how to find the best foundation for your skin

“Look for products that are noncomedogenic,” says King. When it comes to liquid and cream foundations, oil-free formulas are great if you’re dealing with sensitive, breakout-prone skin. a dry and cool environment-as powder turns darker when it gets wet. Pro tip: If you are leaning towards powder, Henao suggests only using it in specific climates-a.k.a. Powder (or mineral) foundations can work for oily complexions, but you should avoid them if you have dry skin. “Even if you’re oily, I would choose a liquid-water and oil are basic ingredients your skin naturally produces and has, so when that natural oil comes out, liquid will sit on your skin much better than a powder.” “I love the finish a liquid foundation gives the skin,” Henao says.

If you have prominent dark circles that skew blue or purple, using products with peachy or golden undertones can reduce their appearance.Ĭhoosing the right formula (such as liquid, cream, or powder) depends on your complexion, but unless you’re gunning for a particularly matte look, liquid or cream is usually a good place to start. For example, if you have redness, foundations with yellow bases (and even green-tinted color-correcting products) can offset that. In addition to matching your foundation color to your natural undertones, you can use these shades strategically to address your specific concerns. “If none of the colors associated with undertones stand out as obvious, you have neutral undertones.”

“Any skin color can have cool, warm, or neutral undertones,” King tells us. Keep in mind that undertones have nothing to do with how light or dark your complexion is. “If your chest and shoulders tend to be more red and pink, it’s safe to say you have pink undertones, or if you’re golden, peach, and yellow, you have warmer undertones. “I recommend looking at the exposed areas of the body first,” he says. This can be a difficult task for even the most seasoned beauty vet, but Henao breaks it down in a way that’s easy to digest.

Determining whether you have warm, cool, or neutral undertones is key to picking the best foundation color to match your skin, so you don't end up looking unnaturally orange or pink.

How to find the best foundation for your skin