Choosing a make-up base that both suits your skin and offers the coverage you need can often be a case of trial and error. Will your skin prefer a BB or a CC cream, or is a full-coverage foundation the perfect choice? Perhaps you think you need a heavy base to cover up unwanted redness, but it sits in your fine lines? Your make-up base is the cornerstone of your beauty routine and needs to work with your skin, rather than disguising it. Read on to get some insight into different make-up bases, and to discover my own personal favourites.

Tinted Moisturiser

Tinted moisturisers are best for dehydrated or sensitive skin, as they offer higher levels of humectants than other options. These come in lightweight formulas, making them easy to blend, and are perfect if you only need light coverage or want to pair with a concealer for a minimal make-up day.

CC Cream

CC (colour/complexion corrector) creams are heavier than tinted moisturisers but still provide lightweight coverage, smoothing out imperfections and correcting colour imbalances such as rosy cheeks. You will need a CC cream based on your skin concerns. For example, if you wish to correct redness, you will require a green-tone cream, whilst a peach tone will reduce the appearance of dark spots. CC creams are a great option for oily skin types as they are lightweight enough to add some coverage while leaving pores unclogged. If you need to correct colour but want the flawless finish offered by foundation, CC creams also work well as make-up primers, giving you the best of both worlds!

BB Cream

A BB (beauty balm/blemish balm) cream offers light to medium coverage—more than a tinted moisturiser or CC cream, but less than a foundation. Not only does it provide coverage, it also works to hydrate and smooth your skin, and will often contain SPF to help protect from the sun’s rays (however, I recommend wearing an additional SPF every day, as the small amount of BB cream you will use will not offer adequate protection). You won’t get the colour correcting properties you get from a CC cream, but the weightier coverage will help to reduce imperfections. These creams are a good choice for dehydrated skin as they have hydrating properties.

Foundation

Gone are the days of foundation leaving a clay-like finish; many products now offer a natural look while still giving the coverage required from a heavier product. Of course, foundation is a catchall term covering many product types, and which you choose is dependent both on your skin type and your aesthetic preference. Liquid foundation comes in dewy, satin, and matte finishes, with dewy working well for dry skin; satin for normal to dry; and matte for oily skin types. Cream foundation is of a thicker consistency, working well for dry skin, whereas a powder foundation finish is matte and more suited to oily skin. If you’re dealing with redness or skin tone imbalances, a full-coverage foundation will help to even this out, even more so when paired with a primer.

As your choice of make-up base depends on your skin type, it’s worth asking for some samples so you can trial various options to see which is most suited to your skin. This also applies to colour-matching; you may need to tweak shades according to skin tone changes throughout the year. Additionally,  consider if you want to change your base type between summer and winter.

And there we have it: a make-up base for every skin type. Listed below are some of my personal favourites!

If you would like more individual advice or may be you need assistance in finding the correct shade of foundation make-up lessons are available to book 1-2-1 in-person or online, or there’s the option to go personal shopping where we focus on purchasing the right make-up for you and your skin type. To enquire please get in touch via my contact form.

Disclaimer: Please remember that it's important that you consider your own requirements, especially with regards to products as it's possible to be allergic to anything. At no point am I claiming to be a dermatologist and/or a beautician. You need to consider your own skin type and if appropriate get a sample to try before purchasing.

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