How to choose the right foundation for your skin

Whether your skin is oily, prone to breakouts, on the sensitive side or simply dry, choosing a foundation that works with your skin can make all the difference to how it looks, feels and lasts throughout the day. From mineral and liquid foundations to lightweight skin tints, powders and more, there really is a formula for every skin type and need. But with so many options available, knowing which is right for you isn’t always easy. And then there’s the small matter of finding the perfect shade! So whether you’re looking for a foundation that helps conceal pesky pimples without feeling heavy, a longer-lasting formula that won’t slide off oily skin by lunchtime, or something hydrating enough for a dry, dehydrated complexion, BC have you covered. Keep reading to find the foundation formula that best suits your skin.   What foundation is best for dry or dehydrated skin? If your skin is dry or dehydrated, foundation can sometimes highlight the very things you’d rather it didn’t! Think flaky patches, fine lines and uneven texture. Eek. So you’ll want to make sure you look for lightweight liquid formulas with a natural or luminous finish rather than anything overly matte or heavy. Hydrating ingredients such as hyaluronic acid and squalane are also worth looking out for, helping skin feel comfortable while giving your complexion a fresher, smoother appearance. Try: ELES Mineral Glow Skin Tint SPF 15 If you prefer your foundation to still look like skin, this is the perfect option and a personal can’t-live-without favourite of mine! The silky formula offers sheer-to-buildable coverage with a naturally luminous finish, while hyaluronic acid and squalane help support hydration. It also contains antioxidant-rich botanical extracts including pomegranate, sea buckthorn, kiwi and cucumber. The result? Skin that looks even, fresh and radiant without feeling heavily made-up!   What foundation is best for oily or combination skin? If your skin is generally oily, you’ll want to steer clear of foundations with an overly dewy finish. This is because oily skin can make the foundation appear a little too shiny as the day goes on! Instead, look for a matte or semi-matte finish, whether that’s an oil-controlling liquid formula or a powder foundation. These formulas can help absorb excess oil and keep shine at bay, while giving your complexion a smoother, more even finish. Mineral powder foundations can also work particularly well on oily skin, as the powder helps absorb excess oil throughout the day. And if you have combination skin, you don’t necessarily need to mattify your entire face, concentrate your powder or more matte formula through oilier areas such as the T-zone and keep things lighter elsewhere. Try: ELES Mineral Flawless Finish Foundation SPF 15 Offering medium-to-full buildable coverage with a soft powder finish, this mineral liquid foundation contains kaolin clay and rice powder to help absorb excess oil and minimise the appearance of pores. But it isn’t all about mattifying! Hyaluronic acid, squalane and jojoba esters help maintain hydration too and contrary what many might think, oily skin still needs hydration! This makes it a particularly good option for combination skin, where you may be dealing with shine through the T-zone but drier areas elsewhere.  What about breakout-prone or sensitive skin? When skin is prone to breakouts or sensitivity, piling on a thick layer of foundation can be tempting particularly when redness or blemishes are making you feel self-conscious. But heavier doesn't necessarily mean better! But more importantly, you’ll want to pay particular attention to what’s in your foundation. Fragrance and other potential irritants can aggravate some sensitive complexions, so look for a gentle formula that won't clog pores or feel heavy on the skin. Mineral makeup can be a particularly good choice. ELES mineral foundations are designed to provide lightweight, breathable coverage that allows skin to ‘breathe’ freely without clogging pores, while still giving you the coverage needed to camouflage redness, blemishes and uneven skin tone. Try: ELES Mineral SkinPerfect Powder Foundation SPF 15 This silky mineral powder foundation gives you buildable coverage, so you can keep it light across your complexion and add a little more over redness, blemishes or uneven areas. Its lightweight formula is designed with sensitive, reactive and acne-prone skin in mind, while helping to minimise the appearance of pores and control excess oil. Skin prone to redness? You may also like our guide to the best makeup for rosacea skin.   What foundation is best for mature skin? As skin changes with age, it often becomes drier and fine lines or texture can become more noticeable. But that doesn’t mean there is one type of foundation every mature complexion should (or shouldn’t!) wear. If your skin is on the drier side and you prefer lighter coverage, ELES Mineral Glow Skin Tint gives the complexion a fresh, luminous finish while hyaluronic acid and squalane help support hydration. Prefer more coverage? ELES HD Mineral Satin Foundation is a great middle ground. It offers medium-to-full buildable coverage with a natural, satin-soft finish and contains hyaluronic acid and squalane to help keep skin feeling comfortable. Its light-reflecting mineral pigments also help soften the appearance of fine lines, pores and uneven texture without leaving skin looking overly matte. And despite what you may have heard, mature skin doesn’t automatically need to avoid powder. If you love a powder foundation, keep the application light and concentrate it where you want coverage or shine control. Try: ELES Mineral SkinPerfect Powder Foundation SPF 15 or ELES Mineral Veil Cream to Powder Foundation Want something quick and easy? If speed and convenience are top of your list, a foundation stick is hard to beat. ELES Foundation Stick combines foundation and concealer in one easy-to-use stick, with high, buildable coverage and a natural finish. Swipe it directly onto the areas where you want coverage and blend, or use it more precisely to conceal blemishes, redness or uneven tone. It’s also handy for touch-ups and travel when you don’t want to carry a liquid foundation around.  