Finding the best foundation for your skin type

Let's be honest, who doesn't crave a flawless complexion? While good gene's will only get you so far, it's inevitable that at least once in awhile your skin may look a tad sallow, or a blemish will pop up. Foundation is a great way to even out your skin tone, while hiding blemishes and large pores. It's a lot less dramatic and thick than concealer, because sheer coverage let's your natural beauty still show.

However, foundation can be tricky, it can make or break your look. Used sparingly, it cuts redness, and imperfections and gives your skin an all over glow. However the wrong shade, or wrong application, can make you look cheap, especially to guys. The key here is subtlety.

     First of all, know your skin type. Knowing your skin type is key when it comes to determining your foundation, this is because not all foundation's are created equal. If you tend to have oily skin, choose a powder or an oil free, non comedogenic foundation, with a matte finish .Powder's will blot excess oil and are ideal for oily skin types.
     If your skin tends to be on the dry side, pick a moisturizing foundation, one that is also oil free and non comedogenic. Also, steer clear of powders as this will dry out your face and may form a "cakey" look. Skip anything that has the title "matte" in it, this is for oily skin types.
*Be sure to exfoliate before hand and apply a moisturizer ten minutes before application.

     The Next step is to figure out what your skin tone is, and match it perfectly to your foundation. A flawless foundation should "melt in to the skin" according to a makeup representative at Estee Lauder. And it's true, there should be no harsh lines, just even coverage. Now, i would recommend splurging a bit for foundation, because it is so essential to use high quality products when it comes to your skin. I use Estee lauder's Double Wear foundation, and it's only $35.00.  Now to determine your perfect foundation shade, just test it on your jawline and make sure it blends seamlessly, if your not sure, ask an expert at the counter.

     Your also going to want to choose which type of coverage you want, if your looking for just a bit of coverage, then sheer is the way to go. But if you want to hide stubborn blemishes or redness, a moderate to full coverage foundation works best.

After you've chosen your foundation your going to want to invest in a good stipple or other professional foundation brush. The reason for this is to get a nice airbrush effect that looks like your natural skin, only more even ;). (I know i know, its tempting to just use your fingers right? but that actually creates uneven applications, and you can deposit more product in to lines and crevices which not only looks unnatural, but emphasizes these lines.

Please keep in mind that only a bit of product should be used, foundation goes a long way and is meant to...

And don't forget to prime the skin if your skin is dry. 

Good Luck! x0x

Pores. Tiny flaws, big issue.

How to Shrink Your Pores

                                                      

So lately I've started to notice that my pores appear larger. Now maybe they were always large or its because they've become more clogged and noticeable (blackheads). However, its become a problem, especially because I'm not one to pile on the makeup, i prefer a more "natural" sheer look. Because of this, I'm going to find out the root of the problem (literally), and try to attack it at the source: make the pores smaller, or at least less noticeable.

     For those of you who don't know you cannot change the size of your pores per-say, Pore size is predetermined, However things like smoking cause your pores to become larger. What makes pores APPEAR larger is when the oil glands become clogged with things like sweat and dirt, thus making the pore swell. Blackheads will also form, which really accentuate your pores .

     So how do we fix this? First of all clear out your pores with a little something called salicylic acid. The main ingredient in acne washes, and most pore minimizes.
Now, as a kid and even today, i never really get breakouts, so i never used an 'acne wash'. I always washed my face with a creamy cleanser to keep my skin hydrated. The only time my skin breaks  out is from a particular oil containing product (which by the way steer clean of facial products containing oil, even if you never have a pimple.)

      Anyway on to this magical little ingredient called salicylic acid. Salicylic acid works to clean out your skin, thus removing dead skin cells oil and dirt from your pores. It is not just for acne prone skin, but those who suffer from blackheads ( yes.), and large pores. Clean pores tighten, and will shrink back to their normal size as the dirt is removed, thus appearing smaller.

     Now what i recommend is to wash your face twice a day with a wash containing at least 2 percent salicylic acid. if you skin is sensitive do this once a day. I recommend using one with exfoliating beads if you have stubborn blackheads. Then apply a pore minimizer, i like clique's pore refiner, (I'm sorry guys but you'll have to splurge on this one, i have not read one good review on any drug store brand pore minimizer, they kind of act as primers. ) While using cliques, i actually feel my pores tightening but not burning, and it does not leave my skin dry. Within a week you should notice a difference, i do. Do this process until your pores are back to their original smaller looking size,( without all that stubborn grime to enlarge them) and repeat a few times a week after.

     Also, steer clear of pore clogging products like oil based makeups, and only use products that say oil free or non comedogenic  which means they do not clog pores. Steam also is a great way to open the pores.

     **What i don't recommend is popping your blackheads, as they are stubborn and will come back, also pore strips are kind of harsh and definitely not for extremely sensitive skin types.



So remember, while your pores may look huge, their really just accentuated from oil and blackheads, by following this routine you should have smaller (looking) pores very soon, and can then achieve that glowy skin you once had.