Cosmetic Foundations - Primer, Tinted, Sheer, Liquid & Cream Foundation

Which type of foundation to use and how to apply cosmetic foundation.

Primer (added before foundation):

There a various primers - some for better foundation application, others to fill pores (large pores commonly found in East Asian skin) and some primers to do both. 

Choosing the wrong primer can leave foundation looking blotchy. So know why you need a primer and take your foundation with you when buying a primer.

Tinted Moisturiser (alternative to foundation):

A hint of colour added to a moisturiser. Most come in yellow-based tones but are so sheer they blend with most skin tones (women of colour skin tones are mostly olive or brown based tones).

Tinted moisturizer is great for someone who doesn't need much coverage, little or no acne, or mature skin that just needs a bit of colour. Several tinted moisturisers contain moisturiser, sunscreen and colour, so three steps covered in one product.

Sheer Foundation (occasional or light coverage):

Lightest substance in the foundation family, great if you have fairly good skin tone and just need a little evening out of your overall colour. Silicone based mix well with most moisturisers and work well with dry to oily skin. 

Liquid Foundation (mature or dry skin):

Generally found in a bottle, it comes in a variety of textures from very sheer to heavy full coverage. Liquid foundations a great for mature or dry skin as well as skin that needs minimal coverage but some redness.

Cake Foundation (dark or oily skin): 

Found in compact or stick form and gives most coverage, as it has very dense pigment. Cake foundation is good for very dark skin as well as oily skin - due to is consistency and dense pigment you can use very little and less likey to slide or melt off oil skin.

Cream Foundation (use a little amount to get same coverage): 

Usually comes in pots or tubes and has a thicker consistency and provides a wide variety of coverage from light to heavy. It contains more pigment than liquid foundation so you need to use less of it to get the same coverage.

How to apply cosmetic foundation

Before application – apply moisturizer, allow to settle into skin for few moments before applying foundation to ensure better coverage, no blotching or cracks. Oily skin use astringent to clean off oil, then moisturize.

Direction of application – DOWN. The fine hairs on our face grow downwards, apply foundation in same direction making hair less visible.

Start at center of forehead

Downward motion from center to sides of forehead

Down nose and sides of nose (adding small amounts of foundation if needed)

Eye area - start from inner corner and move to outer corner, blending gently

Temples (section between your eyes and top of ears)

Cheeks, under the nose and chin, then under chin and neck.

SET THE WHOLE LOOK WITH POWDER.

Source:  Extract taken from ‘Asian Faces by Taylor Chang-Babaian’.