Finding that one foundation that blends perfectly with our skin tone is nothing less than finding treasure. It is often even impossible to zero in on a single shade. If you are a makeup junkie, you must already have more than one foundation in your vanity case because it was difficult to choose your ‘Mr. Right’ while standing in the makeup aisles in the cosmetic store. But you can get ‘the one’ without burning holes in your wallet and save your skin from chemical damage at the same time. How? Just by making your customized foundation at home. Let us share the best homemade powder and liquid foundation recipes and the low-down on the cosmetic.
What is a Foundation?
Foundation is a type of face makeup that forms, as the name mentions, the ‘foundation’ or ‘base’ for the remaining part of the makeup. It creates a uniform canvas for a perfect look by evening out the color to the complexion, correcting the skin tone, and smoothing all over the face. It also blurs imperfections or sometimes even covers flaws like blemishes, marks, and pigmentation to some extent. The foundation
is the groundwork for an entire makeup look, making it one of the most essential makeup products and a staple in makeup bags worldwide. (1) However, it is not one-size-fits-all; hence, you can find foundations available in the market in various formulae, coverages, and finishes.
Based on the formula and the consistency, some foundations may work as moisturizers, sunscreens, and even astringents. When applied all over the body, the foundation is generally named ‘body makeup’ or ‘body painting’.
Different Types of Foundations
Using the correct product type is crucial when laying the ‘foundation’ for a flawless makeup appearance. As mentioned earlier, commercially available foundations can differ widely regarding ingredients, consistency, and texture. Each of them has its own set of advantages and disadvantages. If you pick the right one, you can significantly enhance the original color of your skin by warming it up and softening redness. Here are the main types of foundation formulae that you can choose from (2):
1. Liquid Foundation
This is the most common and celebrated foundation makeup so far. A liquid foundation is a beautiful option to even out larger skin patches, providing medium coverage with a natural finish. No matter your skin type, a liquid foundation will always feel like the ‘real skin’ on it and give it a gorgeous look. However, the trick lies in the quantity of the product used. It should also be blended very well.
2. Powder Foundation
A powder foundation generally comes in travel-friendly packaging and has been the second most popular. If your skin is oily (with fewer fine lines), it can be your BFF. It has a drier formula with lighter coverage. While a powder foundation may not be a great option to layer on and camouflage the imperfections, it can reduce shine beautifully upon light application with a powder brush. Moreover, it is straightforward to apply and looks most like natural skin.
3. Cream Foundation
Being rich in emollients, a cream foundation holds a smoother and thicker consistency. So, it works fabulously for dry and mature skin. Women with facial pits and scars can also benefit from a cream foundation as it fills the surface and mimics the skin effortlessly. When used with a shine-control primer and an oil-control moisturizer, it also decently suits oily skin. In short, the cream formula works well with almost all skin types and gives a natural finish.
Also Read – How To Apply Liquid Foundation – Life-Changing Tips & Tricks
4. Stick Foundation
This is ‘foundation-in-a-stick,’ which is highly convenient and easy to cover blemishes like spots, marks, and pigmentation. In other words, it works like a concealer and is best for targeted applications. The consistency of the product tends to be like a thick cream so that it can be blended quite readily. You can throw it into your purse or makeup pouch and use it on the go.
However, with more and more brands churning out trendy and practical makeup foundations, the list does not end here. Check out below some of the latest formulations that have made makeup enthusiasts’ lives way too easier:
- Serum Foundation: It is a revised version of liquid foundation, which combines makeup and skincare with its powerful serum formula.
- Water-Based Foundation: Here is another variant of liquid foundation meant for oily and acne-prone skin, as it uses water as its base ingredient instead of oils.
- Tinted Moisturizer: Those who prefer a bright, dewy complexion with an even skin tone over hiding imperfections may find this lightweight product a real deal.
- BB Cream (Blemish Balm/Beauty Balm): Suitable for all skin types, this creamy formula helps moisturize skin, increasing its tone and adding a hint of color.
- CC Cream (Color Correcting): This hydrating formula also gives a fresh and bright look with a light layer of coverage and a natural tint by making the skin tone even.
Mineral Powder Foundation is a trendy option these days. Unlike the pressed powder foundation, it comes in a sifter with a loose and dust-like texture and consistency. You can pick it in place of a powder compact for setting or touching up your makeup.
