Beauty Boy: A foundation that fits

With the hundreds of foundations that have dominated the cosmetic industry, it can be extremely difficult to pick out the right one that will best suit your skin type. What makes things even harder is that all the advertisements will say that their foundation is the absolute best and will make anyone look flawless. More often than not, this is not true; there are very few foundations that I know of that work perfectly on every single person's skin. The most important thing is to always keep your skin type in mind when purchasing a foundation.

If you have a dry skin type, the key to making your foundation work in the first place is by using a good moisturizer and a quality primer. However, there are certain types of foundations that you should avoid, depending on how dry your skin is. The most obvious is a powder foundation as it usually has no moisturizing properties and can make the skin look really flaky. Some mousse and mineral foundations can also cause the same flaky effect. Stick to really hydrating foundations that can either be a liquid, cream or a high-coverage tinted moisturizer.

If you have an oily skin type, you basically want to avoid any foundations that are heavy in consistency and that have a lot of oil in them. Mousse and water-based foundations work best with oily complexions because they tend to set well and don't move during the day like a cream would. Some mattifying liquid foundations also work really well as they usually have a lot less oil in them. Pressed powders and some mineral foundations may not be the best for oily skin because they tend to separate and get "clumpy" when mixed with the skin's oils. To get the most out of your foundation, start with a mattifying lotion and an oilfree primer to help the foundation last a lot longer.

If you have sensitive skin, it is best to stick with foundations that avoid a lot of irritants such as perfumes, alcohol and parabens. Some lines specialize in creating foundations that are very gentle and are used on burn victims, patients with eczema and so on. Some of these brands include Cover FX, Marcelle and Dermablend (by Vichy). As for the consistency of the foundation, just pick one that feels most comfortable with your skin type.

For those who are lucky enough to have a fairly "normal" skin type, you basically have free range as to what foundation you use. If you like more of a rich texture, then creams are the best for you; if you like something that is very light, liquids or mineral foundations would suit you the best.

Even though there are hundreds of foundations on the market, it is best to keep your skin type in mind first when purchasing one. The best way to know which foundation is best for you is by trying it on and wearing it for a day to see how long it lasts and how well your skin takes to it.