Foundation Basics

So, you are at a drug store or a Sephora, and you are looking for a new foundation. What are you going to pick? Do you even know where to start? Well if you have no idea, I shall help you!

First you have to determine which type of skin you have. This is because if you choose a foundation that is either to dry or to oily for your face, you may breakout or dry out. Knowing what skin type you have will help you also choose products for skin care, like cleanser, toner and moisturizer.

Oily Skin:

Your skin is oily all over, may be acne prone, acne scars. This is caused by glands that produce too much sebum on your face, causing it to appear greasy and shiny. The oily blocks pores, and causes acne, your purse may also appear larger on your nose or forehead.

Dry Skin:

Dry all over, splotchy, red, dry patches, flakey. This can also be referred to as "sensitive skin" on packaging. This skin type is caused from the skin itself being delicate. It requires special care and maintenance. It is generally sensitive to alcohol, synthetic ingredients, fragrance, and artificial colours.

Combination Skin:

Usually this skin type is oily in the "T" zone (forehead down to the nose in a "T" shape) and dry everywhere else.

Normal Skin:

This type is not only a blessing to have, but also doesn't require much attention. It produces oils, but not a noticeable amount. It is not too dry. It generally stays plump and healthy looking.

Now you need to decide which foundation to choose.

Oily Skin:

Drug Store;

Loreal Magic Smooth Souffle foundation

This foundation is a creamy mousse texture. It makes your face look airbrushed. It's best applied with a flat foundation brush or a small stippling brush. This product needs to be set with either a translucent powder, or a powder foundation. It also shows up two shades darker when you first apply it, but once it's blended, it matches.

17-21$

Sephora;

Laura Mercier Silk Creme Foundation

This foundation is what it says, a creme. It is a full coverage foundation, it is oil free. The description says it's perfect for rosacea and hard to cover pigmentation. Best applied with either clean finger tips or a flat foundation brush.

42$

Sensitive Skin:

Drug Store;

Cover Girl Nature Luxe

This product works for sensitive/dry skin because it doesn't contain any harsh chemicals or irritating ingredients. It's natural, like Taylor Swift said "a light touch of cucumber!". Cucumber actually has a cooling effect on the skin, so dry irritated skin will feel more relieved. This is a light to medium coverage. This is a light to medium coverage.

Best applied with clean fingertips or a beauty sponge.

From 7-12$

Sephora;

Clinique Perfectly Real

Not only is this brand great for sensitive skin, this foundation is even better. It's hypoallergenic, oil free, and non-acnegeneic. It's light weight, and water based, so it definitely won't be irritating.

Best applied with a flat foundation brush or a stippling brush.

24$

Combonation Skin:

Drug Store;

L'oreal True Match

I love this foundation, this is the one I am currently using. What drew me to this foundation was the colour selection; they have at least 20 different shades. They offer cool tones and warm tones. (in cease you were wondering, I am C1, which is cool alabaster) It's very blend able and light, but has a medium to full coverage. It does need to be set with some sort go powder.

Best applied with a flat foundation brush, then continue to blend with a sponge.

13$

MAC;

MatchMaster foundation

This is a new product from MAC, and it uses translucent pigments to match the ones on your face, to create a perfect shade. It is a medium to full coverage. It has a semi-matte finish, which is perfect for combo skin!

Best applied with a stippling brush.

39$

Normal skin:

It really depends on what coverage you want. You can pretty much wear any type of foundation, well ones that aren't specific to another skin type (like oily or sensitive).

Sephora; (full coverage)

Make Up Forever HD Foundation

This foundation flawlessly covers any imperfections and is long lasting.

Best applied with a stippling brush, and blended with your a beauty sponge.

40$

(light coverage)

Urban Defence Tinted Moisturizer

Really, any tinted moisturizer will work if you don't want the effect of a fully covered face. I like Urban Decay because they are cruelty free, which is important to me!

Best applied with your fingers, and does not need to be set with any powders.

30$

Drug Store; (light coverage)

Maybelline Fit Me foundation

Light coverage, lets your skin come through. Blendable and smooth, its a natural finish and makes your skin dewy.

Best applied with a foundation brush.

7-13$

(full coverage)

Revlon ColorStay

(yes this says for oily/combo skin, but so many reviews say it sides, so its better for normal)

This foundation is build able and long lasting. It also gives a matte finish.

Best applied with a beauty sponge.

11-16$

I hope this helped!

Foundation Basics & Picking the Right one

So, you are at a drug store or a Sephora, and you are looking for a new foundation. What are you going to pick? Do you even know where to start? Well if you have no idea, I shall help you!

First you have to determine which type of skin you have. This is because if you choose a foundation that is either to dry or to oily for your face, you may breakout or dry out. Knowing what skin type you have will help you also choose products for skin care, like cleanser, toner and moisturizer.

Oily Skin:

Your skin is oily all over, may be acne prone, acne scars. This is caused by glands that produce too much sebum on your face, causing it to appear greasy and shiny. The oils blocks pores, and causes acne, your pores may also appear larger on your nose or forehead.

Dry Skin:

Dry all over, splotchy, red, dry patches, flakey. This can also be referred to as "sensitive skin" on packaging. This skin type is caused from the skin itself being delicate. It requires special care and maintenance. It is generally sensitive to alcohol, synthetic ingredients, fragrance, and artificial colours.

Combination Skin:

Usually this skin type is oily in the "T" zone (forehead down to the nose in a "T" shape) and dry everywhere else.

