Foundation Series
Since there's not much to write and not much to do, I might as well do another make up entry. It's almost midnight and taking on the big F of make up will surely keep me up till two. Good luck! Let's do foundation. The most important step in doing make up is also the most complex and complicated. So if you're faint of heart, walk into that bright light and into the next salon! First. Get your principles straight. How your hand applies make up is only as good or as bad as your eyes are satisfied. Your eyes will only accept what your mind allows. An oversimplification is, if Garbo is your ideal, you will find thin brows irresistible, consequently you will find no peace until you've plucked the last stray hair. So, decide what is beautiful to you and the eyes and hands will follow.
Those who believe that foundation is simply done for indiscriminate concealment can go buy a mask. Foundation is more subtle and versatile than you can imagine. I like to work from a point of view before I decide on what type of foundation work a client needs. My principles for foundation are 1. You only better. 2. If you can "see" the foundation, it's the wrong foundation. 3. Foundation should mimic evolutionary signals of genetic viability and health. 4. Foundation is a very thin medium, it can only cover discoloration and create illusion of volume. If you think you can spackle with foundation, you need a building permit not an appointment at the salon. Approach make up like an anthropologist but apply it like a painter, not a mason.
You only better. The first principle dictates that I will only conceal what is necessary. Great skin is too precious to go under foundation. Cover blemishes and uneven color, matching everything to the best part of the face. The idea is to look your best not a goupie of SixFeet Under. Believe that there is more beauty in your face per square inch than ugliness. Less is best. Improve on what you have, not build another woman over your wasteland of an ego.
If you can "see" the foundation, it's the wrong foundation. The second principle is the most misunderstood. Observe as many faces as you can and you will notice that the face is not one single shade and tone. I repeat not one single shade and tone! If you want your skin to be one flat continous shade and tone, go join the cast of Herculoids or something. One shade and tone is a a dead giveway that you are "mortuarily foundationed." Foundation must match your neck. Foundation must disappear under sunlight. Foundation must match your racial stock. By the way, shade is the lightness or darkness of a color, while tone is the yellowness, redness, greeness, and bluishness of a color. Tone has a technical meaning in color theory but that's for uber make up geeks. The less noticeable foundation is -- the better.
Foundation should mimic evolutionary signals of genetic viability and health. Hep hep hep hep! Bear with me on this one. The subconscious objective of doing foundation is to make your face look like it has no imperfections, it's supple, it's smooth, it's full of blood and health. Ergo, a nubile lass with superb genes and mint condition reproductive plumbing. Men should go, "Oggggg, ooog, akh, akh, ngawrrrrr." Translation "Hey girl! Great skin. I'm sure my progeny will have better chances of surviving the next ice age." Study the skin of babies, virgins, and young women engaging in sex. Later I will break them down under foundation styles.
Foundation is a very thin medium. In the hands of a master, foundation can do wonders but still keep your expectations realistic. Foundation CANNOT raise craters nor flatten pimples. You can contour with shades but foundation IS NOT liposuction nor rhinolasty. Foundation with a little mica can diffuse light and distract the viewer from fine lines but IT DOES NOT replace acceptance of age.
So there you go on principles. Foundation must rest on the foundation of a woman's beliefs on beauty, age and self image. Next time, material survey. Creams and coverage. The clueless shades of Max Factor in Asia. The technology behind a Christian Dior loose powder. And a bazillion things to make women swear off foundation.
Those who believe that foundation is simply done for indiscriminate concealment can go buy a mask. Foundation is more subtle and versatile than you can imagine. I like to work from a point of view before I decide on what type of foundation work a client needs. My principles for foundation are 1. You only better. 2. If you can "see" the foundation, it's the wrong foundation. 3. Foundation should mimic evolutionary signals of genetic viability and health. 4. Foundation is a very thin medium, it can only cover discoloration and create illusion of volume. If you think you can spackle with foundation, you need a building permit not an appointment at the salon. Approach make up like an anthropologist but apply it like a painter, not a mason.
You only better. The first principle dictates that I will only conceal what is necessary. Great skin is too precious to go under foundation. Cover blemishes and uneven color, matching everything to the best part of the face. The idea is to look your best not a goupie of SixFeet Under. Believe that there is more beauty in your face per square inch than ugliness. Less is best. Improve on what you have, not build another woman over your wasteland of an ego.
If you can "see" the foundation, it's the wrong foundation. The second principle is the most misunderstood. Observe as many faces as you can and you will notice that the face is not one single shade and tone. I repeat not one single shade and tone! If you want your skin to be one flat continous shade and tone, go join the cast of Herculoids or something. One shade and tone is a a dead giveway that you are "mortuarily foundationed." Foundation must match your neck. Foundation must disappear under sunlight. Foundation must match your racial stock. By the way, shade is the lightness or darkness of a color, while tone is the yellowness, redness, greeness, and bluishness of a color. Tone has a technical meaning in color theory but that's for uber make up geeks. The less noticeable foundation is -- the better.
Foundation should mimic evolutionary signals of genetic viability and health. Hep hep hep hep! Bear with me on this one. The subconscious objective of doing foundation is to make your face look like it has no imperfections, it's supple, it's smooth, it's full of blood and health. Ergo, a nubile lass with superb genes and mint condition reproductive plumbing. Men should go, "Oggggg, ooog, akh, akh, ngawrrrrr." Translation "Hey girl! Great skin. I'm sure my progeny will have better chances of surviving the next ice age." Study the skin of babies, virgins, and young women engaging in sex. Later I will break them down under foundation styles.
Foundation is a very thin medium. In the hands of a master, foundation can do wonders but still keep your expectations realistic. Foundation CANNOT raise craters nor flatten pimples. You can contour with shades but foundation IS NOT liposuction nor rhinolasty. Foundation with a little mica can diffuse light and distract the viewer from fine lines but IT DOES NOT replace acceptance of age.
So there you go on principles. Foundation must rest on the foundation of a woman's beliefs on beauty, age and self image. Next time, material survey. Creams and coverage. The clueless shades of Max Factor in Asia. The technology behind a Christian Dior loose powder. And a bazillion things to make women swear off foundation.
posted by Happy Housewife at 3:18 AM
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