Foundation, BB creams, highlighters, concealer.....help!

[#1]

For someone who has never used foundation before - but wants a smoother look, are all these truly necessary? And how to put it all together, is the next question. 

I have combination/oily skin - but I do not have any issues with my skin. I am not acne prone, not sensitive. I only break out when I am on my period but even that is minimal. I just want a nice photofinish, smooth look. Other's have recommended tinted moisturizers or finishing powder. And there has been mention of highlighters. (but I don't have dark circles?)

My question is really how do I figure out what I need? I use concealer when I have those break outs - but that's about it. 

suggestions? tips? Much appreciated!

[#2]

Most of the BB creams that sephora sells are really just tinted moisturizers with a different name.  BB creams were made popular in asia, and that is where you should look for a BB cream if that is what you'd like to use.  BB creams are best applied with your fingers.  My favorite BB creams are ones from Asia.  The best one at Sephora in my opinion is the Dior, but it is for medium to medium-dark complexions only.

Judging from what you said about your skin, I would start with a light- to medium- coverage tinted moisturizer.  Laura Mercier makes a good one.  The Nars and Bobbi Brown ones are pretty good also.  These can be applied with a beauty blender for light coverage, or with your fingers/brush for medium coverage.

If you want more coverage, then you can use a foundation.  One that looks beautiful and photographs well is Make Up Forever HD foundation.  Other good ones are MUFE Mat Velvet and Nars Sheer Glow.  I would try a beauty blender with these - they are buildable coverage but using your fingers or a brush may give too much coverage.

To start, I would invest in a tinted moisturizer for everyday wear, and a foundation for special occasions.  

Highlighters are to be used on the high points of your face - cheekbones, forehead, nose, chin.  They go hand in hand with contour and blush.  I would start with your base (foundation/TM) and later graduate to cheeks/highlight/contour.

Hope this helps!

[#3]

I have a friend that knows nothing about makeup and believed nothing beyond eye shadow and mascara.  I'm trying to get her into a routine for her wedding day though.

Foundations are typically used to even out the skin and concealers are to hide anything such as dark circles and blemishes.  If you have occasional breakouts/blemishes then a concealer would work for you but it would have to match youur skin color.  Foundations come in many forms and range from sheer, medium, to full coverage.  Tinted Moisturizers and BB Creams also have sheer to medium coverage and are normally cheaper than foundations so if you have nothing to really hide then these would be the best option.  These also have SPF in them so they're good for everyday use.  I have oily skin and I use the Too Faced BB Cream.  I tried Boscia and Smashbox which have sheer coverage but I picked the Too Faced one because of the coverage it provided. 

Highlighters/Luminizers/Illuminators do just that.  They highlight the areas you put them on such as the cheekbones, brow bones, and above the brows.  I really like the Tarte Marajuca Blush and Glow and Benefits Watts Up.  They are both sheer but the Tarte one's have color.

Bronzers and Blushes are to contour face and give it some dimension.  Bronzers are placed normally using the E and 3 rule.  AKA the forehead, side to cheekbone,  then toward edges of chin.  Blush is applied to the apples and blended back toward the ear to make it look natural.  There's a variety of them to use and every makeup brand has blush and bronzer.  It depends on what you like such as matte bronzer or ones with shimmer.  Same goes with blushes and there's many many colors.

Finishing powders basically finish off your face.  I love the Bare Minerals Mineral Veil.  It's translucent, absorbs oil, and leaves a smooth poreless look.  This does need to be touched up.  You can also use a setting spray such as Urban Decays All Nighter Spray or their De-Slick spray which targets oiliness.  Both are just fine for me and I have oily skin.

Anyway it's what best works for you.  Do research and look online for ones that you may like and you can always go to a Sephora store or Ulta and try them on firsthand.  Hope this helps!

[#4]

Concealer is for spot treatment so if you don't have any obvious spot you want to hide, this may not be necessary.

The use of foundation, BB cream, or Tinted moisturizer depends on how even/flawless your complexion is. Foundation provides the most coverage and combined with concealer will conceal anything. If you have pretty good skin and don't like feeling of make up, try BB cream or tinted moisturizer for medium/light coverage. Since you've got oily combo, finish it with a dust of sheer matte powder around nose area would be good.

Highlighter, bronzer and blush are not necessary but are often used to slightly contour the face (ever notice how some people's face look a tiny bit different depending on how they applied blush?). A bit of highlighter around brow and above cheek bone will make your face look brighter.

For flawless complexion, you just need concealer, foundation or BB cream or tinted moisturizer, and a finishing powder. Just like how different lighting can make your face look different, highlighter, bronzer and blush are often used to contour and make your face look brighter, sharper, narrower or whatever depending on how you apply them.

[#5]

Awesome feedback thank you. 

As for the application - any recommendations with BB cream? I want to try the beauty blender. 

[#6]

I ususally apply BB cream with my fingers.  I like the Clinique BB cream.  It really helps control my oily skin.

[#7]

mm, well, the only BB cream I've tried is Dior BB cream. I can tell you TM are sheer coverage while BB cream are medium. Unless you are squarely a medium complexion, I suggest trying a BB cream that offers a variety of skintones and get one closest to yours. Dior BB cream only have 1 skintone, which supposedly adjust to your skintone but not really, don't trust those. Other than that, there's nothing I can tell you that product reviews can't.

=)