5 ways to improve your skin tone without foundation

I chose and chose, came home and was disappointed. Isn't this a familiar situation? It can touch on a lot of things, but now let's talk about foundation. This thing is insidious, but if you learn to get along with it, it will become your best friend and lifesaver rolled into one.

So, let’s imagine a fairly common situation when the foundation chosen and already purchased in a store turned out to be darker than your own skin tone in natural light. There is no point in giving away a brand new product to anyone, you just need to make it lighter. How? Let's think together.

Experimenting with shade

If it so happens that only the color of the foundation is not suitable for us and we just need to lighten it, then this is quite simple to do. To do this, we additionally only need a base that is lighter than the one that needs to be diluted. For the process, we use a special palette or a clean lid from a jar that previously contained cream. There can be many results here and all of them are interesting.

Depending on the proportions of the mixture, you can make the foundation lighter or darker. Which of the options is right? Of course, you need to try it on the skin.

Regular skin cleansing

The main rule of skin care is thorough cleansing. Sebum, dust, and cosmetic residues accumulate in the pores - all these contaminants, if not properly cared for, lead to clogging of the pores and the appearance of inflammation.

Cleansing must be multi-level. In addition to daily care products in the form of cleansing gels, foams, tonics or lotions, it is necessary to regularly deep clean your face. For this purpose, acid-based products are used. These can be the same washing gels or peelings.

Such products are selected depending on skin type, so in order for cosmetics to give the desired result, it is better to seek help from a cosmetologist. He will be able to accurately determine which product is suitable in a particular case. Such deep cleansers may contain lactic, mandelic acid or caprolactone.

Changing the density

A situation may also arise when, in addition to lightening the foundation, you also need to make it less dense. This applies to very long-lasting products that are great for photography, but don’t look great with everyday makeup. There are no difficulties here either. We will add a day cream to it; as a rule, your regular moisturizer is ideal. The proportions here should be strictly observed: foundation and regular cream should be taken in equal quantities.

When mixing, you need to take into account one important feature. Very often, day cream is water-based, which is why it is so light. And if your foundation is oily, then you absolutely cannot mix it with such a cream. If you do this, the makeup will be unreliable and will quickly fade.

Solid foundation

This is very rare, but it still happens that the question arises, how to make the foundation lighter if it is in the form of a stick or paste? It is unlikely that professional makeup artists would recommend doing this, but there are all sorts of situations.

To lighten such a tone, we will have to cut off a piece from it and grind or knead it with a suitable spatula. After this, add either a light foundation or a regular cream to it - depending on which of the above effects you want to achieve.

So, don’t dare to despair and say goodbye to your bad choice. Dare and be beautiful!

Despite the fact that the Internet is full of recommendations and advice on how to choose a foundation, in practice it is not so easy to do. Upon returning home, girls are faced with the fact that the foundation does not match the skin tone and after application it looks, to put it mildly, “not very good.” Of course, you can give the cream to someone, but why bother if it can be made lighter or darker? In this article we will tell you how to make your foundation lighter or darker.

Improving skin tone

You can't do without a makeup base and foundation.

What does the base do? It solves at least three problems: improves the appearance of the skin, protects it and fixes makeup. The base is applied under the foundation; if it is liquid, it must first dry on the skin.

Which base should you choose? If you want to disguise large pores and wrinkles, choose a silicone base. To illuminate dull skin - reflective. The lighter the complexion, the lighter the base should be. If your skin is problematic and you need to hide redness and oily shine, use a mineral base.

With or without foundation In addition to the fact that foundation “holds” all makeup, it can also moisturize and even rejuvenate the skin: for example, if vitamin C or plant extracts are added to the formula.

8 simple ways to transform yourself for spring

How to choose a tone? The mistake is to try it on the cheekbone or wrist. The most accurate color match is obtained by testing on the neck. It is most convenient to apply liquid foundation with synthetic brushes, and dense cream-powder with an “egg” sponge.

If the skin in general is not problematic, the foundation and the tone itself can be replaced with BB cream

How to make foundation lighter

To lighten the foundation, you need to mix it with day cream. It is necessary to choose proportions in such a way as to achieve the desired shade. In order to prevent an allergic reaction due to incompatibility of components, it is better to choose a day cream of the same brand as the foundation. It is best to use a sponge or makeup brush for blending.