How to find the right foundation shade Once you've found the right formula, there's one more important decision to make, the shade! This can often feel even harder than selecting the correct foundation formula for your skin type and concerns. Forget testing foundation on the back of your hand. Apply a few of the closest shades along your jawline instead and check them in natural daylight. The best match should blend almost seamlessly into your skin without making your face look noticeably lighter, darker, pinker or more golden than your neck. Your undertone can help narrow things down too. Skin is generally described as having cool, warm or neutral undertones, although there's no need to overcomplicate it. If foundations regularly look too yellow on you, try a cooler shade; if they tend to look too pink, you may need something warmer. If neither is particularly obvious, you may sit somewhere in the neutral camp. And don't be surprised if your perfect shade changes throughout the year. A little more sun exposure in summer can mean the foundation you wore throughout winter is suddenly no longer quite right.   The right foundation should work with your skin Ultimately, finding your perfect foundation isn't just about matching your skin colour. Think about your skin type, how much coverage you like and the finish you feel most comfortable wearing. The latest foundation formulas also blur the line between skincare and makeup, combining complexion-perfecting pigments with ingredients more commonly found in your skincare routine. So, whether you love a barely-there skin tint, prefer fuller coverage or can't go past the ease of a mineral powder, there's no single formula that's right for everyone. The best foundation is simply the one that works with your skin and gives you the finish you love!

Building a skincare routine sounds simple enough. Work out your skin type, choose a few products and you're done. Except, of course, our skin rarely makes things quite that straightforward! In reality, you can have oily skin and still be dehydrated! Have dry skin and get breakouts. Or sensitive skin that’s beginning to show fine lines and pigmentation. And as our skin changes with age, hormones, seasons and everything else life throws at it, you may find you're dealing with not one or two but several concerns at once! So how do you build a skincare routine when you're trying to address more than one concern?  It starts with understanding the difference between your skin type and your skin concerns. Your skin type should help shape the foundations of your routine, while your individual concerns determine the targeted ingredients and treatments you add along the way. So, whether you're starting from scratch or wondering if your current line-up is really right for your skin, keep reading as we show you how to build a skincare routine that makes sense for your skin.   What's the difference between your skin type and your skin concerns? Building a skincare routine isn't just about knowing which product goes first. It's about choosing products that suit both your skin type and what you're actually trying to improve. Your skin type describes the general characteristics of your skin (for example, dry, oily, combination or normal), while your skin concerns are the specific things you'd like to address, such as dehydration, pigmentation, breakouts, sensitivity or visible signs of ageing. And this is where it can get a little confusing because the two aren't necessarily linked. You can have naturally oily skin but still experience dehydration. Dry skin can be sensitive or prone to breakouts. And pigmentation, fine lines and loss of firmness can occur across pretty much every skin type. Your skin type also tends to provide the more consistent starting point for your routine, while your concerns can change over time. Hormones, climate, stress, lifestyle, age and even overdoing your skincare can all affect what your skin needs at any given time. So rather than trying to find one product range labelled for your type of skin and only using those products, think of your routine in two parts, build the basics around your skin type, then personalise it according to your concerns.   Start with your skin type Your skin type can help guide the everyday products that form the foundation of your routine, particularly your cleanser and moisturiser! If you have dry skin, look for gentle cleansers and nourishing moisturisers that help replenish moisture and support the skin barrier. For oily skin, lightweight, non-greasy hydration is key. And yes, oily skin still needs moisturiser! Trying to strip away every trace of oil can leave skin feeling uncomfortable and may do more harm than good. Combination skin usually needs a little balance. A lightweight routine may work well overall, while oilier or drier areas can be treated slightly differently where needed. If you have normal skin, gentle cleansing, good hydration and daily sun protection provide a solid foundation, with targeted products added according to your concerns. And while sensitivity can occur alongside any skin type, if your skin is easily irritated or reactive, keeping your core routine gentle and supporting your skin barrier should come before introducing lots of active ingredients. One common source of confusion is dryness versus dehydration. They may sound similar, but they're not the same thing. Our guide to dry vs dehydrated skin explains how to tell which you're dealing with.   