It isn’t only the shade which plays a big role when purchasing foundation, but also the texture. And since each person’s skin has different needs, it shouldn’t only be that your skincare is tailored to your type, but also your foundation. The goal of using foundation is to balance the appearance of the skin and to maintain the most even complexion possible. If you choose a foundation that is not optimally matched to your skin type, you will end up instead calling attention to that which you’re trying to conceal. Though the key to getting successful foundation results is and remains a well-balanced skincare routine!

Regarding my recommendations in this article, I am referring exclusively to natural foundations – and their ingredients support other natural & organic skincare products.

There are basically three types of foundation: liquid foundation, cream foundation and mineral / powder foundation. And depending on your skin type, one of them may work better for you than the others.

Dry skin / Dehydrated skin

Your skin is usually rough or tense, flakes easily (especially in winter time), is often itchy – and also tends to redden. It feels slack and thin, and is accentuated with small wrinkles. This is an indication that the skin doesn’t produce enough fats and thus cannot store enough moisture.

So that the result of applying foundation doesn’t end up “crumbly” or flaky – and also that the skin doesn’t feel even drier throughout the day – a liquid foundation, with its light and fluid texture, is best. Thanks to its aloe vera base, the ILIA Beauty True Skin Serum Foundation provides especially dry skin with enough moisture and gives it a fresh, plump feeling. A tinted day cream is also a good alternative to a full coverage foundation – as it is very light, and simultaneously nourishes & moisturizes. The ILIA Beauty Sheer Vivid Tinted Moisturizer SPF 20 has a light sun protection factor and is available in several shades.

Oily skin / Acne-prone skin

Your complexion is oily, accentuated by large pores, and it tends to easily blemish. Your skin produces too much sebum, which makes it very shiny and clogs the pores, causing pimples and inflammation.

To take some of that shine away – and to prevent your foundation from melting due to the natural oils in your skin – a foundation with little or no oil is advisable. A mineral foundation would therefore be optimal. The HIRO Mineral Foundation SPF 25 contains zinc oxide, which is anti-inflammatory and dehydrating. It has a high opacity which allows it to cover even more noticeable impurities and acne.

If you’d still rather use a liquid foundation, it is best to first prep the face with a transparent powder – just make sure not to use too much powder, as this will stimulate the skin to produce even more sebum. The No Doubt Natural Foundation from HIRO Cosmetics, for instance, has a light matte finish with high opacity and contains thyme and oregano – to help combat blemishes. So your face won’t necessarily need a pre-powdering.

Mature skin

At a certain age, the skin’s needs begin to change. It loses much of its elasticity, slight pigmentation spots appear, small wrinkles form – and it needs much more moisture & fat than before.

Therefore, not only should your skincare routine be full of enriching ingredients, but your makeup products should be likewise rich in nourishing oils, like the Kjaer Weis Cream Foundation or the ‘Un’ Cover-up Cream Foundation by rms Beauty. Both are heavily pigmented, but can also be applied moderately and/or partially with the fingers for a lighter application.

To provide the skin (especially underneath the eyes) with a good base, you can use products which contain light-reflecting particles that make the skin shine. With its aloe vera base, the ILIA True Skin Radiant Priming Serum moisturises and tightens the skin naturally without the use of silicones – and can be worn as is. Eye creams, such as Tata Harper’s Illuminating Eye Cream or Absolution’s Le Soin Regard give a tautness to the delicate area around the eye, and have a natural blurring effect. A similar effect can be achieved by adding a bit of cream highlighter to your concealer: this is where the liquid Le Multi Correcteur from Absolution could come in handy.

Sensitive skin

If your skin reacts quickly to external influences – such as sun, cold, certain ingredients and even pressure (for example, when cleaning the face) – with irritation, redness and distension, it needs to be given special attention.

First & foremost, it should be ensured that the skin is calmed and the potential triggers are minimized. Therefore, a suitable primer for this skin type is a product that reduces redness and fights inflammation, such as the Soothing Gel from Dr. Alkaitis or PAI Skincare’s Sea Aster & Wild Oat Instant Calm Redness Serum.

If you react to specific ingredients, like essential oils or other plant extracts, then look in advance to see exactly what the foundation you’ve chosen contains (in order to avoid an unnecessary reaction). If you want to cover very apparent blemishes, then you can try using the HIRO Mineral Foundation SPF 25, which offers strong coverage; it also acts as a sunscreen and contains only four ingredients. Other foundations, like the ILIA Beauty True Skin Serum Foundation or HIRO’s No Doubt Natural Foundation, contain anti-inflammatory and soothing ingredients like aloe vera, chamomile or marula oil. For those with highly sensitive skin: apply only as much as your skin can tolerate – and use only that which helps keep it in good condition.

Normal skin

This refers to the lucky ones that have no skin problems, because their skin is naturally balanced. If you have “normal” skin, then you can wear any type of foundation, mostly depending on which texture you prefer and the amount of coverage you’re looking for.

Even though I’m a makeup artist, I recommend leaving the skin completely bare for longer periods of time. Your skin will thank you. If you feel confident in your natural skin, then you will truly shine from the inside – and to achieve that feeling, foundation isn’t necessary!

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