How To Find The Best Foundation

I’m obsessed with how to find the best foundation which performs as well as any high-end department store brand. I have tried them all – the good, the bad and the just plain ugly.

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The question of how to find the best foundation is a top priority because there’s seems little point in going to the effort to make or buy non-toxic moisturizers and serums etc, if you’re going to plaster a toxic layer of makeup on top. A base also covers a pretty large area of your skin and most of us wear it almost every day. A lot of women, however, try one eco-friendly brand that doesn’t go on as well as their favorite brand and they get totally put off the whole idea of green makeup. So if you’ve had a bad experience, don’t despair as there are a couple of fantastic choices.

One of my current favorites is Jane Iredale’s pressed mineral makeup, but I only got excited about it when I learned how to apply it properly (see video above). I was lucky to have the brilliant make up artist and owner of Green Line Beauty, Stacey Stilts, show me how. I just love that it stays put in the container and doesn’t, like many other mineral brands, blow all over my bathroom sink. Unlike many other brands that claim to be non-toxic, this really is – granted with makeup it’s really hard to tell, because the ingredient list can be so well hidden or incredibly hard to de-code. This foundation comes in a number of shades, and the ones they show on the website are pretty true to what you get. If you get the chance to find a beauty supply or salon near you who carries Jane Iredale, do go in and play, because as with any base, it’s important that you get the exact right tone for your skin. With my fair coloring, I am a “Warm Sienna”, and with a bit of sun, I’ll go to the “Golden Glow”.

As you can see from the video, you really need a Jane Iredale mist to help you to apply it, however, if you want a lighter coverage, you’ll be fine to dust it on your skin, as you would with any mineral makeup. I love the Pommisst, because it not only helps with application, sets the foundation afterward, is filled with anti-oxidants, but it also smells amazing.

You will need a good moisturizing cream first. I use the Geranium Apricot Moisturizer from “Do It Gorgeously”, I then apply a little Solar RX sunscreen (as the UV index in my area is super high right now), and then my foundation.

Another product I love, which helps to get that flawless look is Skin Perfekt Beauty Gel. You smooth it over your moisturizer and sunscreen (we’re talking a lot of layers here I know!) and then apply your foundation. It feels super silky-smooth and keeps your base intact for that much longer – a nice extra if you can afford it.

Here’s the kicker: the Jane Iredale compact makeup is water-resistant (yes – I totally tried this out!), and has an SPF of 20. It contains no oil, talc, dyes and parabens. It’s not an inexpensive foundation – right up there with many of the department store brands, however, if you make all your skincare recipes from Do It Gorgeously, you’ll be able to splash out on your makeup. Also with this foundation, you really get 4 products-in-one: foundation, concealer, powder and sunscreen. oh one more thing – it comes in a lovely, heavy brushed metal compact, which you can refill easily when you’re done. I love this because the compact will last forever and you’re considerably reducing packaging.

BTW: Has anyone tried a facial exerciser? I have owned a Tua Viso for years and have just recently dusted it off again. My husband teases me something rotten when using it, as it looks like I’m holding a weird white telephone to my face, plus your facial muscles do these really freaky contractions – that being said, I think it’s a pretty amazing device. I like that it addresses the fact that sagging facial muscles (gorgeous!!), are as important to address (if not more), than facial skin. If you use it with re-chargeable batteries (and it uses very little power), it’s a great little investment.