Findation, the on-line way to match a foundation shade

Now that I've been back from visiting the teenagers at summer camp, I've come to reluctant conclusion that teenagers are just like pre-schoolers, i.e., walking Petri dishes, except louder and more hormonal. Because I have the most god-awful cold, and it's keeping me, if not absolutely bedridden, at least indoors, and glued to the internet. Which is how I found findation.

Findation is an on-line database of foundation colors. You enter the shades of two foundations that are a good color match for your complexion, and it gives you a suggestions of other ones to try. Here's a screen shot so you can see how it works:

It works really well, as long as you don't give it Boots No. 7 Triple Protection Tinted Moisturizer in Fair (which I bought in England) and Natio Pure Mineral Foundation in Light, (which I bought in Australia). Supplied with those two shades, findation decided I was a big show-off who was just trying to prove how well-traveled she is, and only spat out two suggestions.

However, when I fed it Armani Luminous Silk Foundation in shade number 2, and Clé de Peau Silky Cream Foundation in B20, it produced the following matches, weighted, apparently, by accuracy:

• Stila Illuminating Liquid Foundation in 20 watts
• Prescriptives Flawless Skin Total Protection Makeup SPF 15 in Cream 02
• Chanel Vitalumière in 10 Limpide
• Revlon Colourstay Foundation in Buff
• Kevyn Aucoin The Sensual Skin Enhancer in SX5
• Estee Lauder Fresh Air Makeup Base in linen beige
• Dr. Hauschka Translucent Makeup 00 Porcelaine
• Bobbi Brown Foundation Stick Alabaster 00
• Revlon Photoready Makeup in Vanilla
• Bobbi Brown Face Touch Up Stick in Porcelain oo
• Giorgio Armani Face Fabric Second Skin Nude Makeup SPF 12 1-Pale
• Lancome Teint Miracle 01 Beige Albatre
• MAC Studio Fix Fluid NC15
• Chantecaille Future Skin Porcelain
• Vichy Dermablend Corrective Foundation 15 Opal
• Chanel Vitalumière Aqua SPF15 Fluid Foundation BR10 Beige Rose Pastel
• Nars Sheer Glow Foundation in Mount Blanc
• Chanel Vitalumière Aqua SPF15 Fluid Foundation BR10 Beige Rose Pastel

Here's what is awesome about this: the shades might turn out to be absolutely perfect matches, but they give you a place to start. I don't know about you, but I like to walk up to a makeup counter with an idea of what I want to buy. Maybe even a list. Otherwise, the lolcat part of my brain takes over and I get all I CAN HAS COLORZ?

Also, there are all kinds of companies in their database, so whether you buy your foundation at the drugstore, the department store, or Whole Foods, you can find something to try.

30 Days to 10 years younger--10 minute tips. Tip 28: Move on

I've been doing the internet beauty thing for a long time, and one thing remains constant; people always find a way to whine about their favorite products being discontinued.

Sometimes a company pulls a line before giving it enough time to find its market segment. Firefly and Dollhouse fans have nothing on the women I know who keened, wailed, and gnashed their teeth when Oil of Olay decided to pull their line of drugstore makeup.

I'm going to sound like Pollyanna here, but honestly, things change incredibly quickly in the realm of cosmetics and skincare. If you take the time to remain informed about what's out there, you'll realize that formulations change. And it's not just due to business reasons. And a lot of the time, a new and improved formula actually is an improvement.

I urge you not to stockpile huge amounts of a favorite product. One of my invisible internet friends did just that with Oil of Olay's discontinued powder foundation. She was convinced that it was the perfect color match and the perfect consistency for her skin. But long before she had depleted her stockpile, fashion and her skin had moved on. What had once seemed perfect now appeared too heavy and matte.

That's because the finish and consistency of makeup changes as fashions change. The foundation that worked perfectly for you in 2003 might be way too matte and too opaque now that sheerer, light-diffusing formulas are in style.

If you're reaching the end of a product that you like, don't automatically repurchase the same thing. Do a little research to see what's new.

For example, there's an exciting-sounding partnership between CoverGirl and Olay that combines the color expertise of CoverGirl with the anti-aging formulas of Oil of Olay.

And I just discovered the world's most amazing foundation (for real, and don't let the other nine tubes and bottles in my bathroom tell you any different) by buying a ridiculous iPod train case from Stila. Stila's One Step foundation is primer, foundation, powder, true love, and fresh-baked cookies in one easy to use pump bottle. A tiny pea-sized bit of this miracle product erases my circles and broken capillaries and leaves me poreless and glowing.

And I'd never know about it if I'd been on auto-pilot and repurchased my third tube of Estee Lauder tinted moisturizer. So do your skin a favor and branch out. If you're wearing a foundation that's been out for 10 years or more, you really owe it to yourself to try something new. You won't believe the difference in the new stuff.

Elsewhere:

To see The Beauty Alchemist's review of Stila One Step foundation, click here.

To see About.com's Top Five Foundations for Women Over 40 click here

For more suggested foundations for mature skin on About.com, click here

If you haven't joined MakeupAlley, I urge you to do so.

30 Days to 10 years younger--10 minute tips. Tip 10: Lighten up, Francis

When you get to be our age, everyone has one piece of advice about makeup: wear less.

Well, I disagree. I wear much more makeup now than I did in my 20s, 30s, and 40s. For one thing, I wear foundation pretty much every day--I never bothered before. I wear concealer, eye shadow, eyeliner, and eyebrow color pretty frequently, too. But it's not obvious, because I 1) pick the right shades and 2) blend like crazy. I also retouch, check for shine, and fix smears.

These ladies don't. Here's Maggie Gyllenhaal in need of some foundation, but with too much smeary black eyeliner, a startling amount of very pink blusher placed too low on her cheeks, and very bright lipstick.


She looks better here. Her eye makeup is great, and her skin looks beautiful. There's still way too much blusher, though. And it should stop at the bottom of her nose, not go all the way down to her lips.


This is Catherine Zeta-Jones promoting Elizabeth Arden's new Red Door Red lipstick. Where do I start? Too much eyeliner, too much blusher, and basically too harsh a look. Let's just call her Cruella de Lipstick and move on, shall we?

To a different picture of Catherine Zeta-Jones, this time demonstrating that when it comes to bronzers, a little dab'll do you.

Would it be over the top to call her Cruella de Oompa Loompa?

In conclusion, wear as much makeup as you want. But please, emphasize either your eyes or your lips. Limit your blush to a healthy flush. That goes for bronzer, too. And for heaven's sake, keep the eye shadow above the eye.

This advice is for everyone, of course. A 23-year-old needs to guard against a tendency to ladle on the spackle. Makeup is fun, after all. Whee! But you get older, you really need to be careful. Constant vigilance.


Be Joan. Not Bette.