For a foundation you want to look at whether you have large or small pores in choosing the texture of your foundation (cream, liquid or mineral base). As a Makeup Artist I have to make sure I carry products for every skin type to bring out the best in that person's skin and I am very selective in my choices.
My goal for this post is to recommend a product that preserves the health of your skin for daily wear. For parties and events and occasional wear there are many other products that can be used, since it is a short-term wear.
Note: Some girls won't need foundation because they are blessed with great skin! In that case I would choose a light powder for their complexion. Natural is the goal always.
Also, 90% of your results are driven by how you prep your skin. I will talk about the importance of Primers for certain skin types, and why most people don’t need them in another post.
One more thing that is important to mention is that foundation doesn’t need to be applied ALL over your skin. It should be used sparingly on parts you want to even out.
Oily Skin/Acne prone
For this skin type, the prepping step is the most IMPORTANT step in order to achieve flawless results and all day wear. If you’re prone to have your makeup sliding off/breaking apart by the middle of the day, or you can’t get enough blotting papers to soak up that oil, then you may be missing a crucial prepping step. For oily skin types there are many products on the market that you can apply prior to your foundation that can prevent oil production in the areas treated. I will go into that another time.
Goals: Reduce shine and oily appearance and one that doesn't slide off. Non-pore clogging ingredients
Problems: Large pores, scarring, too much oil production
Find a liquid mattifying foundation that is oil-free and full coverage. I say liquid because it is perfectly absorbed in these skin types. A good drugstore one is Maybelline Matte + Poreless foundation for oily skin. It is non-pore clogging and has a great finish. Estee Lauder double wear is a good one for a higher end product (But unfortunately after checking, it has some pore-clogging ingredients) that can be used for occasional wear.
A dupe for Estee Lauder double wear is Loreal colorstay - which is full coverage and is long lasting and non-pore clogging. For Acne prone skin Neutrogena skin clearing foundation is great as it also combines salicylic acid to treat the acne. But be sure you are not using any retinoids/retinol while using this foundation, as retinoids and salicylic acid have a strong tendency to sensitize the skin when combined.
A powder foundation is also a good option and I would highly recommend Cover Fx pressed mineral foundation. It is very gentle on the skin and infact was made for ‘burn patients’ who suffered burns and needed to cover up. Cover FX has a great line with skin gentle ingredients, and non-pore clogging ingredients so I would recommend this for everyday use over drug store products if you want to invest.
Dry/Sensitive
Goals: Hydrating foundation that doesn't get patchy.
Problems: Patchiness, flaking
Find a dewy/satin finish liquid foundation with hydrating properties. Do not go for mineral base or powder foundations as you will notice it clings on to dry patches. I would highly recommend the Tarte Tinted moisturizer as it is very skin friendly and has lots of hydrating properties. It is a BB cream so it will have a light coverage. But it will keep your skin hydrated and glowing all day.
For a drugstore brand the Loreal True Match Lumi foundation. It is non-pore clogging and has a nice dewy finish.
For a high end full coverage 24-hr stay foundation I would recommend the Dior Forever Undercover full coverage foundation. It is hands down one of my all-time favorites. Its effectiveness is evident in it’s longevity and non-cakey look. It is known to blur imperfections and hydrate the skin and does exactly that!
Normal/Combination
Goals: Even out any dry and oily areas in one foundation. Normal is quite lucky as it will suit a wide range of products
Problems: T zone, different skin textures, fine pores
A normal skin type with fine pores is better off with a cream base as it won't slide off throughout the day. A liquid will be just fine if you have medium to large pores. A great cream foundation would be MAC Studio Conceal and correct Palette, but I wouldn’t use this everyday as it can be heavy.
Combination skin would also benefits from Loreal True match Lumi Foundation and Tarte Tinted Moisturizer.
Cover FX Power Play foundation is also a great full coverage foundation for all skin types as it is water-proof, sweat-proof, transfer-proof and blurs the appearance of pores. It is currently in my top 3 considering its overall flawless finish, skin friendly ingredients, light-weight feel and a little goes a long way.
A powder foundation like Cover Fx pressed mineral foundation is also a great option to balance out the skin.
Mature Skin
Goals: Hydrating, reduces fine lines and wrinkles, natural extracts
Problems: Age spots, fine lines, dry
This skin type requires care and something more to invest in. High end products that would be great is the YSL La touche Eclatte foundation with a silk finish. It contains Vit-e to combat signs of fatigue and wrinkles.
My personal go to at the moment is MAC studio conceal and Corrector palette in Medium deep for occasional use. It suits my skin type which is a normal/combination skin type and it does the job of color correcting, foundation & contouring all in one palette. What more could you want?
For everyday wear I wear cover FX pressed mineral foundation and also the Cover FX power Play foundation which I spoke about above if I want more coverage!!
I hope these tips help!