expensive.
Very dry skin with scaly patches is a poor foundation for toning. In most cases, a greasy cream helps. It is applied to the face in a circular motion from bottom to top. Then you need to wait five minutes and apply a light moisturizer. Rub it into the skin with light, patting movements. Now the skin is “saturated”, no longer flakes and it can be covered with an even layer of foundation.
Many women do not know how to distribute the foundation in an even layer. You too? Then try silicone makeup. The so-called volatile silicones, which are added to some new foundations, glide great on the skin and help spread the color easily. After applying the product, they evaporate without a trace.
After toning your face, cover up small pimples and red spots with a concealer pencil or cream. Cover them with a very thin, almost transparent layer, otherwise it will be noticeable.
Rub the tiny “peas” of the concealer into the skin with light patting movements. Then gently blot the area with a damp cosmetic sponge so that no color transitions are noticeable.
Expensive but highly effective shimmering foundations contain so-called optical pigments that scatter light. Usually, light is reflected in only one direction, emphasizing the structure of the skin, wrinkles and roughness. Thanks to optical pigments acting on the prism principle, light is scattered in different directions. The result is a soft-writing effect. The features appear less tense and the face looks refreshed and radiant. These foundations have the consistency of a thick liquid and are either mixed with regular makeup or applied separately.
Special tip: With the help of the powder particles contained in the foundation, the colors are better fixed on the skin.
After finishing your makeup, thoroughly pat the areas of your face and lower cheeks and chin bordering the hair with a cosmetic towel so that excess makeup does not get on your collar or hair.
Professional make-up artists spray the “finished” makeup with a small amount of mineral water (through a spray bottle). This makes the makeup adhere especially well to the skin and looks soft and natural.