Coverages Offered by Foundations
As you have already learned, the coverages provided by different foundation formulations are also quite variable. The options you get are as follows:
1. High/Full Coverage
This perfectly paints the face and leaves you with a flawless canvas by masking everything (blemishes, dark circles, acne marks, and even tattoos) with its 50% pigment content. And yes, sometimes you may not even need a concealer with it!
2. Medium Coverage
With up to 23% pigment, this kind of coverage can conceal imperfections (redness, spots, freckles, and blemishes) to some extent while still looking like skin.
3. Light/Sheer Coverage
If creating a no-makeup makeup look is the goal, this breathable coverage with a mere 18% pigment is the solution. It enhances the skin tone by evening out instead of hiding skin marks or blemishes.
There are also foundations with buildable coverage, which can be layered to build the coverage up to the desired levels. This is the best option when you need different degrees of coverage in different areas of your skin.
Types of Foundation Finish
Knowing about the finishes offered by different foundation formulations to ace your makeup looks is essential. Here we go:
- Natural Finish: Looks almost similar to your natural skin, with neither too little nor too much glow.
- Matte Finish: A dull, flat finish without a shine, trendy among oily-skinned beauties.
- Dewy Finish: A soft, radiant, and lustrous finish admired by women with dry skin.
How to Choose the Perfect Foundation Shade
While selecting the most appropriate foundation shade for yourself, consider your undertone first. Yes, the color underneath your skin’s surface can make the shades look different on you. So, keep the following guidelines in mind:
- Warm Undertone: Go for products with yellow or golden undertones. Avoid anything too pink or red.
- Cool Undertone: Find products with pink and red undertones. Avoid anything golden or too orange.
- Neutral Undertone: Look for balanced shades that are slightly golden. Avoid anything completely yellow, golden, red, or pink.
How to Make Foundations at Home
As you know almost everything about makeup foundations, it is time to make your version at home. It is safe, affordable, and straightforward to make. Most importantly, you can customize the shade as per your requirements. Isn’t it interesting? So, here are a few recipes of the two most common varieties – powder foundation and liquid foundation:
DIY – Homemade Powder Foundation Recipes
A powder foundation, called ‘foundation powder,’ can be prepared at home in several ways. Let us start with the basic and the easiest one:
Recipe 1:
This recipe doesn’t include any minerals. Hence, the effect of the foundation might not be that long-lasting. However, you can try it if your love for your skin is more significant than your love for your makeup.
Ingredients:
- Arrowroot powder
- Cocoa powder
- Green clay
How-To:
- Pour the arrowroot powder into the green clay and mix well to form a uniform mixture.
- Add cocoa powder to it in a small amount and blend.
- Repeat step 2 until you find the perfect color for your skin tone.
Recipe 2:
This is a little more complex recipe with all-natural ingredients again. Your skin will love to be treated with it for sure.
Ingredients:
- Arrowroot powder
- Rice bran powder
- Orris root powder
- Cocoa powder
- Cinnamon powder
- Nutmeg powder
How-To:
- Put the arrowroot powder, rice bran powder, and orris root powder into a container one by one and blend well. It will form your foundation’s base, ensuring consistency is even.
- Now, keep adding cocoa powder, cinnamon powder, and nutmeg powder in small quantities to this base until you obtain the right shade to fit your skin tone.
Recipe 3:
Here is another recipe that uses all-natural ingredients. Some of them can even enrich your skin with added benefits.
Ingredients:
- Arrowroot powder
- Bentonite clay
- Cocoa powder
- Cinnamon powder
- Nutmeg powder
- Ginger powder
- Vitamin E oil
- Lavender essential oil
How-To:
- Prepare the base by mixing arrowroot powder with bentonite clay.
- Next, whisk vitamin E oil and lavender essential oil into the mixture.
- Add the color options, i.e., cocoa powder, cinnamon powder, nutmeg powder, and ginger powder, in small portions to find the right shade for your complexion.
Recipe 4:
If you don’t care about the ingredients and are game for a mineral recipe, here is the one for you:
Ingredients:
- Arrowroot powder
- Kaolin clay
- Sericite mica
- Silk mica
- Ultrasilk mica (Satin Pearl or Diamond Pearl)
- Non-nano zinc oxide
- Tan iron oxide
- Brown iron oxide
- Yellow iron oxide
How-To:
- Take arrowroot powder, kaolin clay, sericite mica, silk mica, and Ultrasilk mica in a container and blend well to make the base.
