Part 3 of my foundation series will go into how to pick a foundation for your skin type. I’ll show you my personal favourites and hopefully give you some inspiration for your next foundation shop.

Since I’ve started blogging the question I’ve been asked most is “which is the best foundation”. It depends on your skin type so much though, doesn’t it? What suits my oily, discoloured, middle aged skin isn’t going to be the best option for a 20 year old with normal skin. Also it’s a question of personal taste, one man’s treasure is another man’s trash.

I’ve been having a good look at the foundation I own and it did become clear that you get what you pay for, to a certain extent. There are some great foundations you can get for less than £15 though. I’ve listed some below that put up a good fight against the premium brands. But generally the more expensive makes offer more pigment in their foundation, more shade choices and of course counters with staff that can advise you (sometimes incorrectly, see my Shade Selection Article). Don’t follow the advice they give you if you don’t agree with it. Try and get samples to take away with you and try. 

It helps if you know your skin type- oily (your face tends to shininess and makeup slips after a few hours), combination (shiny forehead and nose but dry elsewhere), normal (your face looks pretty much ok all the time, you lucky thing) and dry (your skin soaks up moisture and tends to flakiness). Your skin type will inform the formulation of your foundation. When you’re foundation shopping go with a plan- what sort of coverage are you after, what sort of finish? It will make it easier to pick something right for you. The array of choice is huge so a mental tick list of needs is handy.

I haven’t come across a singular makeup brand which produces only gems. But there are names which come up time and again when I’m reading about foundation- Estée Lauder, No7, Nars, MAC. So I’ve done my research and found some great foundations that work for each skin type.

Here are some foundations that are worth a look, based on skin type

If you have discoloured, acneic skin or you just like a lot of coverage 

Then you want a full coverage, long lasting foundation. If you like to look totally flawless and perfected these foundations are for you. They give a heavy made up look, last well and full on cover blemishes and freckles-

• Estée Lauder Double Wear
• MAC Studiofix 
• Lancôme Teint Idole
• Vichy Dermablend

If you have Oily Skin
Then you want a matte foundation. These foundations are less heavy than the ones in the previous category. They are lightweight and set to a perfect shine-less matte finish.

• L’Oreal Infallible Pro-matte
• Maybelline Fit Me Matte and Poreless
• Barry M Flawless Finish Matte foundation 
• Clinique Stay Matte Oil Free foundation 

If you have Normal or Combination skin
You can of course pick the finish you really prefer, but if you sit somewhere in the middle in terms of skin type you might want something a bit lighter than the foundations I’ve already listed. Because your skin doesn’t produce as much oil you can opt for some sheen in your base, it’ll give a nice natural appearance. My picks are

• Revlon Colourstay 
• Bourjois Healthy Mix
• Bare Minerals Ready Powder Compact foundation 
• Bobbi Brown Skin Foundation 

If you have Dry skin

If your skin is dry it will soak the moisture out of anything you put on it. Your foundation can sit in areas of flakey skin. So you need dewy formulations to moisturise the skin and help to bring down any redness. I don’t have dry skin, so I’m going on other people’s recommendations pretty much here.

• Bobbi Brown Tinted Moisturising Balm
• Chanel Vitalumiere
• Laura Mercier Crème Smooth Foundation 
• MAC Face and Body Foundation 

If you have Mature skin
If, say, you’re not longer in the first flush of youth then you should start looking at makeup in a different way. Find a foundation designed for aging skin that will give your skin luminosity. There are some cool foundations that will bring light to your skin, cover discolouration and contain Antiaging ingredients to improve the skin.

• Elizabeth Arden Ceremide Lift and Firm Foundation 
• Estée Lauder Re-Nutriv
• No7 Instant Radiance

There ends my list.
I really like the Bourjois Healthy Mix, it doesn’t have a huge shade selection but if you can get a shade match, it’s definitely worth a look. (It goes without saying that the shade must match). The finish is natural and the coverage is good. Revlon Colourstay is another one that I’m really fond of, it comes in 2 finishes- oily/combination and normal/dry. The shade selection is various (if you’re white). 

I hope I’ve given you some food for thought. Please let me know if I’ve missed a foundation superstar off my list. X