Foundation is a word that strikes fear into the hearts of most women I know. It immediately conjures up an image of a thick, oil-based liquid, that when it's applied to the face looks orange and matte, giving skin a dull, streaky and poreless appearance. Please, sit back, close your eyes, and astroproject this vignette from your mind—base as the beauty pros like to call it, has come a long way.
To get the scoop on what’s what, I went straight to an expert source, one that has made foundation the base of their business. Cover FX is a Toronto-based company founded by corrective makeup specialist Lee Graff, who started her business with a line of base products specifically for her patients—formulas that would provide beautiful looking coverage as well as nourish and protect the skin. The beginning was over 40 different shades of foundation originally available only at Toronto’s Sunnybrook & Women’s College Health Sciences Centre where Graff worked. Today, Cover FX has grown into a line of foundations, powders, bronzers, application tools and more, available across Canada, the U.S. and in Europe, designed to make skin look naturally beautiful. They also have a celebrity following—Angelina Jolie, Keira Knightley and Madonna are all fans.
I recently met with Wanda Longo, international communications director for Cover FX, who not only introduced me to this fabulous line, but also dished a truckload of tips and tricks for cheating your way to perfect wedding-day skin. To begin, Longo stresses the most important step towards creating a flawless face starts with proper prep. “Start with clean, moisturized skin, then give it a little extra boost by applying a vitamin-packed primer,” Longo says. “This will feed the skin with an extra punch of nutrients and help create a finish that your base will stick to and wear longer and more beautifully.” Her primer of choice: SkinPrep FX ($45).
Once you’re primed, it’s time to pick the right base for you. If you want something ultra long-wearing, Longo recommends going with a water-based foundation like Natural FX ($37) that provides the coverage of a cream, but is easy to blend like a liquid. Once you’ve found your perfect shade, squeeze a little product on to your hand, and then use a foundation brush to apply it over your entire face. “Using a brush actually makes for an easier, more uniform application,” Longo says. “Use quick, stippling movements to blend product into skin, paying extra-special attention to blending it well along your jawline and at the corners of your nose.” To finish, apply a light layer of loose mineral powder, like Setting FX ($32) over your foundation. “This will lock your base in place, and because it’s a mineral powder, it contains a micronized Mica which reflects light—perfect for hiding any flaws and blemishes, particularly in photographs.
On the subject of mineral powders, Longo says using these as a foundation, specifically a formula like Mineral FX ($37), is a great option if your skin is already close to perfection. “Mineral powder foundations are gorgeous because they are light, super-easy to apply and act as a liquid foundation, concealer and powder all-in-one,” she explains. “When applied to the skin, it does not look powdery, but is instantly absorbed and creates a perfect matte appearance.” Longo suggests buying a mineral powder compact like Powder FX ($35) to tuck into your clutch for touch-ups on your wedding day.
To read more of Longo’s tips, learn more about Cover FX and where to shop for it, visit coverfx.com.
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