Flawless skin is the basis for a beautiful made-up face, and foundation is the most important product to achieve a perfect canvas. But did you know that 73 per cent of women find it challenging to find the right foundation? In a study carried out by MAKE UP FOR EVER and The NPD Group Inc, the study also found that a whopping 54 per cent of women have trouble finding the right shade.
I couldn’t agree more, as my skin is fair yet pinkish, sensitive and prone to sunburns, it’s always a challenge to find the right shade, so I often forgo liquid foundation in favour of a concealer and mineral powder on top. I was excited when I was invited a couple weeks ago to get expert tips from celebrity makeup artist, Troy Jensen and have a foundation consultation with a MAKE UP FOR EVER specialist to find my perfect foundation match.
Foundation Nation is an event being held at Sephora and MAKE UP FOR EVER boutiques across North America to help people find their flawless foundation match. From selecting the right shade, formulation, coverage and application technique, guests can sit down for a complimentary session with a professional artist to solve any foundation challenges. The event runs from September 19th until October 6th, so hurry in store!
I got to meet with Troy Jensen first, who gave me some insight on some of my personal foundation issues. With my sensitive and acne-prone skin, he suggested the brand’s Mat Velvet + foundation for oil-free matte coverage in a warmer tone to offset any redness. He also made an interesting observation that all the red lipstick I was wearing (especially now that the weather has gotten chillier) was accentuating red spots. I’ve since switched to a more neutralizing coral or pink gloss.
After that, I had the chance to get my makeup done by Jacquie, who completely transformed my dull, patchy skin with Mat Velvet + in shade #30 Porcelain. I’ve always been using foundation on the fairer side, but was amazed to see the results when she applied makeup in a warmer tone. It completely covered any redness and blemishes and warmed up my skin tone… matched with a vampy red lip, the look still felt close to my own makeup routine but more polished and flawless.
I immediately felt more confident and any LSAT-stress-associated blemishes were long-forgotten! It’s amazing what a little bit of makeup can do. Overall, I found the event to be very educational and I picked up a lot of tips for makeup application, and learned which areas to contour on my face. If you have trouble matching your foundation colour to your skin tone, this event is definitely an opportunity to find your perfect match.
To the event, I wore my Zara aztec blazer, a white folk-print tee, Calvin Klein jeans, my Rebecca Minkoff Collin camera bag, red suede booties from Amsterdam and a bullet necklace c/o She-Bijou.
I love this necklace and the way every item in their shop is completely customizable. It makes a common accessory special, and this piece bears one of my favourite quotes: “Women are meant to be loved, not understood” – Oscar Wilde.
The opposite can be said for skin… we might not love our skin and how it looks at times, but if we understand it, we can eventually start to love it again!
