Foundation 101

CEBU, Philippines - Foundation is the most essential step when creating a full face of makeup.

Foundation not only covers blemishes, evens out skin tone, but also offers skin care qualities like SPF, toning, whitening, and more. So it’s important to get the right formula and shade for your skin as this determines the success of the rest of your makeup routine.

BB Cream

Makeup and skin care in one, it is also commonly known as a supercharged tinted moisturizer. BB stands for Blemish Balm and was originally prescribed to post-surgery patients in Korea. Celebrities caught on how effective the medicated makeup was in improving the skin’s texture and overall quality, it eventually became a commercialized product; now renowned in beauty counters the world over.

HD Powder

Translucent setting powders don’t offer much coverage due to minimal pigment content. Unlike loose powder foundations that offer coverage, this is merely used to set one’s makeup and absorb oils for touch-ups.

Pancake Foundation

This is the very first form of makeup as it was the first powder and makeup in one. It is water-activated: Goes on when applied with a damp sponge.

Mineral Makeup

First things first: All makeup in the market are made up of minerals.

The mineral makeup movement merely denotes the absence of allergens or harmful ingredients like parabens, preservatives, talc, and other synthetic additives. This led to a whole new category of makeup: organic or “green” beauty.

Loose Powder Foundation

This is merely the loose version of compact foundations. Apply with a brush for breathable coverage. Apply with a sponge for fuller coverage.

Cream, Stick, Mousse, Liquid

*Cream foundations are usually oil-based, offering opaque coverage.

*Stick foundations offer convenient application with opaque coverage.

They also have lesser or no oil content, compared to cream foundations – best suited for oilier skins.

*Mousse foundation is best for oilier skins due to its light consistency but still offering buildable coverage.

*Liquid foundations come in oil-based and oil-free formulations.

Often yielding a matte finish, products targeting mature skins offer liquid foundations with “light-reflecting particles” to soften the appearance of fine line and wrinkles.

Airbrush

Airbrushed foundation leaves a very fine mist that goes from sheer to full coverage. It is pretty much like a liquid foundation applied with an airbrush gun, but the liquid is much more watery in consistency.

This is best for smoother skins that may have colored blemishes but not textured flaws, like big pores, keloid scars, and the like. Foundations can be silicone, water, or alcohol-based. Silicone is the best and longest-wearing formula among the three. Water is best for oilier skins. As for alcohol-based foundations, model/makeup artist Bianca Valerio finds such “too drying and actually difficult to retouch once it’s on.”

Compact

Offers sheer to full coverage.

Dual-finish foundations come in compact form: Can be applied dry for regular coverage or with a damp sponge for fuller coverage. Best for touch-ups!

Source: “Face to Face: The Healing Power of Makeup” by Bianca Valerio exclusively available for P795 at National Book Store and Powerbooks. Royalties to the author from the sales of this book will be donated to the Philippine National Red Cross. (FREEMAN)