Now target your skin concerns Once your foundations are sorted, think about what you'd actually like your skincare to improve. This is where targeted serums, treatments and active ingredients come in. If dehydration is an issue, ingredients such as hyaluronic acid and glycerin can help attract and hold water in the skin. Try: VIE Collection Mesoforce NMF Moisture Boosting Serum. It’s been carefully designed for dehydrated and moisture-depleted skin! And it’s a beautifully lightweight but deeply nourishing serum that combines sodium hyaluronate, panthenol and natural moisturising factors to deliver intensive hydration while helping support the skin barrier! For pigmentation and uneven skin tone, look for targeted brightening ingredients such as vitamin C and niacinamide, alongside daily broad-spectrum SPF. Try: Phytomer latest breakthrough launch! Pigment 2D High Correction Dark Spot Serum. This targeted serum combines niacinamide with marine-derived brightening ingredients to help effectively reduce the appearance of dark spots and promote a clearer, more even-looking complexion! If fine lines, firmness and other visible signs of ageing are your priorities, ingredients such as retinol, collagen, elastin, peptides and antioxidants can be incorporated according to your skin's needs and tolerance.  Not sure which product to choose? We've rounded up our top-rated beauty buys for ageing skin, including some of our favourites (and yours!) from across the Beauty Collective brands. For breakouts and congestion, salicylic acid can be particularly useful for helping to clear clogged pores, but don't fall into the trap of stripping your skin in an attempt to dry out breakouts. There are gentler ways to tackle blemishes too, including one ingredient we constantly rave about! Discover why we’re loving propolis for breakouts. And if sensitivity or redness suddenly becomes the main concern, sometimes adding another active isn't the answer. Simplifying your routine and concentrating on soothing, hydrating and barrier-supporting products may be exactly what your skin needs. Try: Phytomer Minecel Fix Clear Cream. Think of this as your skin’s "stabilizer." If your barrier feels shaky, prone to blemishes or reactive, this deeply hydrating, barrier-boosting cream is the answer!  It packs 58% fermented Minecel Water (a mineral powerhouse that works at the cellular level to hydrate, repair, and revive tired or post-treatment skin.) As your routine's final "lock-in" step, it seals actives in place while building a breathable protective barrier for lasting comfort. Peptides and adenosine smooth lines and boost bounce, niacinamide evens tone, and calming extracts like Centella soothe redness. Ceramides plus vitamin E shield against stressors, plumping skin for that youthful look. It really is the perfect multitasker for sensitive, mature, or recovering skin, especially after microneedling or lasers.    What if you have more than one skin concern? Chances are you probably do! But that doesn't mean you need a different serum for every concern or a bathroom shelf overflowing with active ingredients! Instead, decide what your biggest priorities are and look for products that can address more than one concern where possible. A well-formulated vitamin C serum, for example, may support brightness and antioxidant protection, while a hydrating serum can help dehydration while also plumping the appearance of fine lines. It's also a good idea to introduce stronger actives gradually rather than starting a retinol, exfoliating acid and new vitamin C serum all in the same week. Not only can too much potentially irritate your skin, you'll have no idea which product is responsible if something doesn't agree with you! Your routine can also change as your skin does. What works beautifully in winter may feel too rich in summer, while hormonal changes, stress or simply getting older can alter what your skin needs.   So, how do you put it all together? This is where it becomes much simpler. Your everyday routine might look something like: Morning: Cleanser > targeted serum or treatment > moisturiser > SPF (don’t forget your SPF!) Evening: Cleanser > targeted serum or treatment > moisturiser (and if your skin really needs it that extra boost you can add an oil here too.) Then personalise it. Have dry skin & pigmentation? Choose your cleanser and moisturiser to keep dry skin comfortable, then add a targeted serum to address pigmentation. Oily & dehydrated? Keep your basic products lightweight, but add a hydrating serum to replenish the water your skin is lacking. Sensitive & ageing? Start with a gentle, barrier-supporting cleanser and moisturiser and introduce targeted anti-ageing ingredients carefully rather than throwing everything at your skin at once! You can then add extras such as eye treatments, exfoliants, masks or facial oils where they make sense for you.   Build your routine around your skin The best skincare routine isn't necessarily the one with the most steps. It's the one where every product has a reason for being there. Start with your skin type to get the foundations right, then choose targeted products according to the concerns you'd actually like to improve. And remember, those needs aren't set in stone. Your skin changes, so your skincare can too. Ultimately, a few well-chosen products that work together will always make more sense than a complicated routine full of products you're not quite sure why you're using!

