I have tried dozens and dozens of different foundations in my lifetime. And i’m not even 30. I have a very fair skin tone that sits between most shades so I find it very difficult to find the right colour, and am an absolute pro when it comes to custom making the right shade using 2 different foundations.

I’v tried everything from Maybeline to Chanel, Fenty beauty to Benefit, Avon to Napolean Perdis, and I’ve picked up a few tricks along the way for knowing a good foundation, her is what to look out for!

1- You should be able to apply it with your fingers

Being able to apply your foundation with a applicator is great and works for most foundations, but not all can be applied with your fingers. If you are able to test a foundation in a shop, don’t let the assistant apply it to your face using a brush or sponge, is you will not really get a true feel of the texture and consistency of the foundation, which can only really be gathered with your fingers. Instead place a decent size on to the back of your hand then use your fingers to take some and blend it into the size of your cheek making sure you are able to blend it into your lines and pores. That’s right, don’t bother testing it against your neck first, you can pick a colour when you have the right texture and brand first. If when you blend it into your skin it melts from the warmth of your fingers and looks seamless with your skin texture then you’ve got a good start. If instead you find you wind up with more of it on your fingers and it feels dry, then forget it.

2- Match it to your neck, not any other part of your body

The next step is to find the right colour or shade. This is one you have heard before, but I can’t even tell you how many women don’t follow it. Don’t match it to your hand or the insides of your arms, as that will be a different shade to your neck. If you find it hard to blend into your neck and see how it looks int he mirror, it’s time to get the beauty assistants/shop assistants help!

3- It should not sink into your pores or separate on application, no matter if you are wearing a primer or not

I have found in the past when I complain to a beauty representative about a certain foundation they are trying to sell me, that they always follow it up with the final pitch of, oh but did you use it with a primer?
Look there is no denying a primer is a magnificent tool to make your foundation go on more evenly and last longer, but if a foundation doesn’t look good unless you have some other product underneath it, stay clear! The reason for this is a good foundation can go over the top of your bare skin if you have one of those rushed days where you have lost your primer, run out, simply forget or want to keep it minimal with a light serum underneath for those hot summer days where too many layers will simply clog up your pores and melt off your face.

If your foundation sinks into your pores like cement sitting in a crater then you know it is time to walk away and never return.

4- Go a shade lighter rather than darker

If you need to add a layer of bronzer or add a powdered layer of foundation that is darker than what you normally use, then that’s fine. Remember you can do more with a lighter shade than a darker shade and having the option to customise your foundation shade is often helpful for the transition between the winter months and the summer months.

5- You should be able to add your own serum of choice to it and turn it into a BB cream.

For those thick heavy humid summer days, you don’t want to wear 5 different layers of moisturiser so being able to add a foundation with your favourite serum is the perfect answer to these unforgiving days. If your foundation splits when it is added to any serum, it’s not the versatile foundation you are looking for.