Cosmetic Foundations, Foundation Powders, and Other Face Make Up

Loose Powder Colors

Pressed Powder Foundations

Pressed cosmetic foundations give a smooth, matte finish to the skin that helps control shine. It can be applied with either a damp or dry sponge. At first, it takes practice to use the right amount of powder.
This type of foundation works for all skin types and is easy to carry around since it's not as messy as loose powder. This makes it quick and handy for touch ups. It is available in more shades than loose powder.
When choosing a shade, get one as close to your foundation color as you can and use lightly since it tends to accumulate on your skin during touch ups.

Pressed Powder Colors

Liquid Foundations

These usually offer light to medium coverage, can be applied using a sponge and are available in a wide range of colors that can be mixed to obtain in-between shades to match your skin tone (only mix cosmetic foundations of the same brand). Because liquid foundation is a more lightweight finish than compact it tends to be easier to use on dry skin. It is also best applied using cosmetic sponges.
To avoid a streaky finish place a very small amount of foundation on sponges and always brush over with powder. The powder helps the cosmetic foundations last longer.
Make sure you get the right cosmetic foundations for your skin type - choose an oil-based foundation for dry skin, water-based foundation for normal skin, and 'oil-free' foundation for oily skin. You can apply moisturizer 5 to 10 minutes before beginning your face make-up application.


Liquid Foundation Colors

Cream Foundation

When using a cream-based cosmetic foundations, concealer may be applied either before or after the foundation. Use a wedge-shaped latex sponge and light strokes to apply the foundation across the face.

You can tell how a cream will cover by how it feels to the touch. The thicker and heavier it feels, the more it covers. So if it feels slightly dry it offers light to medium cover. Very rich creams are used for stage.
Try not to cover too thick with cream foundation or it may look artificial and draw attention to itself.

Cream Foundation Colors

Concealer

Concealer provides extra cover to specific areas of the face that require more cover than that provided by cosmetic foundations alone such as dark circles under the eyes, a pimple, tiny veins, or redness at the sides of the nose. Concealer also offers a good base for eye shadow when applied to the eyelids.
Concealers generally come in stick, liquid, or cream form. For blemishes, a thick dry stick concealer is good; liquid concealers are thin and runny; cream works for almost everything and everyone.
Concealer should be one or two shades lighter than your cosmetic foundations and have the same undertone (go two shades lighter for very dark circles). Concealer comes in a limited number of shades.