A Return to Cover Girl Foundation

Most of the time I am on a budget when it comes to makeup products. These days there are so many products on the market that it can be hard to know what to choose; hard to know what works and what doesn’t, especially if you are shopping online and cannot try before you by. So many products, so little time and money. It can be a challenge.

There are some makeup products where skimping price-wise is ok, foundation however, is not one of them. Spend too little on foundation and you will wind up looking like Bozo the clown with orange streaks, potential breakouts and many other drawbacks that can occur if you are not using a quality foundation.

It seemed on several occasions that I would get with a product that I both liked and could afford, only to find it had later been discontinued or changed when I needed a refill. The last foundation I tried was a luxurious whipped cream but evaporated way too fast here in the high desert. It was time to shop again and I had no clue and a small budget.

During a Dollar Store shopping trip for some other items, I decided to just have a peek at the cosmetics while I was there. Of only two brands carried, one was Cover Girl and the other was L.A. Colors. I stood for a moment in front of the Cover Girl section, and practically chuckled, remembering how my first foundation forty-five years ago had been Cover Girl. I was twelve and the year was 1972. By high school I had moved on to Revlon which I thought was much more glamorous. I never looked back. Yet here I stood, staring at that bottle of Cover Girl  Clean, my mind secretly wondering yet thinking how ridiculous would that be to try Cover Girl again after all these years? It was for little girls after all, young teens covered in pimples wearing bubblegum lip glass. Before I knew it, I was scouting shades and had selected the Buff Beige.

The next morning at home I was almost scared to try it, imagining orange streaks or a visible foundation line along my chin. With one of my nicest foundation brushes, I began to apply my Cover Girl foundation. It was smooth, cool, originally scented and oh-so amazing. The feel was wonderful, soft and smooth. The coverage was excellent as is the color. The finish: satin. And oh how well it blends! I have never been more pleasantly surprised with a beauty product. 

Applying foundation used to be my least favorite part of doing my makeup and now, because of Cover Girl, it is my favorite part. I love to apply and blend this product as it softens and creates its fresh look all over my face.

I am so happy that I made the switch back to Cover Girl foundation. It cost about $6 for the bottle which left quite a bit in my budget for other fun items rather than my having to spend the whole amount on one container of foundation.

So if you are looking for a great new reliable foundation that works well and is amazingly affordable and easy to find most anywhere, you cannot go wrong with a trip back to good old Cover Girl. 

Video and Article - Makeup Formulas and Applications for the Mature Face/Over 40-50

Watch the video here or on my YouTube Channel, The Makeup Ranch.

As women age, it becomes increasingly more important to find the right products and applications to complement the aging process, to help it appear to slow down or even reverse. If you are over forty or fifty and still applying your makeup the same way that you did in your twenties, it is likely time for a makeover.

Following are some tips to help you through the transition and the changes that begin to occur in your skin and facial bone structure. Many factors can cause the actual shape or bone structure of the mature face to change including age, dentures, and injury or illness. All of these variables must be taken into account when applying makeup to the mature face.

Foundation

When selecting a foundation for the mature face, it should not be too dry. It should be somewhat moist but not shiny. For starters, anything with too much sheen or sparkle will “sit” in the creases and draw immediate attention from an onlooker’s eye. Secondly, too much sheen on a mature face looks unnatural. A moist but beautiful matte finish looks best.

See my article on choosing a foundation but just a quick overview, usually liquid foundations are best for normal to oily skin while creams are better for normal to dry skin, in other words, normal skin types may go either way depending on your preference. There is a happy medium with a whipped formula which I use when doing a full glamour look and I recommend for more mature skin  as it offers excellent coverage with a wonderful moisturizing effect. Loose or pressed mineral foundations may work well for most skin types and I do use a loose mineral foundation for even though I have dry skin, I find that they are somewhat moisturizing, more so than a regular loose or pressed powder and I like it for a day-to-day natural look.

