Foundation is one of the primary makeup products which can flawlessly hide any skin disturbances. It is an essential item for covering blemishes, cracked skin, wrinkles, and much more. There are a plethora of foundation colors, shades, and finishes available in the market, which can make buying one seem like a daunting task. On top of that, it is easy to misjudge undertones and formula oxidization. Considering all factors, we have compiled certain skin foundation buying tips. Take a look:

Know your skin type
It is crucial to know your skin type to buy a perfect foundation. If you have oily skin, pick a matte-finish liquid or a powder foundation. For dry skin, it’s best to buy a hydrating powder foundation that has a creamy consistency. Combination skin types (oily in some places and dry in others) should mix and match both formulas or simply pick matte foundations.

Pick the right shade
One of the most important factors of buying a skin foundation is matching it with your skin tone. The perfect way to do this is to place a small patch on your jawline or neck. The right shade will easily blend into your skin color. If you are confused between two or more shades, choose the slightly darker (not too dark) shade as the lighter one will make you look cakey and artificial.

Understand your undertones
Sometimes skin foundation shade differences are extremely subtle, and the only variation is in the undertones. Warm, cool, and neutral are the three categories of undertones. Warm undertone is golden, cool is pink or red, and neutral is a mix of both. Since it can be confusing to determine which is what, remember the following important tips:

• A cool undertone person likely has a rosy tint to their skin and bluish veins appear on the wrist.
• If you have green veins easily seen on the wrist or neck or have a golden/yellow skin tone, you have a warm undertone.
• A combination of blue and green veins apparent on the wrist indicates a neutral undertone.

Determine your coverage level
If you wear makeup occasionally or want to show off your freckles, then pick a sheer to medium coverage foundation. However, if you wear makeup daily, suffer from acne, and hate midday touches, you should choose a full-coverage foundation. Some foundations are multipurpose and can be built-up for both day and evening looks.

Test it under natural light
It’s best to test your foundation under natural light to match its shade or undertone to your skin. But make sure you’re not sweating, and your skin is bare, to understand its true color. You can also take a selfie with a flash, to understand if the foundation appears lighter or darker in light. Also, the foundation may oxidize after your skin dries or sets. Hence it is best to take a sample and test it for a day before investing money.