When choosing a day cream, focus on your facial skin type. Dry skin needs moisture and nutrition, so it is better to take a rich cream. Foundation and day cream should be the same consistency. Before applying makeup, it is recommended to test the resulting cream and apply it to the center of the forehead to check the skin reaction.

If you decide to use moisturizer, then you need to mix it with foundation in equal proportions. This way you will be able to create a not very saturated complexion. You can also lighten your foundation using a colorless or white makeup base.

If you use different brands of foundation and day cream, the resulting product will curdle.

Can primers replace foundation?

In recent years, the cosmetic market has been flooded with new makeup primers. Now they not only prepare the skin for applying foundation, but also even out the texture, mask pores, fine wrinkles, and neutralize redness and pigmentation. Now, makeup without a primer is no longer really makeup, and every year these products become more and more “smarter” and more technologically advanced, confidently displacing other products from cosmetic bags.

What is a primer

Professional makeup artists call a primer a base for makeup. Once upon a time, it was completely replaced by a day care product, such as a moisturizer. “Primers occupy an intermediate level between caring and decorative cosmetics. This is a logical continuation of care and preparation of the skin for applying foundation,” explains Olga Brovtsyna, national makeup artist at Nars.

The main task of the primer is to create a thin layer between moisturizer and foundation. This ensures better adhesion of decorative cosmetics to the skin and reduces the risk of poor-quality foundation coverage due to possible incompatibility with the care product. Additionally, primers can care for the skin, enhancing the effect of the face cream. Active ingredients are now even added to blush, and such a bonus is also not uncommon in bases. “It is important to remember the golden rule when working with primers: do not overdo it with the amount of product used. Carefully blend the product onto the skin and wait a little for it to be absorbed,” advises Olga.

Types of primers

All bases increase the durability of the foundation, but can also provide additional effects. The most popular of them are mattifying the face, smoothing the skin texture, adding radiance and correcting redness or age spots. All these functions can be combined with UV protection - usually low, but there are exceptions. “Whether this protection will be enough for you depends on many factors: sun activity, time of year, area of residence, skin phototype,” says Maria Perova, Sensai trainer. If the SPF factor in the primer is low, you should not rely only on it, but this protection will not be superfluous either.

All primers can be combined with each other. For example, apply a mattifying and pore-hiding primer to the T-zone, and a highlighting effect to the cheekbones. There are also separate bases for makeup of different parts of the face: eyelids, eyelashes and lips. “The primer for eyelash makeup makes them thick, and the mascara with it does not fall off. This is a kind of hair conditioner - it moisturizes and improves the condition of eyelashes,” says Katerina Ponomareva, leading makeup artist at M.A.S in Russia and the CIS countries. — Lip primer is needed to improve the appearance of lipstick and increase its durability. These products contain paraffin. It hardens after application and fills in unevenness on the lips, visually making their surface smoother. Eye primer increases the durability of eye makeup. It’s as if she glues the next layer of shadows to herself and fixes them on the eyelid.”

The need for foundation

With such a variety of makeup primers and their properties, the logical question arises: is foundation needed at all? “If your complexion is even tone, without visible imperfections and there is no need to disguise them, you can get by with one makeup base, as it will highlight the natural beauty and provide additional protection,” says Maria Perova.

If with the help of one or several primers it was possible to solve all visual problems (redness, dull color, uneven texture, enlarged pores, excessive oiliness), then there is really no need for an extra layer of cosmetics, and spot correction can be done with concealer. When you have something to hide, you really can’t do without foundation, but in this case you don’t need to neglect primer either. It will prolong the durability of makeup and solve some problems.

cosmetics

Makeup

primer

Foundation

How to make foundation darker

If the chosen foundation is too light, then you need to resort to some tricks. To do this, apply foundation, blend well and wait 5 minutes for the cream to be completely absorbed. Apply a layer of dark powder over the light foundation.

You can also change the shade of foundation using makeup tools. To do this, use a regular sponge: a wet sponge will lighten the tone of the cream, and a dry sponge will give a denser coverage and darker color.

