As the range of Foundations and Colours advance, so does the lack of knowledge in choices by the average customer. So I'm here to tell you how to ensure the right match and colour!

One of the hardest thing with a foundation is to match a colour to your skin type.

One of the easiest things to do (and it's free) is to quickly zip down to your local Beautician/Salon and ask her/him what they suggest for you to look for when buying your next foundation.

And seriously, they aren't that scary, and they wont judge your amount of knowledge. To be honest, they love the feeling that someone needs them.

But for those of you that may be finding things a little too busy to do this, here are a few tips for you!

Never... ever... ever... test your foundation on the back of your hand or your jawline! The jaw line is in fact the lightest part of the face and if you test there then apply to the face, you will look white like a ghost.

To test the colour of a foundation, it is best to test on the side of the nose, blending into the cheek. As this is where you start with foundation on the face, blending outwards. It is pretty easy to tell if you have the wrong colour, as you will start to look Orange, or really white. Always test the colour of a Foundation in Natural Light, as artificial light can be misleading.

When buying a Foundation, never buy a darker colour so that you look more "tan" as you will actually look Orange! If you want to look tan, invest in a nice bronzer as you will look a nice Golden brown and more natural as opposed to, well.. ORANGE!

Don't forget that skin tones change between summer and winter, and you should change your foundation accordingly. Or buy two different tones and mix foundation throughout the year.

Different types of skin, need different types of Coverage. There are different types of Foundation coverage to suite different types of skin. Right from good Clear Skin, to Problem Skin.

Clear Skin:

Good clear skin will only need the lightest of coverage. Liquid Sheer Foundation or a Tinted Moisturizer will cater well for this skin type. This is just to even out skin tone and to add radiance to the skin.

The Odd Blemish:

Sometime we get that odd pimple or scar. If your skin is still an even tone, with the odd spot, a good concealer paired with a liquid foundation or creme-to-powder formula will be suitable for this skin type.

Problem Skin:

With problem skin, it needs a little more attention in the Foundation field. A Creme or stick foundation will offer a good coverage to hide all the blemishes.

Nothing sums the different type of textures than this extract from Jemma Kidd's Make-Up Masterclass Book.

"Check the ingredients and select the correct formulation for your skin with added vitamins and moisturizers. Choose talc-free foundation that soaks in easily - nothing with a thick , powdery finish. A moisturizing foundation is essential for dry skin, where-as an oil free, matte finish is ideal for oily skin. Mature women need a little shimmer in their foundation to bring light to their skin, but anyone with scarring or acne should avoid light-reflecting particles as they can emphasize blemishes. A light-coverage liquid foundation is best for normal skin and a tinted moisturizer is perfect for summer"