Be sure to finish the foundation with translucent powder to tone down any products that may have too much sheen.

Cheeks

A popular sparkling frosted highlighter for the cheeks

Sparkly cheek highlighter should be applied only from the hairline out toward the front of the face stopping before the peak of the cheekbone and the under eye area so as not to get any sparkle into the under eye wrinkles which will cause them to be more visible.

As our faces mature, they can begin to “sink” or look drawn; areas that we previously contoured in darker shades have become sunken and rather than contour to sink them further, we now need to lighten them up and bring them back out to give the appearance of a more youthful, filled-out face and this includes any contouring beneath the cheekbones in a very dark color.

Get in front of the mirror and do a cheek-check. If the area located straight down below the outer pupil and in line with the end of the nose (the center of the side of the face just below the cheekbone) has become “sunken” or hollowed-out, do not contour in the area. Rather, your contour will begin behind it and on back towards the hairline but not all the way to the hairline if there is any change or “sink” in the facial bone structure outlining the face.

Look at these frosted sparkling colors, then imagine what the sunlight hitting these colors on top of wrinkles is going to do to the face. If you want to test it. apply the colors to the top of the cheekbone where the under eye meets the cheek bone, then take your mirror to a well-light window or outdoors to see the full effect.

It can be very tempting to use frosted and sparkled highlighter because there are so many beautiful brands on the marketing offering frosted looks from pale to bronze. If you choose to use one, a sparing application in the area with the least creases as noted above will offer the best look. 

Example packs of matte blush colors with beautiful matte highlighters

Otherwise, stick with matted colors for the cheeks and any highlighting. 

Eyes

Sparkle or frosted colors can be worn on the mature eyes but is best only applied in the center of the lid in a light color or by partially lining the outer upper and lower corners sweeping upward at the corner and going no further inward than the outer edge of the pupil. Apply colors to the remainder of the eyes in matte shades which work easily to “soften” the eyes.

Lips 

A moisturizing formula is best. No dry matte formulas. Use a matte only if it is a moisturizing formula. If the lip color is not moisturizing, the already dried skin of mature lips will appear even dryer.

Beautiful, lighter colors in a moisturizing formula and here is where you get to add more sparkle!

Dark colors are not the best choice for the mature face because as we age our lips tend to become drawn (and wrinkled) therefore making the lips and mouth appear smaller. Darker colors recede so a dark lip shade will only make the mature lips look smaller or more drawn. Dark matte colors look the worst, lighter is better.

One trick, if you want to use a darker lip color, is to apply the shade, then blot, then apply one of the new nude tones over it in a tone that matches the darker shade and be sure to use a brand that is highly moisturizing. This will remove any harshness yet will still allow the darker color that you desire. A lighter glossy lip stain is best for older lips and gives a subtle color while moisturizing.

Finish everything with a final sweep of translucent powder to tone everything down just a notch as well as to set all of the makeup. Include a sweep over the eye shadow and the lip color as well. Apply any lip gloss after the last sweep of translucent powder.

Remember one of the main keys to a great look is to blend, blend, and blend so that there are no harsh lines which will also draw attention to any creases or wrinkles in the skin. Makeup brushes, cosmetic sponges or whatever your preference, there are plenty of tools to help you smooth and blend to perfection.

Stay hydrated; drink plenty of water and if in a dry climate, sleeping with a humidifier can do wonders (I call it a “beautifier”). Keeping yourself hydrated is one of the best things that you can do for mature skin. As we age, the thirst mechanism slows down so we are not cued to drink water as often so drink even if you do not feel thirsty.

Of course there are no rules, you may do as you please, use the colors, formulas and techniques that you like but for the prettiest and most youthful experience, the tips listed here will help you to achieve the best look possible for your age. The mature face can still do many of the looks or products that the young women are doing but it is a matter of how and where we use them. Remember light and less is better with age. You can still use bright colors and make them pop; just be a little more sparing with the appropriate applications.