Getting rid of foundation: how to make your skin really beautiful

We are convinced that it is quite possible to make your skin so beautiful that there is simply no need for foundation. Of course, it’s worth starting with the basics - home care correction. The regimen is simple: every morning and nightly cleansing, toning and moisturizing. You should also add light home peelings, moisturizing and cleansing masks to your care program. The notorious “squeaky cleansing” disrupts the hydrolipid balance of the skin - try not to use harsh cleansers, and after washing, be sure to apply a tonic that will restore the PH balance, moisturize and soothe the skin. Tonic also helps subsequent products to penetrate more deeply and be more effective.

Well-moisturized skin is ready to fight many problems on its own (for example, oily shine). Moisturize thoroughly and generously: do not mask with creams either in the morning or in the evening. A couple of times a week (or maybe more often) use fabric masks: generously soaked in the composition, they rehabilitate the skin in 15 minutes. Avoid dehydration: then your skin will respond with smoothness and radiance. For moisturizing, products based on hyaluronic acid are best suited: this is a powerful component that retains moisture in skin cells.

To get rid of the need to use foundation on an ongoing basis, you should also get rid of local imperfections. We understand that treating acne, for example, is quite difficult, but the results are worth it.

What to do if all of the above options did not bring the expected result?

If you are unable to achieve the desired result, then do not give up and try to apply a dark foundation correctly. In this case, it is important to shade the boundaries well towards the temples, décolleté and hair roots.

A dark shade of foundation can be used to correct the face. Using careful movements, it is necessary to highlight the line of the cheekbones and the wings of the nose. This way you can correct the geometry of your face and hide minor imperfections. A lotion with shimmering particles applied after a shower will make the skin one tone darker and, as a result, the dark foundation will look several times better.

Erase blood vessels and pigment from your face using a photorejuvenation procedure

One of the reasons for constantly using foundation is noticeable spider veins on the face and age spots. But you can completely get rid of them and forget about applying thick foundation. The photorejuvenation procedure will help with this. It is carried out using a special device, which, using attachments, directs light of a certain spectrum onto the skin. Light rays affect the accumulation of pigment in the skin and blood vessels. In addition, light waves affect collagen and elastin fibers, and also kill bacteria, which is especially necessary for problem skin with acne.

As a result of the procedure, the complexion improves, the tone becomes uniform, redness and small blood vessels disappear, and the firmness and elasticity of the skin increases. The face looks fresh and rejuvenated. As a rule, to achieve maximum results, a course of procedures is required, but the effect becomes noticeable after the first session.

Solid foundation

If you purchased foundation in the form of a paste or stick, and after application you discovered that the shade was too dark, then you will have to try a little. Professional makeup artists do not recommend doing this, but we will still consider a similar situation.

To make the tone lighter, you need to cut off a piece of foundation and rub it with a spatula. After this, you need to add light cream and stir everything thoroughly. The light foundation is ready and can be applied to the skin of the face.

If you find yourself in a difficult situation, then do not dare to despair and throw away your foundation. Try, experiment and you will undoubtedly be able to achieve the desired result.

Today it is difficult to imagine at least one woman who does not use foundation. A properly selected foundation is the basis of successful makeup. However, almost every representative of the fair sex has encountered the fact that the foundation turned out to be the wrong shade that was needed. As it turns out, few people know how to make foundation lighter or darker. Many people, after looking at an unsuccessful purchase, feel disappointed and throw it away or put it aside just in case. If the foundation does not suit you, you can easily fix it and enjoy using the new cosmetic product.

How to give up foundation

Many girls want to give up foundation: for some, foundation clogs their pores, some believe in superstitions, and others want to give their skin a chance to rest. How to refuse foundation without losing the appearance of your skin, read our material.

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 based on 2 votes

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Foundation is a product that is very difficult to refuse, because it transforms the skin beyond recognition in a few minutes. After all, only a few can boast of ideal facial skin condition. If you're one of those girls who wants to avoid foundation in their daily makeup routine, you have several options.

Powder

Powder is the most important alternative source for creating beautiful skin. Thus, good modern powders do not dry out the skin, and when applied correctly they can create excellent coverage.

