The Family Groove | Natural Beauty | How to Get Gorgeous Inside and Out

NATURAL BEAUTY

INSPIRATIONAL BEAUTY COACH AND AUTHOR SHELLY BALLESTERO TELLS YOU HOW TO GET GORGEOUS INSIDE AND OUT

MAKEUP BASICS: FOUNDATION

Stick, cream, mousse and powder, oh my! Just what is the difference between them? Which ones are better for oily skin?
How about dry skin? Face it—you might not be wearing the right kind of foundation.

Here, we talk type, tone, tools and tips that’ll help you put your best face forward.

TYPE
Without building a smooth and proportioned foundation underneath a house, the outcome would be a disaster, right? The same goes for the structure of your face. Begin with the right foundation to avoid makeup destruction. With eight different forms to choose from, picking a foundation can be confusing. Let me give you a brief overview of your options:

Stick foundation also contains a concealer and is best for normal-to-dry skin, giving women more coverage.
Liquid foundation is the most readily found and fits most skin types.
Crème foundation is smooth and specifically formulated for dry-to-normal complexions.
Mousse foundation is actually a crème that has a whipped consistency. It’s great for mature skin and less noticeable in fine lines.
Tinted moisturizer is moisturizer with pigment. It’s the sheerest of all foundations. It evens out skin tone while providing minimal coverage.
Crème-to-powder foundation has a creamy texture that dries to a powder finish and is kinder to oily skin.
Powder compact is a dual-finish powder foundation and can be used wet or dry. It’s fabulous on young girls because it’s low in oils and doesn’t clog pores.
Mineral powder comes loose or pressed and now also in liquid form. It works much like a dual-finish powder foundation and is simple to apply. Pressed powder works best for oily skin. Usually more mature skin looks best with loose powder. While applying the minerals or any other loose powder, for that matter, hold your breath so you don’t inhale all the loose powder particles—they’re nano-sized and can get into your lungs. Just a precaution—not to be alarmed. I always tell my clients to hold their breath—but not for too long because the color blue will interfere with my work.

Makeup Tip: Before you apply foundation—powder or liquid—apply a primer, which will help minimize pore size. Some brands also help reduce shine. Wait about two minutes, and then apply your choice of foundation. If you put it on too soon, the color will spread and be uneven.

TONE

Sometimes it seems as if finding the right shade of foundation is like finding that perfect shoe—does it really exist? Yes! Before choosing your color, you need to know your skin tone. Are you warm or cool? Here is a quick test to determine which one you are:

Warm skin tone has greenish veins and burns easily—gold looks better on you.
Cool skin tone has bluish veins, and silver looks better on you.

When testing your color choices, place three swabs of color on your face between the cheek and jaw line. The one that disappears into the skin is your color. Keep in mind, your color is not the same as it was in high school—your skin does change as you get older.

Makeup Tip: When choosing a mineral powder color, loose powder is usually one shade darker in many brands, while pressed and liquid are usually right on color target. The key to matching your mineral color is that it should disappear into your skin—it adapts to your skin tone, so you can’t make a serious mistake.

Makeup Tip: If your complexion is oily or you have darker skin, you can pick a slightly lighter shade than your skin. The oil in your skin turns the foundation darker over time as it oxidizes.

TOOLS

Foundation brush for liquids
The Beautyblender sponge (for all mediums)
Flocked sponge (similar to microfiber offered by Jane Iredale)
Concealer brush
The cheapest tool of all…your fingers

TIPS

If you are using pressed or loose foundation powder, spritz a flock sponge with water. Next, dip the sponge into your medium and apply quick and light strokes onto skin for an airbrushed finish.
Get an even, more natural look by applying powder foundation in thin, light layers. Keep adding until you reach desired coverage.
Need more coverage? Use a flock sponge when applying powder.
Create a tinted moisturizer by mixing your foundation with lotion.
If makeup looks too cakey, spritz with spring water or setting spray.
Instead of reapplying more product later in the day, use blotting papers.
Final phase: Set the foundation with loose or pressed powder and it will seal in place. One of my favorite tools for this final job is a powder puff. Fold the puff (like a taco), dip into your product, and rub the puff’s side to get rid of excess powder. Using a rolling application, work the powder into the skin. Add blush to cheeks, forehead and sides of nose for a last touch.

Remember that you are beautiful and one of a kind! The perfect foundation is confidence, and the best makeup of all is joy!

Shelly serves as an inspirational beauty coach, aesthetician/makeup artist and beauty expert columnist for CBN.com, Beautiful One Magazine, Christian Women Online, Sheer Balance and On Course magazine. She is also the author of Beauty by God: Inside-Out Secrets for Every Woman. Shelly’s career has ranged from subtle face makeovers to painting bold murals on buildings. She is a graduate of the prestigious International Academy. Shelly also holds certifications as a nutritional consultant and herbalist, and she’s a graduate of one of the top makeup schools in the industry, Joe Blasco. Shelly lives in Florida with her husband, Angelo Ballestero, and their two sons.

Pick up a copy of Shelly’s book Beauty by God: Inside-Out Secrets for Every Woman ($10.87, www.amazon.com).