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A Lesson for the Foundation Averse, Frightened or Clueless

Some of us wear eyeshadow, others not so much.  Most of us wouldn’t think of leaving the house without mascara.  And we all wear foundation.  Right?

Actually, there are a (smallish) group of us who have somehow, to this point in our lives, gotten away without wearing foundation.  I am one of them.  My skin is has always been fair and even toned and I really never paid much attention to covering it up. 

So, I write this article as a guide to foundations for those with an aversion (or who have simply never tried) this particular make up product.

First of all, there are so many types of foundation that it can be a bit overwhelming.  So I asked my friends at Lavera, along with Terri Bly at The Nature of Beauty, which would be best for someone with a light complexion, dry skin and who kind of hates the idea of adding another layer of anything to her face.

A few days later I received several brands, types and tones of foundation.  From bronzers and tinted moisturizers to crèmes and fluids, I took a deep breath and set out to try them all. 

My first realization was that I, though a professional green beauty editor, really had no idea how to apply the stuff.  A few of my foundation-adept friends eased my fears and offered some helpful tips. 

My second realization was this:  If you have never worn foundation before, experiment with tinted moisturizers first and leave the actual make up fluids to later in the game.  I say this because (no joke) I actually re-washed my face after applying foundation two days in a row.  It felt similar to wearing a treatment mask in public and I just couldn’t quit thinking about.  Told you I have foundation issues.  Tinted moisturizers provided both a hint of color, evened out imperfections and moisturized all at the same time.

Bronzers are cool products too.  My skin is probably a bit too pale right now, in the dead of winter, to do them justice but a friend with a bit darker skin tone swears by them.  They offer moisture with color, as well. 

I felt like I had not given the makeup fluids a fair shot so came up with my own concoction.  A small amount of my usual day time moisturizer, a couple drops of a facial oil, a drop of make up fluid; mix together in palms and apply to face.  This seems to work really well, provides smooth, even coverage and that rich, moisturized feeling I love.  And I really can appreciate the hint of color I get from it.

Here is the lineup of foundation products I tried:

Lavera Tinted Moisturizer Transparent – This one is listed first because it is my favorite and the one I had the most success with.  I add this to my moisturizer to create a super-rich combo of moisturizer and color. Just what pale winter skin needs.  Love it! 

Lavera HYDRO Bronzer – A moisturizing base, perfect for those with normal to oily skin that prefer light coverage.  Easy to apply, comes in two natural shades, Cool Beige and Soft Bronze, and smells really good too.

Lavera Trend Sensitiv Make Up Fluid – A more straight forward foundation that comes in two natural shades (for fair and medium/olive skin tones) and two coverage levels (Light, for more transparent coverage and Naturel, for more concentrated coverage).

Couleur Caramel Fond de Teint Crème – Comes in either Cream or Fluid and provides a nice canvas for make up.  You really don’t even need powder with these.  Natural color, the Fluid has a nice transparency.  Try the Cream for more concentrated coverage.

All of these products are safe and natural.

You can find a very helpful Foundation Buying Guide at The Nature of Beauty for further product choices and helpful tips.

Foundation, it turns out, is a very personal and individual thing.  The moral of this story is – What works for One may not work for All.  Don’t be afraid to experiment until you find what works for you. 

Image:  Daisy Starr at Flickr.com, Creative Commons license.

Written by Liz Thompson

I am an organic beauty expert, writer, and mom of two young environmentalists who can already spot a toxic product when they see one. Read more about me at Organic Beauty Source.com, and find me on , Twitter, Pinterest, and Facebook.

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