Normal Skin:

This type is not only a blessing to have, but also doesn't require much attention. It produces oils, but not a noticeable amount. It is not too dry. It generally stays plump and healthy looking.

Now you need to decide which foundation to choose.

Oily Skin:

Drug Store;

Loreal Magic Smooth Souffle foundation

This foundation is a creamy mousse texture. It makes your face look airbrushed. It's best applied with a flat foundation brush or a small stippling brush. This product needs to be set with either a translucent powder, or a powder foundation. It also shows up two shades darker when you first apply it, but once it's blended, it matches.

17-21$

Sephora;

Laura Mercier Silk Creme Foundation

This foundation is what it says, a creme. It is a full coverage foundation, it is oil free. The description says it's perfect for rosacea and hard to cover pigmentation. Best applied with either clean finger tips or a flat foundation brush.

42$

Sensitive Skin:

Drug Store;

Cover Girl Nature Luxe

This product works for sensitive/dry skin because it doesn't contain any harsh chemicals or irritating ingredients. It's natural, like Taylor Swift said "a light touch of cucumber!". Cucumber actually has a cooling effect on the skin, so dry irritated skin will feel more relieved. This is a light to medium coverage. This is a light to medium coverage.

Best applied with clean fingertips or a beauty sponge.

From 7-12$

Sephora;

Clinique Perfectly Real

Not only is this brand great for sensitive skin, this foundation is even better. It's hypoallergenic, oil free, and non-acnegeneic. It's light weight, and water based, so it definitely won't be irritating.

Best applied with a flat foundation brush or a stippling brush.

24$

Combonation Skin:

Drug Store;

L'oreal True Match

I love this foundation, this is the one I am currently using. What drew me to this foundation was the colour selection; they have at least 20 different shades. They offer cool tones and warm tones. (in cease you were wondering, I am C1, which is cool alabaster) It's very blend able and light, but has a medium to full coverage. It does need to be set with some sort go powder.

Best applied with a flat foundation brush, then continue to blend with a sponge.

13$

MAC;

MatchMaster foundation

This is a new product from MAC, and it uses translucent pigments to match the ones on your face, to create a perfect shade. It is a medium to full coverage. It has a semi-matte finish, which is perfect for combo skin!

Best applied with a stippling brush.

39$

Normal skin:

It really depends on what coverage you want. You can pretty much wear any type of foundation, well ones that aren't specific to another skin type (like oily or sensitive).

Sephora; (full coverage)

Make Up Forever HD Foundation

This foundation flawlessly covers any imperfections and is long lasting.

Best applied with a stippling brush, and blended with your a beauty sponge.

40$

(light coverage)

Urban Defence Tinted Moisturizer

Really, any tinted moisturizer will work if you don't want the effect of a fully covered face. I like Urban Decay because they are cruelty free, which is important to me!

Best applied with your fingers, and does not need to be set with any powders.

30$

Drug Store; (light coverage)

Maybelline Fit Me foundation

Light coverage, lets your skin come through. Blendable and smooth, its a natural finish and makes your skin dewy.

Best applied with a foundation brush.

7-13$

(full coverage)

Revlon ColorStay

(yes this says for oily/combo skin, but so many reviews say it sides, so its better for normal)

This foundation is build able and long lasting. It also gives a matte finish.

Best applied with a beauty sponge.

11-16$

I hope this helped!

Tips on Keeping your Hair Healthy

It can be hard finding hair products that are good for your hair and actually work. Not only that, but doing little things to your hair that can make a huge difference. Like using heat on it everyday, or not using conditioner. Heres a short video with tips on keeping your hair healthy so it can grow more:

The general complaint is dry, dull, brittle hair. I never hear people complain about having thick, luscious, shiny hair. So in order to fix the dry hair theres a few products I recommend using:

Macadamia Oil Deep Repair Mask; Wash your hair with for shampoo, then ring it out so its damp [or towel dry it]. Then apply enough to coat your ends, or where ever your hair is driest. And leave it on for 7-10 minutes, and rinse. This is my favourite product! It makes your hair so silky and smooth, and it feels super healthy.

33$ for 8.5 oz here or trade secrets, ulta, even some awl-marts and drug stores sell now

If you don't blow dry your hair you can apply an oil treatment, like argan oil. use about a nickel sized amount on your hands and rub them together to make it heated, and then continue to apply it on the bottom half of your hair.

13.50$ at Sally Beauty

If you do blow dry your hair apply a heat protectant, like Tresemme heat tamer spray, or CHI iron guard, all over your hair. Blow dry. Then when it's dry, apply CHI silk infusions. I say to use this instead of the Argon oil because you are doing more damage when you blow dry, and the silk infusions will help repair it over time.

Tresemme: 7$ Wal-Mart, drugstores. CHI: 12-20$ Target, Ulta, Shoppers, Trade Secrets

CHI silk infusion: 12$ for 2 oz, 21$ for 6 oz. Wal-Mart, Shoppers, Ulta, Target, Trade Secret

Then when you are styling, you can use a shine spray. I like ION anti-frizz spray. Just spray it all over, not too much at the roots, you don't want to look greasy!

8$ Sally Beauty

I hope this helped! Enjoy your shiny, healthy hair! :)

Packing

I'm going home today for the weekend, and I don't have any products there, so I must pack everything I use. Well, the things I use everyday.

If you click on the image, it will take you to my Flickr, where I have labelled all the products I bring when I travel.

Here's what I take skin care wise:

Hope you found this interesting, have a good weekend :)