I have always used tinted moisturizer and am thinking of moving onto foundation... Now, I know I can ask for a tester or they can do my make-up for me first. Problem is I don't even know what can be considered as something that "works"! How many hours is foundation supposed to stay in place? What are the signs of REALLY bad make-up?
Thanks in advance.
Hey, there, TP!
I've been wearing liquid foundation almost 30 years and I am no expert but I have tried and seen a few things come and go over time...so IMO:
- liquid foundation should always have an SPF, no matter your skin tone.
- you should be able to spot apply it over your areas where you need the most coverage and have it, ideally, blend in with your natural skin tone.
- should not leave an obvious mark at your jawline. That's a sign it's too dark.
- should apply evenly without being skip-py, chalk-y or give otherwise uneven coverage. Keep in mind every foundation is different and each 'behaves' a little differently than the others.
- the amount of coverage and length of coverage can vary a lot by your skin type, your expectations, exercise, heat/humidity where you live, etc. Ideally, it should stay on through a 'normal' day and not melt off your face during exercise (although it's best to remove foundation before exercise as it might clog pores).
- honestly, a lot of it is trial and error. Samples are great b/c you don't have to outlay a lot of cash.
It's not 100% necessary, but a lot of people like using a primer under their foundation, to give a more smooth, even surface before applying it. There are a lot out there that are very light and don't give a heavy "OMG I'm wearing so much makeup" feeling, HTH.
Hope that helps - sorry about the ramble!
XXXOO PG