It's great to find the perfect foundation; that lovely little miracle in a bottle (or compact) that makes our flaws disappear and at the same time reveals our natural, radiant skin. What's not so great is when you wear that same foundation, in that same exact color, every single day all year long. Because, unless you live on the dark side of the moon, you're skin does not stay the same exact color all year long. During the summer months, even with lots of protection from the sun, most of us turn a shade or two darker, and then as we move into the winter we fade back to a lighter color. What I see so often is women who, despite the fact that it's minus 20 outside, will continue to wear the same foundation that they wore after spending an entire summer in Tahiti. They aren't fooling anybody. Or I see just the opposite. Girls whose faces look washed out while everything else looks sun-kissed and glowing. When you don't wear the proper shade of foundation...you're head looks like it's on someone else's body.
To solve this dilemma is simple. And it doesn't require you to buy every shade of foundation ranging from "Graceful Swan" to "Ebony Smoke". If you want to always be sure that your foundation will be spot on then all you'll need is two foundations. The first foundation will be one that is nearest your skin color when it is lightest. The second should match your skin color when it is at its darkest (which is usually only one to two shades darker). When your skin color is lightest you'll only need to use the light foundation shade. As your skin darkens just mix in a small amount of the darker foundation, adding more of the darker one as your skin gets darker. To mix the two foundations you can use either a mixing palette, the lid of the foundation container, a wax-coated paper plate or the back of your hand. Mix them with your fingers or a foundation brush and then apply. You can do this with any kind of foundation - liquid, cream, airbrush or powder. It may take a couple of tries before you figure out the right amounts to mix but once you do its really easy.
Next, how do you make sure you're face and body will blend together seamlessly? You've probably been told that to pick the correct color of foundation you need to swipe a swatch (<---say that 3 times fast!) of the color onto your jawline until you find the one that matches. The problem with this is that some people's facial coloring is naturally a little off from the color of their neck and chest, either from having a ruddy complexion or skin discoloration. If you want your foundation to look as natural on you as possible then swatch foundation colors on the lower area of your neck. It only makes sense to find a color that matches this area since your neck is the median between your face and your body, right? Also, the base of your neck will never be more than one shade up or down from your face - which, by the way, you SHOULD NOT go more than one shade up or down from your current skin color. Ever. You look funny...and not like funny ha-ha.
