What is foundation makeup?

Whether foundation has been part of your makeup routine since you bought your first lip gloss or you’re just now thinking of adding it to your makeup bag, it’s time to take a fresh look at all the things a foundation can or can’t do and learn how to choose what kind is right for you.

First, what is foundation? As its name suggests, it’s the first layer of makeup for your face, providing a base for everything else. It’s not a required step, but the goal of foundation is to create a smooth, even color – erasing blotchiness, concealing pores and blurring blemishes. Sort of like your own personal photo filter!

Buildable vs. full coverage foundation

Foundation makeup comes in different coverage categories, typically they are referred to as sheer, medium, full and buildable. Your choice depends on what you’re looking for out of a foundation. Sheer is the lightest amount of coverage, often compared to a tinted moisturizer. It can even out your skin tone to some extent but will not fully conceal or hide imperfections.

Medium coverage is also on the lighter end, but it should mask most imperfections. Full coverage foundation will conceal blemishes or imperfections, leaving a clean slate for you to add any remaining products like blush or highlighter.

Buildable foundation coverage can provide any of these levels depending on how many layers you use. Each layer builds on the previous one until you reach your desired level of coverage. This is great if there are certain areas of your skin where you would like additional coverage.

What foundation is best for me?

When faced with choosing foundation, your choices used to be limited to shade and coverage. Find the shade that most closely matches your skin and choose your coverage. Now, however, you can find foundations that provide the coverage you desire while also providing skin care benefits.

It’s known as the “skinification” of makeup, said Huijun Leong, a senior research scientist for Artistry™ skin care and makeup products.

“Makeup products are designed not only to conceal discolorations but also to enhance the skin's appearance through the use of pigments and coverage,” Leong said. “But today’s foundation consumer is looking for skin care benefits in their makeup.”

So, when you ask yourself: What foundation is best for me? You need to consider not only coverage and shade, but skin care concerns, as well. What’s the best foundation for oily skin? Can you get foundation with SPF? What about hydrating foundation? Is there such a thing as healthy foundation makeup? Let’s take a look!

Best foundation for oily skin

If you have oily skin, you are likely familiar with finding ways to eliminate the shine that comes with it. It can go from dewy and radiant to just plain greasy all too quickly. Most brands will indicate if a product is ideal for different skin types. Leong suggests searching for a foundation that won’t clog your pores that has “long wear” or "all day" claims  to withstand the excessive oil your skin produces over time.

Hydrating foundation

If you have dry skin, look for a hydrating foundation that includes special ingredients to give your skin the extra moisture it requires. Some, like those that include hyaluronic acid – a well-known hydrating ingredient – are good for all skin types and can help maintain moisture levels, Leong said.

Foundation with SPF

Sun protection should be part of your skin care routine every single morning to help guard against UV rays and accelerated signs of aging (not to mention skin cancer). An easy way to make that happen is to choose makeup and skin care products with SPF to provide extra protection. Many foundations with SPF include ratings ranging from 15 to 35 or higher. If your favorite foundation doesn’t include sun protection, make sure to pair it with a moisturizer with SPF so you don’t leave the house unprotected.

Best foundation for mature skin

As your skin matures, your makeup choices should, too. The same foundation you used in your 20s and 30s might not be the best choice in your 40s or 50s. When looking for the best foundation for mature skin, look for products with ingredients that support a smoother, younger and brighter looking complexion.

Multi-function foundations

Thanks to the skinification trend, you can often find foundations that provide more than one skin care benefit while also providing the shade and coverage you want. Artistry Future Glow™ Serum Foundation or Artistry Ever Perfect™ Longwearing Foundation is a good example. When formulating the product, Artistry skin care experts identified ingredients and technologies to improve skin’s appearance, Leong said.

“In addition to providing buildable coverage in 17 different shades for 10-plus hours, Artistry Future Glow Serum Foundation includes skin-caring ingredients to target two main issues: The look of skin imperfections, like premature signs of aging, and complexion concerns about skin tone and radiance,” she said.

The foundation includes ingredients derived from plants grown on Nutrilite farms or partner farms to support skin’s health and appearance, including extracts from white chia seed, pomegranate and rosemary. It also features a plant-based collagen, a hyaluronic acid complex and a patented brightening blend.

It uses liposome technology, a special delivery system designed like a protective bubble of lipid molecules that the skin can recognize and absorb, effectively delivering key ingredients within skin’s surface.

“We believe Artistry Future Glow Serum Foundation is the ideal ‘makeup plus skincare’ product,” Leong said. “By combining plant-based ingredients, advanced skincare technology and our proven makeup know-how, we’ve created a perfect pairing of makeup and skincare in one.”

Healthy, clean foundation makeup

One other thing you may want to consider when choosing a foundation is whether or not the product meets clean beauty standards. Artistry Future Glow Serum Foundation meets Artistry Clean standards. That means it was formulated with no mineral oil, parabens, phthalates or any of the 1700+ other ingredients on the Artistry No-No List. It’s also Registered with the Vegan Society.

Clean beauty standards can vary for different products or brands, so it’s important to read labels and visit websites to get the whole picture. If you have to look too hard to find it, you might want to consider a different product.