Photo: Instagram / skuukzky
There’s a reason that top makeup artists always use liquid foundations on their models and clients.
Nothing else gives skin as flawless a look as a well-matched liquid foundation that suits the skin in question.
But to find the right type of coverage your skin needs, you need to know the six different kinds of liquid foundation formulas. Yes! Six.
Specially formulated liquid formulas that dry to a powdery finish that controls shine and keeps greasiness at bay.
Best for: Oily and combination skin.
Do not use on: Dry or mature skin as the mattifying formula can leave it cakey and emphasise fine lines.
Try: Tarte Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Full Coverage Foundation, $48; and Becca Ultimate Coverage Complexion Creme, $68.
Touted as having the most natural skin-like finish of all the different types of foundation, this offers buildable coverage in a soft finish that’s not unnaturally and overly dewy or matte. It is supposed to look like bare skin.
Best for: All skin types. These formulas are supposedly the middle ground between mattifying and luminous finish foundations and should work well with any skin type.
Try: Fenty Beauty Pro Filt’r Soft Matte Longwear Foundation, $50; and Chanel Perfection Lumiere Long Wear Flawless Fluid Makeup.
Like its category suggests, there’s no oil in these formulas. The colour pigments are mixed into water bases and dry to a satin, skin-like finish. The coverage is lighter than non oil-free types though and you might want to set it with a loose powder.
Best for: Oily, acne-prone, and combination skin, and normal skin types too.
Do not use on: Extremely dry skin and mature skin types as these can make skin feel tight and uncomfortable.
Try: Cover FX Natural Finish Oil Free Foundation, $65; Lancome Teint Idole Ultra Wear Foundation SPF 15, $68.
This type of foundation has the sheerest coverage. It also contains a fair amount of light-reflecting or pearlescent particles to fake a glow on the skin.
Best for: Dull complexions that need a radiance boost and normal skin types.
Do not use on: Oily skin as it will make your face look super greasy. Also, if you have rough or uneven skin tone and acne, stay away from luminising makeup as the light reflecting properties will accentuate every bump and blemish.
Try: Dior DiorSkin Star foundation; Guerlain Meteorites Baby Glow – Light-revealing Sheer Make-up, $77.
The creamiest formulas of the lot, these have extra emollient ingredients to keep skin feeling comfortable and hydrated all day.
Best for: Dry skin, obviously. Hydrating formulas are also the best for calming irritated skin, if you need to apply makeup at all.
Do not use on: Oily skin as it will cause your makeup slide off and disappear by midday.
Try: Make Up For Ever Water Blend Foundation, $72; Smashbox Studio Skin 15 Hour Wear Hydrating Foundation, $75.
These foundations’ colour and coverage come from mineral pigments. These mineral pigments are bigger molecules so they promise not to react with skin and won’t irritate sensitive or breakout prone skin.
Best for: Any skin type as the minerals won’t aggravate any particular skin condition.
Try: LB Essential Mineral Foundation N Natural, $20.90 from Guardian; and Physician’s Formula Mineral Wear Talc-Free Mineral Liquid Foundation, $15.07 from iHerb.com.
ALSO READ: Our beauty editor’s favourite foundations for every skin type or 13 best cushion foundations we love in 2017