Foundation is the most important make up asset.  Foundation helps to cover up blemishes and give skin a beautiful look and glow.  However, if applied incorrectly it could end up being a fatal disaster of embarrassment.  There is nothing worse than having a face and neck two different colors.  Foundation is meant to be applied but to appear as if you never applied anything to your skin!

If you walk into any store that sells foundation you may become overwhelmed with the variety of choices that you have.  Such options include: liquid, powder, cream, oil-free, matte, stick, hypoallergenic, and cream to powder foundations.  For the beginner, the basic foundations that you should choose from are cream, powder and liquid foundations.  They are the easiest to apply.  

Cream foundations leave the skin with a creamy soft finish and come in the forms of foundation sticks or compacts.  Normally people with dry skin should use this foundation.  Powder foundations are great because they are fast to put on and great for touch ups.  This foundation is great for oily skin.  Liquid foundations give the skin its most natural look with a foundation and it is sheer giving you a natural glow.  Liquid foundation is a great choice for people with normally balanced skin.

How do you find the right color?  If you can’t go to a makeup artist you are going to have to find the right color on your own.  While looking at different foundations but the foundation on the back of your wrist.  This is an area of your body that will match closely to the skin color of your face.  Also, try to view the foundation in natural sunlight.  Sometimes under artificial light the foundation will appear to latch but as soon as you step outside you are two toned.  There fore make sure you have the right lighting.

In terms of applying the foundation follow these rules according to the foundation of your choice.  Cream foundations should be blended into the skin using long strokes with a cosmetic sponge.  Make sure you are not rubbing the foundation into your skin, rather smoothing it across.  Powder foundations can by applied with long, lightly pressed strokes across the face.  Liquid foundations should be applied little by little and blended into your skin color.  It is very easy to over apply liquid foundations and be left with a cake face.

Some great foundations that have a variety of options such as matte, liquid, powder, cream, etc. are the following brands: Revlon, Maybelline and L’Oreal.  They are expensive but well worth the investment.  Depending on your use these foundations can last you anywhere from three to six months.