Foundation is one of the most basic makeup products in your beauty kit and yet, it is never easy to choose the right one. With a plethora of shades available, how do you find out which one suits you best? Unfortunately, testers don’t always come to our rescue either, with shades looking different in shops and at home. Check out these buying tips for foundation for your skin to save yourself a botched look!

1. Prep your skin
Not prepping the skin for makeup is one of the most common mistakes people make. Even the best brand of foundation will not be that effective unless you cleanse, scrub, and exfoliate. Further, you should use a matte primer to even out the tone and then proceed with applying the foundation to see how smoothly it sits on your skin.

2. Pick the right shade
It pays to test shade options on your face and check whether a darker or lighter color blends in perfectly with your skin tone. One of the things to know about a foundation is that the layer will turn a shade darker after mixing with the natural oils on the face and exposure to the elements. You can test shades on multiple spots across the face to match the under- and overtones perfectly.

3. Foundation for different types of skin
Your skin type will also determine the kind of foundation you can use. For example, women with oily skin can use an oil-free liquid foundation or a powder-based formula to avoid any shine. The powder is designed to absorb all excess oils and moisture to achieve that light matte finish. A hydrating formula foundation is recommended for women with dry skin to help retain its natural moisture. For sensitive skin, it is advisable to use an alcohol- and active fragrance-free formula foundation to reduce the risk of irritation. However, buying the right type of foundation for combination skin (both oily and dry in certain parts) can be tricky and a tip is to try out numerous formulae to see what works best.

4. Test it in bright lighting
It is always a great idea to first test a few shades under bright lighting and wait for the changes to determine if the shade is suitable for your skin tone. Patience is rewarding in this case as once you have identified a color that works well after the foundation dries off, you can zero in on a few darker and lighter tones to mix and match. This technique helps those with combination skin to get that not-too- shiny but perfect matte finish without applying a heavy layer of makeup. It is also advisable to walk out of the store for a bit and check how it looks in non-focus lighting. You don’t need to install a complete salon lighting makeup station either. Simply place your makeup mirror in an area of the house where there is plenty of natural lighting and try to test a few shades during the middle of the day.