Best Foundation for Combination Skin

Makeup is considered incomplete without the application of foundation. The purpose of makeup is to minimize the imperfections on the facial skin and make it radiant and luminous.

Foundation should help in coloring the skin evenly such that scars, light and dark-colored areas get lessened greatly. All these intentions are fulfilled only when the makeup applied on the skin suits it and is applied in a right manner.

Emulsion, cream, cake, powder, liquid, waterproof, and sprays are the types of foundation. Emulsion covers blemishes, gives less sheen, and suits almost all types of skin.

Cakes cover scars and blemishes, produces a matte effect and is drying in action. Because of the last property, it is suitable for oily skin. Powder controls greasiness and helps blotting oil and thus it is also suitable for oily skin.

Cream covers the skin heavily and gives it a glossy finish. It has a moisturizing property, and thus is appropriate for dry skin.

Liquid variants are available in water based and oil based forms. The former suits oily skin as the latter, dry skin. It covers skin with a light shine and hides rashes and scars at its best.

Waterproofs last longer and are used in summer in high humidity and temperature. Sprays hide acne scarring and particularly suit post surgical skin. Available in different shades, they are sprayed over the skin to freshen up the makeup.

Combination skin is a mix of oily and dry skin types. The difference is specially felt on the T-zone of the face (forehead, nose, area around the lips and chin) and rest of the face.

While the T-zone of the face gets oily due to compartively more production of natural oil; all the other parts of face remain dry and appear flaked due to lack of sufficient amount of the same.

It is an interesting cross between a creamy and a pressed powder. It is mostly available in compact form, and has heavy creamy and greasy appearance.

When applied, the creamy aspect disappears leaving a slight matte look behind. Thus, cream-to-powder foundation provides you a semi-matte or powdery finish. Hence, this type does not require powdering after its application. It is advisable to use only a dollop of it to avoid a caked or heavy look.

Liquid-to-powder types come in the form of a dense powder. It has a gel-like feel to touch. It is easily applied on skin. It gives a satiny-smooth or slightly matte touch. Liquid-to-powder is water-based and contains a slipping agent such as glycerin. It has little or almost no waxy ingredients. 

This is why the make-up experts prefere 'Liquid-to-powder' foundation over the 'Cream-to-powder' as it doesn't give a heavy look or need powdering after application like cream-to-powder type foundation do and suits a combination skin wherein the T-zone gets greasy or shiny quickly.

The skin type is usually mentioned on the pack of foundation. So, chosse the one that reads 'Combination Skin'. To select the right shade and tone among the wide range available, take a 'Patch Test' before buying.

Cosmetic stores usually have a trial pack of cosmetics. Take a small amount of the product and spread it on your jawline. Wait for couple of seconds. Perform this patch test with other shades. The shade that blends evenly on your skin and makes it radiant and glowing, is the one for you.

Apply an oil-free moisturizer. Go for one with minimum SPF 15, if you have to go out in sun.

The foundation usually comes with a sponge. Take a small amount of the foundation on the sponge. Start applying from the forehead.

Apply the foundation to your face and neck evenly. Use small circular motions for getting an even look. Keep moving downwards.

Do not apply foundation on the area in the inner corners of and under the eyes. Or else, you would end up with a caked look. Wait for a couple of minutes before applying makeup.

With foundation makeup, regular and proper practice is the key.