As foundation is in direct contact with your skin for several hours in a day, it can affect how your skin looks and feels if you’re using a foundation that isn’t well-suited for your skin type. Moreover, modern foundations no longer just serve the purpose of evening out your skin tone or hiding your flaws. More often than not, foundations now come enriched with skincare ingredients that can help improve skin condition thanks to the long hours your skin comes in contact with it every day. For example, if you have oily skin that’s prone to congestion and breakouts, look for foundations that are oil-free and non-comedogenic. Some formulas also contain mattifying powders that help to absorb excess sebum for a shine-free finish. Similarly, if you have dry skin that is likely to have makeup sink into fine lines and wrinkles, look out for foundation that have richer, more nourishing formulas as they can help condition and plump skin. Ingredients like peptides and fatty acids help reduce the appearance of lines for a smooth and supple complexion.

While there are hundreds of foundations available in the market, you can easily narrow down that search by identifying what you personally like. If you like something that you can apply and touch up easily while being on the go, perhaps liquid or cream foundations are not the best choice. In that case, look at powder or cushion foundations that come in a compact case for you to carry around effortlessly. You can also consider the textures of your other products like highlighter and blusher because if most of them are in a powder form, you should probably consider powder foundation so you can layer them over easily without having to use a setting powder.

The world of foundation shades can be a confusing one because the technology involved in creating foundations of different shades and undertones rely on complex science. Thankfully, you don’t have to understand all that to be able to identify your undertone. All you have to do is look at the inside of your wrists or your palms. If your veins look greenish, it’s safe to assume that you have warm undertones. And if your veins look blueish or purplish, you probably have cool undertones. And if you’re lucky to have veins that are neither greenish or blueish, you might have neutral undertones, which means you are suited to wear virtually every colour your heart desires. Recognising your undertones can also go a long way beyond picking out the right foundation shade as it can also help in selecting makeup colours like blushers or even lipsticks.

It’s safe to say that when it comes to picking the exact shade of foundation, there is no shortcut. Avoid swatching on the back of your hands or even the inside of your arms when shopping for foundation, as these areas are hardly the same shade as the skin on your face and neck. The best way to test out foundation shades is to try them directly onto your face. Most sales assistants will test two or three shades on each side of your jawline, and the shade that blends seamlessly and seem to “disappear” into your skin is the perfect match for you. Needless to say, it’s best to go shopping with a bare face, or you can simply request for the sales assistant to help remove your makeup before testing the shades. If your skin is oily, your makeup might be prone to oxidation. To err on the safe side, don’t feel pressured to purchase instantly. Ask the sales assistant try two shades, one on each half of your face and observe how the foundations look after about two hours, as you might have to pick a slightly lighter shade to take into consideration how the foundation looks after oxidising.