Find Your Perfect Foundation

Do you find yourself longing looking at photos of yourself from when you were a teenager---a flawless complexion without a care in the world, except for the fear of the odd world-ending blemish? While you may not be able to go back in time and have a redo on your high-school prom, you can achieve a the look of a flawless, evenly toned complexion using the right foundation. So how do you know what product will take you back to your teenage years? It all depends on the format, texture and coverage that you are looking for.

• Want minimal coverage? Use a pressed powder to get rid of shine or small imperfections, or a tinted moisturizer if you want to combine a moisturizer with a foundation, and still even out skintone.  This option is ideal for someone with no major skin concerns who wants light coverage.  Keep a concealer handy for extra coverage under the eyes or for the odd blemish. Try Lancome's Bienfait Multi-Vital (same formula as the moisturizer) with an SPF 30 or Stila's Sheer Colour Tinted Moisturizer SPF 20

• Want medium coverage? Using a light-texture liquid foundation will give good coverage without the feel of makeup, although a concealer may be required for serious breakouts.  Try Lancome's Teint Idole Fresh Wear SPF 20 or Bourjois 10-hour Sleep Effect for a barely-there feeling.

• Want full coverage in a liquid? A liquid foundation is by far the most common, and can be found in any cosmetic line.  Depending on your skin type, you may want something oil-free (try Stila's Natural Finish Oil-Free Makeup or Lise Watier's Teint Mousse Matifiant) or something richer if you are a dry skin.  The possibilities are endless with a liquid foundation, and most often it comes down to which company has the shade best suited to your skintone.

• Want full coverage with a light texture? Use a powder foundation.  Powder foundations are great as they give buildable coverage!  This gives you many options: if you use a brush, you get good coverage but the option of getting more coverage by going over an area a second (or third) time as the product will build upon itself; if you use a sponge you get full coverage right away.  I like to go over my face with a brush, but then use the sponge for the under-eye areas to set my concealer and get that extra coverage. And being in a compact makes them easy to carry with you for touch ups throughout the day. Try Pur Minerals 4-in-1 Foundation with SPF 15 (this award winning product is your concealer, foundation, powder and sunscreen in 1), Lancome's Dual Finish (can be used wet or dry), or Clarins Everlasting Compact Foundation for fairer skins.

• Want your makeup to last all day and into the night?  Sometimes you don't have time to race home and redo your makeup before going out after work. Having a foundation that stays put from day to night can give you peace of mind that your makeup isn't wearing off before the first round of appetizers are gone.  Try Lise Watier's Glam 24 hours (it comes with a concealer built into the tube!) or Lancome's Teint Idole Ultra (oil-free).

• Special concerns? Maybe you need to cover up a scar, birth mark or tattoo gone wrong---Cover FX has a wide variety of highly pigmented full-coverage foundations in either a liquid or cream texture that will do the job. While this option is a bit heavier texture, the liquid Natural FX has an SPF 15 and is a water-based oil-free formula and is sure to hide anything from hyper-pigmentation to a tattoo that is instantly regretted the next morning...

A perfect complexion provides a bare canvas for the rest of your face, and allows you to get away with minimal makeup elsewhere! Find yours in store today.