I still remember my first bottle of Cover Girl Clean Makeup foundation. The color was called something like Beautiful Beige. I felt so grown up buying it at Woolworth’s with my hard-earned babysitting money! Funny thing is, not many 13-year-old girls need a full-coverage foundation. By the way, is anyone’s skin actually Beautiful Beige?

Alas, I’m no longer a teenager. (Sigh.) And, yes, now I do need a little foundation to minimize the signs of years gone by. Thank goodness we have so many fabulous choices these days! Gone are the days of pancake makeup and a limited range of foundation shades. Today foundation isn’t just one thing, one bottle. We build our best, most beautiful skin in steps, which,together, create the foundation for a flawless face.

Whether you’re one who wrinkles her nose at the idea of wearing foundation or one who wouldn’t dare leave the house without it on, here are some foundation facts—and amazing product suggestions—for you to explore.

Moisturizing: The First Step to a Flawless Face

No matter how innovative the formula of your foundation is, the first step to a flawless face is hydration. On dry skin, foundation won’t apply smoothly and your makeup will look dry.

To Prime is Divine!

I’m in love with primer! It’s the insider secret for foundation application. Designed to refine your skin’s texture, primer allows your foundation—and your makeup—to glide right on. The cosmetic market is on fire with fabulous primer options.

My favorite and best-selling product is Colorescience Skin Bronzing Primer SPF 20 Wild to Mild. This heaven-sent bottle of beauty soothes irritated skin with its patented rice peptides, prevents the breakdown of collagen to help refine the texture of your skin, and smoothes the appearance of any fine lines you have.

Heal Your Fear of Concealers

So many of us have a love/hate relationship with concealer. We need it to cover our dark circles, but it tends to get stuck in our fine lines. What’s a girl to do?

First, buy a concealer that matches or is just a bit lighter than your skin tone. Second, apply it with your ring or middle finger since your body’s natural warmth helps blend the product better. Third, look for a product made for high-definition TV. Seriously. These lighter-formula products have reflective qualities that employ a bit of beauty “magic” to bounce light, making concealed areas appear lighter.

My current favorite is Senna Cosmetics HD Hydra-Cover concealer. With a palette of three blendable colors, you can customize your perfect shade.

For those of you with only minor skin imperfections or who need just a little bit of coverage, your foundation building could end here. Use this fantastic concealer over a little Wild to Mild primer with a base of good moisturizer and, voila, you’re good to go…and flawless.

Bottle or Compact: The Liquid vs. Powder Foundation Debate

Really, it’s up to you. If you choose a liquid foundation, try using a foundation brush made with synthetic bristles, like taklon. Here’s a tip:most of us just need foundation in the center of our faces. Remember, a little liquid foundation can go a long way.

Powdered mineral makeup wins the debate for me. I’ve been working with the glominerals brand for years. I love glominerals’ liquid and powder foundations, both formulated using powerful pharmaceutical-grade antioxidants and natural high-pigment minerals that offer broad-spectrum UV protection.

Need Some Color?

Foundation should not give you color or make you look tan. Foundation should match your skin tone. If not, you’ll see that dreaded makeup line. Yuck!

If you want a hint of color, add a little self-tanner to your moisturizer (I love Breeze Tan in a an) or try a bronzer. Bronzers “warm” the look of your skin, giving you a healthy glow. Choose a bronzer one or two shades darker than your natural skin tone in a matte formula or with just a touch of shimmer.

Apply bronzer to your forehead, cheekbones, nose, and chin with a large fluffy brush, not a blush brush. Finally, apply a bit of blush to the apples of your cheeks. Try playing around with different blush shades.

Magical Mist:

When I started my career with Estee Lauder, mature beauty advisors recommended that we “set” makeup with a hydration mist. Now that I’m in my 40s, I finally get it. Misting the face really helps foundation look more natural. I mist my face several times a day!

Now that colder weather has set in, our complexions may need a little jump start. Moisturize. Prime. Conceal. Use foundation! With a few quick steps—and the right products—you can build the base for your beautiful face.

I’d be happy to help you find your perfect foundation match with a complimentary consultation. Call, e-mail, or visit my website—410-303-3176, Wendy0912@aol.com or www.WendysFacePlace.com.