We can be bold and beautiful at any age and color becomes even more important so that we do not looked washed out or drawn. Step out, step into your color, as long as it is applied in the best light for you, you can wear it well!

Foundation: Choosing the best type for you

by Cheryl Bruedigam, Editor

Types of foundation include:

Pressed

Loose

Liquid

Whipped/Mousse

Cream

One factor in choosing a type of foundation is your skin type: dry, normal, combination or oily. 

Pressed and loose powder have a harder time staying on dry skin so if you choose these, be extra sure to moisturize first.  They are best suited for combination or oily skin because they will absorb the oil and keep the face looking natural.

Liquid foundations work for any skin type although if you have an oily skin type, you may want to select a thinner liquid.  Drier skin types will appreciate a liquid foundation that moisturizes.

Whipped Mousse or Cream foundations love dry skin.  They will moisturize while providing a smooth matt coverage.

The amount of coverage you are looking for is also going to be a factor in selecting foundation.  Those seeking less coverage will want a thin liquid or a loose or pressed powder where the amount applied is easily controlled.  Those seeking a heavier coverage will prefer a liquid or a cream, although do not let the word Acream@ give you the impression that just because it is a cream it is going to be heavier, the newer lightly whipped creams provide a light feel with excellent coverage.  And remember, you only need cover the problem areas if you choose, you absolutely do not have to cover the entire face, just develop your blending skills.  Use a makeup sponge for a fine, thin and even application.

Whether you want an SPF in your foundation is going to be another factor.

But I=m going to go out on a limb here and say that at different times we may need different types of foundation.  A physically active day is certainly going to call for different coverage than an evening out or a trip to the grocery store or just lazing about at home.  For really making up, especially if you are contouring beneath, you are going to want a liquid or a cream.  For everyday use or lazing about, just covering the basics, the new pressed mineral foundations are so easy and provide fast, instant coverage where you want it.  Another option is thinning a liquid foundation with your favorite moisturizer. 

Seasonal changes make a difference to most all of us to a degree, depending on where we live.  In the winter we may require a heavier, more moisturizing foundation whereas in the summer we may want lightweight, barely any at all, or none, or a waterproof formula that can hold up to swimming, perspiration and various warm-weather activities.

And what about sheen?  My advice is be careful.  There are many foundations on the market that do everything from shimmering to practically glowing in the dark (an exaggeration) so be careful in choosing these.  And if you do select one, try it in different scenarios where you can examine the results, ask your closest friends and even take a photo because unless you prefer to be sparkling in a photo, you may not see the look you wanted.  Glitter and sheen can really show up weird in photos.  Certainly glitter or sheen is not preferable in the sun or at the office. It is likely these should be reserved for evening wear only.  And some liquid foundations are just so moisturizing that the very moisture they possess can appear too shiny so this is another area of caution but is easily corrected with loosed powder applied afterward if you are happy with the foundation.  If you have really oily skin, try dusting first with a loose powder or foundation then applying a liquid.

Lastly, there are many makeup products you can skimp on when it comes to cost however foundation is not one of them.  Generally speaking, the less expensive the brand, the less quality, and in a foundation, quality is number one because unfortunately it shows. And I realize that cost may be, in may cases, a deciding factor on which foundation to buy.  Most foundations start around ten dollars these days and you may expect to pay twenty or thirty dollars for a really good one.  Just remember, whichever you choose, it=s going to last you for several months so it=s really a worthwhile investment if you choose to pay a little more.

Sampling is good whether it be in a make-over, a salon, a department store, a home party, try-it sizes, etc,. However it really takes spending some time with a foundation to get to know it and to allow it to get to know your face.  One try is good to help you decide but it really takes a good month of use and wear to completely decide on a foundation because by then you have worn it through most of the scenarios in your life (other than seasonal) and you will have a good idea by then if it is right for you.

Experiment with foundation types, shades, blending, and see what works best for you.