- Add the rest of the ingredients, i.e., iron oxide, brown iron oxide, yellow iron oxide, and non-nano zinc oxide, to the base and adjust their quantities per your requirements.
DIY – Homemade Liquid Foundation Recipes
After the powdered version, it is time for its liquid counterpart. Here are a couple of recipes to prepare liquid foundation at home by yourself.
Recipe 1:
If you already have your DIY powder foundation ready, this simple recipe will take very little time for you.
Ingredients:
- Powder foundation (try any of the recipes above)
- Olive oil
- Sweet almond oil
- Apricot kernel oil
- Jojoba oil
- Facial moisturizer/lotion
- Essential oil (as per your preference)
How-To:
- Take the homemade powder foundation in a container and add 2-3 drops of olive oil, sweet almond oil, apricot kernel oil, and jojoba oil.
- Then, add facial moisturizer/lotion and the essential oil of your choice.
- Blend well to get a uniform consistency.
- Add the oil in 1-2 drops to get the right shade.
Recipe 2:
And finally, here is the more complex, long-lasting, and effective one.
Ingredients:
- Shea butter
- Aloe vera gel
- Kaolin clay
- Argan oil
- Emulsifying wax
- Witch hazel
- Non-nano zinc oxide
- Cocoa powder
- Mica powder of choice
How-To:
- Melt shea butter and emulsifying wax entirely in a double boiler.
- Pour argan oil into it. Also, add aloe vera gel and witch hazel. Whisk everything together to make it smooth and even.
- Cool the whole thing down.
- Add non-nano zinc oxide, kaolin clay, mica powder, and cocoa powder – all in tiny amounts.
- Keep increasing the quantities unless and until you reach your desired shade.
There is no hard and fast rule about the quantities of ingredients. It depends completely on your skin tone and how you want your foundation shade to be. So, keep playing around with the coloring components until it suits your needs.
A Few Tips to Remember
- Being very white, arrowroot powder should be used in moderation.
- Using rice bran powder is excellent for dry skin as it is a little creamy in texture and absorbs significantly less moisture.
- Before using cinnamon powder, ensure your skin is not sensitive to it.
- For a darker shade, nutmeg powder is a good option.
- When using bentonite clay, always use a non-metallic bowl for mixing, as it reacts with metal.
How to Apply Foundation Correctly
Finally, here is a step-by-step method to master the art of applying foundation for a flawless complexion:
- Clean your face with a gentle cleanser and pat it dry with a soft, clean towel.
- Whether you use a makeup brush, a wet makeup sponge, or your fingertips to apply the product, clean it thoroughly.
- Prepare your face with a good primer for an even and flawless makeup look.
- Now, apply the foundation of your choice. Using a brush, work the product into the skin using short, downward strokes. For a makeup sponge, use the rolling and dabbing motions. Then, dab it onto the skin with your index and middle fingers while using your fingertips.
- Blend the foundation evenly all around to ensure a skin-like finish.
- Set it with a translucent powder and a setting spray to avoid slipping and sliding.
Summary:
Foundation is a type of face makeup that creates a uniform canvas and acts as the groundwork for a flawless makeup look. So, choosing the right foundation formula from liquid, powder, cream, stick, serum, water-based, etc. is crucial to complement your unique skin tone and texture. Different types of foundation also come with a variety of coverage (full, medium, and sheer) and finishes (natural, matte, and dewy). While selecting the most appropriate foundation shade for yourself, you should consider your undertone. However, you can always make your own customized versions of powder and liquid foundation at home, which is safe, affordable, and extremely easy.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):
Can You Use Liquid Foundation and Powder Foundation Together?
Yes, using liquid and powder foundations to create a makeup base for combination skin is common.
How Do You Make a Foundation with Two Ingredients?
You can make a simple two-ingredient powder foundation to reach your desired shade by combining the cocoa powder with cornstarch in the perfect ratio.
Should You Use Powder after Liquid Foundation?
The powder is often used after liquid foundation and concealer to set the makeup for the entire day.
Is It Better to Apply Foundation with a Brush or Finger?
It depends on the formulation of your preferred foundation. A makeup brush works great for almost all foundation types, while fingers can be used efficiently for liquid and cream foundations.
Should I Put Foundation on My Eyelids?
No, putting foundation on eyelids as a base may cause your eye makeup to crease.
References:
- “Foundation (Cosmetics)“, Wikipedia.org
- “The 8 Main Types of Foundations, Demystified“, Byrdie.com
