Tips & Tricks: All About Foundations

I thought I would take a break from the usual makeup tutorial and try something different for this week's Tips & Tricks blog. My cousin is a brand new MK consultant and has a good knowledge about makeup in general, but when it comes to foundations and all the stuff that goes with it, she had a few questions. She called me up and started asking all kinds of questions about primers, highlighters, moisturizers, finishes, difference between mineral and liquid foundations, I mean all of it. So it got me thinking that maybe other new consultants have these same kind of questions and a blog would be the perfect way to answer them. Let's start with the basics...

Foundation Finishes: What they mean & who they are for

MK foundations offer 3 types of finishes; luminous, natural, and matte.

Luminous
A luminous finish foundation creates a dewy glow to the skin. This finish is best for dry skin because these types of foundations are very moisturizing. It might work for dry/combination skin, but you have to be careful because excess oil on the skin mixed with this foundation can make you look more greasy than luminous. This is a great foundation for winter because skin tends to dry out more in the colder months, and it recreates that summer glow for your clients. A client with combination skin could also wear this type of foundation; it just might need a bit more touching up throughout the day.

Natural
A natural finish provides that no makeup, makeup look that is always on trend. The MK Medium-Coverage Foundation provides this finish, as well as, the mineral powder foundation, and the MK CC Cream (this is my all time favorite cc cream that I wear alone or under foundation, can't live with out it). What is really interesting about this type of finish is that it is great for most skin types. So if you have a client that is new to foundations and is not sure where to start, this is a perfect option to recommend.

Matte
Matte finishes have been all the rage lately because how great they look on HD cameras and the fact they cancel out shine from excess oil. MK offers a few different types of foundation that give this finish; Matte-Wear, and the Creme-to-Powder foundations. I personally have combination skin that is more on the oily side in the summer and on the dry side in the colder months. So a matte foundation works great for me when my skin produces more oil due to the weather, and because matte foundations are long-lasting, I don't have to really do any touch ups throughout the day; only if I want to go for a night out on the town.

Side Note: The mineral powder provides more of a demi-matte finish that creates a more natural look instead of a true matte.

Matte finish foundations can be a bit tricky. Know they work best on combination to oily skin if wanting to be worn all day. If a client with dry skin wants to have a matte finish but not dehydrate their skin more, the mineral powder will be perfect for them. Matte foundations tends to have a drying effect, so what will happen when applied to already dry skin, it will accentuate dry patches and not absorb well. To combat this issue, a primer works great.

Prep Before You Apply Foundation
Before you apply your foundation you want to moisturize first. Wait about 20 seconds, then apply your foundation. This will help create an even finish. If your skin is a bit on the combination/dry side, a primer will keep your foundation from sticking to any dry patches. Primers insure a more smooth application and create a barrier on your skin to keep foundation from settling into pores and fine lines.

Once you know what finish works best for what skin type, you will be able to better recommend the correct foundation for your clients. Skin can change between seasons, so a natural finish foundation is great for all year round if you have a client that is not really sure what skin type they are right now. Also, when helping your client choose the right foundation, be sure to ask them what they are looking to get out of it, like; long wear, do they want a no makeup, makeup look, do they like to look glowy. All of these types of questions will help you determine their perfect finish.