Read also: How to choose makeup according to your eye shape

Apply powder to moisturized face with light tapping movements, moving along massage lines. In order for the powder to fit well on the skin, its quality and facial moisture are very important. The optimal time to apply this product after using regular cream is 3-4 minutes. It’s great if the cream has not yet had time to be completely absorbed.

Avoid using powder under your eyes as it will highlight any wrinkles. To correct this area, it is best to use a corrector.

Mattifying cream and wipes

If you have oily skin, but you can boast of uniform color, you can use only a mattifying cream, and be sure to put matting wipes in your purse to remove the oily shine that will appear during the day.

If you want to stop using foundation, it is very important to choose the right facial care so that your skin glows and improves its quality. Cosmetologists also advise such girls to undergo a course of biorevitalization with vitamins and hyaluronic acid. It is also important to do a course of peelings from time to time to remove enlarged pores and fine wrinkles.

BB cream

Read also: How to apply blush correctly: nuances and secrets

Another alternative to foundation is BB cream, which will moisturize, camouflage, and protect from the sun. BB has a different texture, it applies differently and, if the product is good, it will also take care of the skin during the day. Yes, BBs do not have such a dense masking ability as foundations, but they can easily even out the tone and give the skin radiance.

If you decide to switch to BB, don’t forget that it needs to be washed off with hydrophilic oil.

If you don’t have hydrophilic oil, then wash off the BB cream with any cosmetic oil, and then wash your face with foam. This method of washing will cleanse the skin and will not leave a trace of BB. Hydrophilic oil is truly necessary when you use a full makeup cycle: base, BB, powder, bronzer and blush. If you only use cream, then you don’t have to spend money on it.

Author: Natalia Veresyuk

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How to choose the right foundation?

In order to avoid having to correct the mistakes of a failed purchase, you should know how to avoid them. If you decide to go to the store, then before you pay the seller, you should choose a foundation, taking into account some points:

Texture of the product;
Coverage intensity;
How the chosen tone looks on the skin;
What is your natural skin tone?

Perhaps the most important factor is the original color of your skin. In order to choose the right foundation, you need to match it with your skin tone. Most modern girls believe that their skin has a pinkish tint because they look at the central part of the face (nose and cheekbones). However, they do not take into account that the skin in this area is the thinnest. Determine your natural skin color by taking into account the skin tone in the neck area. If you neglect this, then your makeup will always resemble a mask, which may be darker or lighter than your skin.

Texture

Try products of different thicknesses and decide which one is most comfortable for you. Today, both a very thick consistency of foundation and a very liquid one (like a light moisturizer) are offered. The liquid cream is very easy to use and is evenly distributed over the entire surface of the skin. The thicker the mass, the harder the process of spreading the cream will become. The advantage of a dense texture is that at home you can use it to achieve a perfectly even complexion and disguise pores. However, for those who are just starting to use foundation, it is recommended to use a thinner consistency.

Coverage level

Some believe that the older the skin, the more intense the coverage should be. But this is not always true. Skin type plays a very big role in this matter. Beginners are advised to use BB creams that will provide light to medium coverage. Such means are the easiest. They do not emphasize dimples, wrinkles and other skin defects. They help not only even out the tone, but also moisturize the skin. This will be a plus for dry skin.

Finish and skin type

Selection by skin type and finish are similar concepts, but they are slightly different. A matte cream lasts better on oily skin, while for dry skin it is recommended to choose a moisturizing and radiant product. If you have normal or combination skin, then almost all options are acceptable.

Try to purchase foundations in special stores. Most consultants will help you purchase the product that is right for you.
To check whether the shade suits you or not, it is recommended to apply a little cream to your jaw. If the transition between skin tone and cream is not noticeable, then the tone is appropriate.
To make sure you have chosen the right shade, it is recommended to view the result in daylight. You can do this outside or near a window.
You can compare tones not only in the jaw area, but also in the wrist area.
In some stores you can purchase a tester that you can try for several days.

