Second Skin

Anyone can have perfect skin. It's a simple matter of blending with the right foundation, right?

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Before you shop for the right shade, though, find a formulation that's good for your skin first. Only then choose a shade that closely matches your skin. 		Foundation shades are more Asian skin friendly these days, although some are friendlier than others. Here's a checklist.

Rule 1: Be realistic. If, for example, you have very oily skin, no oil-free formulation is going to make you look matte all day long.

Rule 2: Decide on the texture. Liquids will give a sheer effect, while creams and compact foundation give a more matte, heavier coverage. But not to worry -- today's matte resembles real skin.

Rule 3: Prep the skin with a moisturizer, lotion, or foundation primer to help foundation spread more easily. No makeup will stay on your face long enough without this preparation.
Awake Foundation
Rule 4: Blend well with your fingers or a sponge. Less is always more for a seamless look.

Rule 5: Use a big, fluffy brush to lightly dust on translucent powder. This step can be skipped if you do not have oily skin.

Rule 6: What matches your skin often looks darker in a bottle.

Rule 7: Mix and match colors to get just the right shade, if necessary.

TOP 15 FORMULAS
Each brand has a variety of formulations which are not made equal. So select the right formulation within a brand.

Tinted Moisturizers
Tinted moisturizer blends well with almost any skin coloring thanks to its sheer application. Its main mission is to protect your skin and leave your skin appearing softly luminous. May require powdering.

1. Aveda Moisture Plus Tint SPF 15, oil-free
2. Bobbi Brown Tinted Moisturizer SPF15
3. Donna Karan Tinted Moisturizer SPF 20

Sheer Coverage Foundation
Light and even coverage for women with little to hide.

1. Awake Hydro Touch Foundation
2. MAC Sheer Coverage Foundation, SPF 15
3. Shiseido Liquid Compact

Liquid Foundation
Gives you versatile blending.

1. Aveda Base Plus Balance
2. Bobbi Brown Oil-Free Foundation
3. Chanel Pure Perfection Makeup
4. Christian Dior Teint Diorlight
5. Clinique Soft Finish Makeup
6. MAC Studio Finish Matte SPF 8
7. Merle Norman Lasting Foundation SPF 12
8. Prescriptives Virtual Skin
9. Zhen Oil-Free Foundation

Foundation
Clockwise from the center: Lancome, Estee Lauder, Shiseido, Clarins, Clinique.