When it comes to finding the right foundation fit, today, colour is no longer an issue. The brands embracing diversity, and including a wide range of shades in their colour collections are also some of our favourites. Editor Trudi Brewer shares the new face of foundation that is frankly long overdue.
Image Fenty Beauty swatches of the Pro Filt'r Soft Matte Longwear Foundation
You can thank the smash hit beauty brand Fenty Beauty, and it’s founder Rihanna, for shining the light on beauty diversity. The brand launched back in 2017, which prompted so many other beauty companies to upgrade their foundation shades to reflect the differences in our world and the people who live in it. Beauty brands have responded, and now the colour is no longer the barrier to finding an excellent makeup match. Primarily driven by social media, today it’s not just dark skin that brands are catering too. Young skin, mature skin, pale and dark skins - hallelujah to that we say. Here are some of the makeup brands offering great colour options and tip on how to find the ultimate foundation for you.
Fenty Beauty Pro Filt'r Soft Matte Longwear Foundation, $60.
The best-selling foundation in the Fenty Beauty line-up. This is the brand that has forever forced change when it comes to colour inclusion, for everyone of any ethnicity. This foundation offers 50 shades that are pore-diffusing, shine-free, and each contains a built-in climate-adaptive technology that’s resistant to sweat and humidity. It’s a light-as-air texture - with the tagline - you always look like you.
Top tip
Finding the right foundation starts with deciding on the formula you want to wear. For dry and more mature skin types, go for hydrating foundations that boost radiance. Oilier complexions opt for a matte or long-wear formulation.
Jane Iredale Beyond Matte Foundation, $90
It's a multi-tasking makeup that requires no primer, no concealer, and no powder, with this makeup those three beauty basics are all rolled into one formula. We can get a lightweight looking coverage if we apply it with our fingers and a medium to full coverage buffing it on with a brush. From uber pale beige to a very yellow-based dark brown - numbered 1-18.
Top tip
The finish of the makeup you choose should look healthy, and radiant once on the skin. It may sound obvious but the foundation should never look heavy, or caked on your face.
Huda Beauty #FauxFilter Foundation, $74.
Enriched with good-for-your-skin ingredients like argan and Centella oils, this hydrating makeup is fade-proof and blends seamlessly into any skin tone. Offering full-coverage with just one pump, there are 30 shades in total.
Top tip
Think about the finish you want to wear. A light coverage foundation or a tinted moisturiser vs. a medium coverage or full coverage. Some foundations can be built-up, depending on the tools you use. Finding your perfect foundation match really is about the finish you are comfortable wearing.
Marc Jacobs Shameless Foundation, $80.
Inspired by the designer’s shameless attitude, and his Jacobs tattoo that serves as a daily reminder to never apologize for being you. This hydrating foundation offers 24-hour long wear and clever SPF technology that encapsulates the sunscreen in colour pigment. That means no flashback in your selfie, and no ash grey-looking undertones on the skin, common with a built-in-sunscreen. There are 27 shades.
Top tip
Always test a new foundation shade on bare skin, on your jawline, never on your hand. The right colour should disappear into your skin. If in doubt, try testing multiple colours side-by-side in stripes on the side of your face to make it even more apparent, which is the best match for your skin tone.
bareminerals Barepro Liquid Foundation, $58
This good-for-your-skin foundation offers an oil-free, full coverage (applied with a brush), or you can achieve a sheer look (when blended with your fingers). It helps to blur pores and imperfections while leaving skin looking healthy and glowy.
Top tip
When buying a new foundation, try it on in natural light - get near a window in the store. Harsh lighting gives an artificial finish and can mislead you into buying a darker shade.
Estée Lauder Double Wear Radiant Concealer, $59.
Cover dark spots or blemishes with a transfer-resistant formula that stays true-to-colour. It won't slip, slide or fade, it's crease-resistant, and lasts the day, while nourishing the skin with plant extracts, including chia, camelina, and kukui nut oils. There are 22 shades.
Top tip
If you’re stuck between two shades, always go with the lighter colour. You can use a bronzer to deepen the shade on your cheeks and forehead and blend the colour onto the neck. Anything that is too dark is always instantly noticeable and is obviously the wrong shade.
BECCA Ultimate Coverage 24 Hour Foundation, $78.
From covering the look of open pores and acne and sunspots, we love that this long-wearing and stays true to colour. Ideal for wearing in the summer heat, this makeup is humidity and sweat-proof, as well as being transfer-resistant, yet breathable. Hydrating without looking shiny, this makeup comes in 42 colours.