Tinted care Le Privilège Active Radiance Primer, Rivoli

BeautyHack Editor's Choice Yulia Kozoliy

I’m used to using BB and CC creams instead of classic foundations - I love it when one product solves several problems at once: moisturizes the skin and improves it visually. In this sense, leaving Rivoli is a godsend. The product is declared as a primer and promises light toning, but in reality it is a full-fledged foundation with good coverage (I specially added a swatch on my hand for clarity). It evens out skin tone, hides minor redness and adds radiance to the skin. The latter effect is achieved thanks to the hydration provided by the NovHyal component. It is a precursor of hyaluronic acid that penetrates the skin, stimulating the synthesis of its own hyaluronic acid. That is, with regular use of the primer, a cumulative effect is obtained - the condition of the skin improves every day. The second important ingredient, Uvaxine, protects the skin from UV rays.

So, if you are thinking about how to replace foundation in the summer, here is a good option!

Price: about 12,813 rub.

Changing the shade of foundation

Changing the tone of the product is not difficult. For this purpose, you can use tint products that you have at home. They may be made by a different company or have a different texture. If you are careful, you can get not only a lighter shade, but also a different texture.

How to make foundation lighter:

A flat plastic container is required for mixing. It's best to use a palette if you have one;
Try to take just a small amount of the product you want to lighten, so that you can later adjust it, if necessary;
Add the lightest tone you have;
Using a toothpick, mix both creams until smooth;
Apply the resulting product to your wrist to check the result. If the tone does not match the desired one, then add another light or dark cream to it (depending on what you got).

If you want to change the texture of the product, making it lighter, you can simply mix it with moisturizer. The one you use daily will do.

If you carefully read my posts about foundations, you saw that the phrase “foundation oxidizes” is often found in them. And I received several questions from girls about what it is. How can you tell if your foundation is oxidizing? And most importantly, can this be avoided?

I don’t know who came up with this phrase and why it sounds like this, but in the field of makeup this “term” is accepted.

I was not able to find any scientific information about these processes, mostly makeup artists write about this, which, however, is also not bad, because they can see a certain pattern between the type or condition of the skin and the oxidation of the foundation

Decorative cosmetics

If you can't resist masking, use a concealer.
Due to its dense texture, it copes well with problem skin, masking pimples, capillaries and even bruises. The corrector should be applied with a synthetic brush directly to the area that needs to be hidden, carefully blending the borders. For dark circles under the eyes, there are special correctors called concealers. They have a liquid texture, do not dry out the skin and do not emphasize facial wrinkles. A correctly selected concealer will blend in with your overall skin tone and eliminate the need to completely cover up your entire face.

Another alternative to foundation is powder. Its main advantage is that it has a lighter coating and allows the skin to breathe. And mineral powder, in addition to its decorative function, has antiseptic properties, has a positive effect on the condition of the skin and is the most durable. The powder can be used either alone or in combination with a concealer. Apply it with a large round brush from the center of the face to the edges in a circular motion.

If your skin does not have serious blemishes, take a look at a moisturizer with a tinted effect. This is a 2 in 1 cream, it moisturizes well and evens out skin tone. A great option for summer and everyday makeup.

Popular today BB creams and even CC creams will help replace not only foundation, but also a couple of other products in your cosmetic bag. BB cream (from English “balm against imperfections”) will not only disguise problem areas, but also, with regular use, will reduce them to a minimum. And CC cream (from English “color correction”) will add radiance and a healthy appearance to the skin.

Why does foundation oxidize?

There are several reasons:

Improper storage of the cream, it simply spoils
Your sebum oxidizes your foundation. This can be checked by applying the cream, for example, to your hand. The skin on different parts of the body has different pH and different sebum production. In my case, all the darkening tones oxidized on my hand.
Too humid air, high air temperature. Sometimes everything was fine with the foundation in the winter/spring, but in the summer it started to get darker.
The point of view closest to reality, in my opinion, is that the pigments in the product are not sufficiently crushed and mixed. Dry pigments tend to agglomerate (“clumping”), and as far as I understand, the higher the quality of the pigment itself and its grinding, the more uniform its structure. It is important that the pigments in the foundation are also distributed evenly; this determines whether the color of the product will change or not. However, I was unable to find information on pigments and their characteristics, as well as technological information on the production of decorative cosmetics.

All these are unscientific reasons that I came across on the Internet, and many of them are true from a practical point of view, because I also observed this! But, as you understand, I don’t want to limit myself to just my idea of why this happens with foundations, so I asked several manufacturers this question.

