Starting Off: Foundation

Helllooooo my fellow beauty fanatics! Week number 3's #theSOproject post is all about foundation!!  A HUGE and possibly biggest part of makeup!  In this post I'll explain the basics of foundation, including what it does, the different types and my favourite types/brands!  I will also go into the ever so confusing world of tinted moisturisers and BB creams, which I think probably come under the same category!

What is foundation?

Foundation is skin coloured makeup that is applied to the face to create more even skintone.  These days, there are so many different types of foundation - which can get so confusing when trying to find a new one!  They can range from thick liquids in the form of concealer, to light tinted moisturisers that just simply provide a hint of colour to a washed out face. There are also the newest products on the scene - BB creams (blemish balms) which are similar to tinted moisturisers in terms of coverage, but claim to provide extra skin benefits. Some foundations can even cover up discolouration, pigmentation, blemishes etc.  The thickest foundations are similar to concealer in the sense that they aim to "cover up", however they are not as thick/pigmented as it is meant for the whole face and not just certain problem areas.  Some foundations aim to provide more coverage (opacity) than others. For example, the different levels of coverage are shown below and are very important when choosing your foundation;

Sheer - This is the lightest coverage of all foundations.  Usually this coverage is found more in tinted moisturisers/BB creams than actual 'foundations', as it doesn't aim to COVER discolouration, but more minimise the obvious contrast between redness and normal skin tone.
Light - This is the next stage up and is perfect if you don't want anything too thick, as it won't aim to cover freckles, but will cover any redness/blotchiness and still give you a healthy glow.
Medium - Getting heavier, this will cover freckles, redness and blemishes, but gets a little harder to blend if in liquid form.
Full - This is the most opaque form of foundation and completely covers the skin creating a brand new base.  It can cover birthmarks and scars, however beware, it can be very heavy and can go very wrong if using the wrong tools or shade.

Different types of foundation

Tinted Moisturisers - This is the probably the lightest form, as it doesn't tend to cover blemishes etc as it is more of a moisturiser.  It is best used for adding a little glow and evening out skin tone.  Great if you want the no makeup look.
Popular examples: Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturiser, No7 Triple Protection Tinted Moisturiser.

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BB creams - The newest kid on the block, thanks to their popularity in Asia. Stands for Blemish Balm (however some are actually beauty balms, which aren't the same). Blemish Balms are promoted as magic creams, which claim to do absolutely everything - prime for makeup, moisturise, conceal blemishes and also brighten up dull skin.  Literally all singing all dancing!
Popular examples: Garnier BB Miracle Cream, Maybelline Dream Fresh BB Cream, Dr Jart+ Regenerating Beauty Balm.

Liquid - This is my all time favourite, and probably the most popular of all foundation types.  It can range from sheer to full coverage, with a range a shades across the spectrum and can be matched to any skin type.
Popular examples: Bourjois Healthy Mix, Rimmel Match Perfection, MAC Face + Body Foundation.

Cream - Can come in stick or compact form, and can sometimes dry to a powder finish (cream to powder foundation).   As it is thicker in consistency, it would probably suit the dryer skin types which maybe want a little extra coverage.
Popular examples: Rimmel Match Perfection Cream Compact Foundation, Clinique Even Better Compact Foundation.

Powder -  Powder foundations come in loose or pressed form and can either be applied alone for builable coverage, or to set liquid foundation.  If using powder foundation on it's own, it would be best for the oilier skin types as it aims to mattify the skin and can turn cakey if you go overboard.
Popular examples: Revlon Colourstay Pressed Powder, Rimmel Stay Matte Pressed Powder.

Mineral -  Another new form of foundation, and one that I have been newly introduced to!  Can come in pressed or loose powder form, this aims to provide all over flawless coverage, while still being good for your skin as it contains less ingredients than normal foundation.  Mineral makeup is becoming more and more popular of late.
Popular examples: bareMinerals foundation, L'Oreal True Match Minerals.

My Favourite Foundations

My skin type is quite hard to pinpoint! I'd probably say it is normal to combination/sensitive (slightly oily t-zone by the end of the day), with my nose being extremely pesky.  Whenever I get blemishes, they ALWAYS occur on or around my nose, and my nose is constantly red! #rudolph - grrr. I have always found that powder just doesn't sit right on my nose if applied on it's own.  Given this, I have always opted for a concealer, then just a light coverage of liquid foundation, adding a little pressed powder to reduce the shiny forehead.  However, I have recently tried mineral powder and it has really opened my eyes and changed my opinion on powder. Loved it!

My favourite foundations of the moment are:

Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum - using my Real Techniques Buffing Brush or Expert Face Brush.
Rimmel Stay Matte Pressed Powder - just a little to set my liquid foundation using my Real Techniques Powder Brush.
bareMinerals foundation from the Get Started Kit.  I usually use the brushes that came in the kit. See my full review on the kit here.

I'm in the market for a good BB cream to try, so send your recommendations my way please!

So here endeth the absolutely MAHOOSIVE post on foundation! I hope it all makes sense, (and really hope I haven't missed anything/got anything wrong).  Looking forward to reading all of your posts and learning from you all :)

Thanks for reading (if you managed to get to the end without falling asleep, ha)