You’ve been told to invest in an eye cream, but you aren’t quite sure why you should fork out the extra dollars. After all, do you really need to use a separate cream for your eyes? Will your moisturiser not suffice? The short answer? Not necessarily. If all you are looking for is a little hydration around your eyes, then some gentle facial moisturisers can be perfectly suitable. But if you want to target something more specific (think dark circles, puffiness, fine lines, dryness or crepey-looking skin) that's when a dedicated eye treatment can really earn its place in your skincare routine! So, is your moisturiser enough or would your eyes benefit from something more targeted? Keep reading as we explain the difference, what to look for and how to choose the right option for your eyes.  Can you use your face moisturiser around your eyes? Yes, but it depends on the moisturiser! Not every facial moisturiser is designed to be applied so close to the eyes. The skin here is thinner and more delicate than much of the rest of your face, which can make it more prone to dryness and irritation. It's also constantly moving every time we smile, squint and blink, which is one of the reasons fine lines can become noticeable here relatively early! Your facial moisturiser may also contain active ingredients or fragrance that the rest of your face tolerates perfectly well, but your eye area doesn't. The easiest rule? Check the directions on your moisturiser. If it says to avoid the eye area, avoid it. And if it causes stinging, watering or irritation, that's a pretty good indication it doesn't belong there! Which ingredients are suitable around your eyes (and what should you avoid)? If you're using a facial moisturiser around your eyes, gentle hydrating and skin-supporting ingredients such as hyaluronic acid, glycerin, ceramides, peptides and squalane can all be useful. But remember, it's the overall formulation that matters. A moisturiser isn't automatically suitable for your eyes simply because it contains hyaluronic acid or peptides. It's also worth being a little more careful with stronger actives. High-strength retinol, exfoliating acids and heavily fragranced formulas may irritate the delicate eye area, particularly if the product wasn't formulated to be used there. That doesn't mean ingredients such as retinol are off limits around your eyes though. Far from it! If fine lines and visible signs of ageing are a concern, retinol can be useful, but look for an eye treatment specifically formulated for this delicate area rather than taking your usual facial retinol right up to your eyes! Try Pevonia’s Evolutive Eye Cream. It’s formulated with hyaluronic acid and retinyl palmitate (which is a gentler, more stable vitamin A derivative) so perfect for the delicate, yet ageing eye area! It not only deeply hydrates, brightens and firms the skin, it also actively reduces fine lines and crepiness! So, what does an eye cream actually do differently? Eye creams, gels and serums are specifically formulated for the delicate eye area and, importantly, can target concerns your everyday facial moisturiser may not address. The key is choosing one according to your needs. Rather than simply reaching for an eye cream labelled ‘anti-ageing’, think about what you'd actually like to improve. Is it dryness? Puffiness? Dark circles? Fine lines? Or perhaps a combination of a few? If dryness and dehydration are your main concerns, an eye treatment rich in hyaluronic acid and other nourishing ingredients including squalane, shea butter and vitamin e, can help replenish moisture and plump the appearance of fine dehydration lines. Want to know more? Here are 6 Reasons Why You Should Use Hyaluronic Acid Under Your Eyes For fine lines, loss of firmness and crepey-looking skin, look for targeted ingredients such as peptides, antioxidants, collagen-supporting ingredients and eye-friendly forms of vitamin A to help smooth and improve the appearance of ageing skin. Here are our expert approved eyes creams for ageing eyes, if you’re not sure where to start. If it's puffiness and tired looking eyes you’re looking to improve, ingredients such as caffeine, Acetyl tetrapeptide-5 and targeted botanical extracts like Ginkgo Biloba Leaf Extract, can help refresh the eye area and improve the appearance of tired, puffy eyes. And then there are dark circles. These are a little more complicated because they can have several different causes, including genetics, pigmentation, visible blood vessels and hollowness beneath the eyes. Lack of sleep certainly doesn't help either! For the best recommendations on how to treat your under eyes bags, dark circles and puffiness, click here. So, do you really need an eye cream? If your moisturiser is gentle, suitable for use around the eyes and all you're looking for is a little extra hydration, it may be perfectly adequate. But if there's something specific you'd like to improve, whether that's puffiness, dark circles, fine lines, dryness or crepey-looking skin, that's when a targeted eye treatment really comes into its own. Rather than expecting your everyday moisturiser to do everything, you can choose a formula specifically designed for the delicate eye area and the concerns you actually want to address. And if you're going to add another step to your skincare routine, we think that's a pretty good reason to do it!