Many thanks to Purobio representatives in Russia, they themselves asked this question to the company!

Purobio's answer surprised me:

“It contains titanium dioxide, which gives a small white mark at the beginning. After a few minutes the white mark disappears and the real tone appears.”

My understanding is that this is no longer a white mark, but the color is lighter from the packaging than it actually is. However, not only tonal foundations, but also mineral foundations have the property of oxidizing. And they also contain titanium dioxide. That's why I asked a question about Everyday Minerals oxidation, because their mineral base can oxidize, even though it is not creamy.

Everyday Minerals gave other reasons:

Sometimes sebum can cause your foundation to turn orange. Or perhaps you just chose the wrong base color. You can combat this by choosing a primer for the skin, preferably without oils. If you notice oxidation of foundations, choose them a shade lighter.

The version with oxidation from sebum, in my opinion, has its place, since when applied with a brush to the hand, Everyday Minerals does not oxidize, but when applied with a finger, it changes color perfectly. But here’s the caveat: nothing happens to her face during the day.

Makeup without foundation

In general, any professional makeup uses powder or cream with a tonal effect. When applied correctly, it helps give the face an even, natural tone and removes oily shine. However, there are some tips on how to achieve almost perfect skin so that you can use makeup without foundation.

Going to a cosmetologist

If you are unhappy with your skin and have unlimited funds, you can consult a cosmetologist, and then, possibly, treatment. The fact is that if the skin has a grayish tint, acne and redness appear on it, this indicates disorders in the body.

Folk remedies

If you have neither money nor desire for a cosmetologist, but want your skin to look beautiful, there are several ways to achieve this. Firstly, it is a healthy lifestyle and cool morning washes. Secondly, you can wipe your face with lemon, orange or calendula tincture. Thirdly, you can also wipe your skin with chamomile or green tea ice.

If absolute perfection still cannot be achieved, and you don’t want to use “plaster,” you can replace it with other cosmetics.

How to avoid oxidation?

As you already understand, it is impossible to prevent oxidation, just as it is impossible to predict. Therefore, before buying a foundation, I would recommend finding it offline and trying to apply it, walking around with it for a while. Of course, it's ideal to apply it to your face and leave it on all day. But even with this opportunity with traditional brands, how many of us have ever done it?

If you still miss the shade, there are a couple of options for lightening it.

Buy a foundation of a light shade and add it to a dark one. And it is better if it is a foundation of the same brand and from the same line. This way you will have a foundation for both winter and summer with a demi-season, if you sunbathe a little. Personally, I find it very convenient to have a “winter” foundation and a foundation that is a shade darker and mix them in the summer.
Add titanium dioxide to the foundation. I have this, but very often very white mineral shadows are titanium dioxide. Or add very light mineral powder to your foundation.
Add a face primer, or remove the moisturizer and apply foundation to a clean face.

My experience shows that this does not always work. Sometimes the foundation still darkens after some time, although it does not become the same red. And it also happens that titanium dioxide makes it thicker and then the foundation turns into “putty”. I tried adding a mineral primer, and it works with powder foundation, but not with foundation. I also have two natural makeup primers from Purobio and Vapour Organic, but they had no effect on the oxidation of the creams, unfortunately, nor did removing/adding moisturizer before foundation.

In general, the issue of foundation oxidation still remains a mystery to me, since I would like to hear an explanation from a chemist or technologist.

Vinoperfect Radiance Tinted Moisturizer Broad Spectrum SPF 20, Caudalie

Choice of BeautyHack special correspondent Maria Alferova

What could be better than a product that combines care and makeup? Caudalie Tinting Fluid conceals imperfections while hydrating and soothing the skin. Sun protection in the form of SPF 20 in spring and summer will not be superfluous - when you don’t want to apply sticky sunscreens every day, makeup with UV filters helps out. The fluid resembles whipped cream - on the skin it turns into a light, completely invisible veil. Still, leave serious perfection to the concealer - the product from Caudalie promises an even complexion and radiance, and not top-level concealment. The composition contains a patented component viniferine, which helps fight age spots, and hyaluronic acid, but you won’t find oils there - this means that the face will not have a treacherous shine throughout the day.

Price on request