Great Skin Is the Best Foundation

 

We get a lot of questions about how to choose a foundation that’s good for skin. Should it have sunscreen in it? What ingredients should be avoided? Will it cause breakouts? We have a lot of thoughts on the subject.

 

Sunscreen or No?

Many foundations include sunscreen, some as much as 50 SPF. That’s a lot of chemicals to carry around on your face all day, every day. As much as we are proponents of daily sunscreen to avoid the age-accelerating damage that UV exposure induces, the amount of SPF in many foundations is just overkill. The Skin Cancer Foundation recommends regular daily use of SPF 15 sunscreen to protect against skin cancers and premature aging.

 

Additionally, unless you are putting on a thick layer of foundation and covering your entire face and décolletage—ear to ear, hairline to bra line—you are not getting all the coverage you need. We recommend a separate, dedicated sunscreen as your daily base layer. Vivant’s Day Treatment Lotion SPF 15 is the perfect non-greasy, featherlight option. Apply it to all exposed areas, including face, neck, chest, back of the hands. Then apply a sunscreen-free foundation. Let each do its job.

 

Will Foundation Cause Breakouts?

Even if it doesn’t contain ingredients specifically known to be comedogenic, foundation can still cause oil to get trapped and exacerbate skin issues. If you use foundation, take extra care when cleansing and toning at night to remove all traces of the makeup. Don’t wear foundation while working out. And don’t go to bed without your nighttime skin care regimen.

 

Ingredients to Avoid in Foundation

Foundation is meant to enhance your appearance, but many are loaded up with ingredients that clog pores, irritate skin, and lead to breakouts. It’s important to read the labels of the products you’re using carefully. The closer to the top of the list an ingredient appears, the higher the percentage of it in the formula and the more likely it is to cause problems for your skin. Here are a few of the worst ingredient offenders. The number in parenthesis indicates where they land on the comedogenicity scale, five being the highest.

 

Acetylated Lanolin (4)

Lauric Acid (4)

Isopropyl myristate (5)

Isopropyl palmitate (4)

Myristyl myristate (5)

Myristyl Lactate (4)

Laureth-4 (5)

Oleth-3 (5)

Cocoa butter (4)

Coconut butter or oil (4)

 

 

The Best Foundations

While we believe great skin is the best foundation, we understand that not everyone feels comfortable going bare. Many prefer the more polished look of a foundation.

If you fall in those categories, look for a liquid foundation of pigments, water, and glycerin, or use loose mineral-based powders. You can mix a little Day Treatment Lotion SPF 15 in with the mineral powder for light coverage and sun protection.

 

How to Get Skin Flawless Enough to Go Bare

It’s all about the right products used consistently. The right cleanser, toner, corrector, and daily SPF are essential to achieving that beautiful, natural glow.

 

Vivant’s four-step skin optimization systems make sticking to a regimen with all the critical elements required for clear, healthy, radiant skin. Designed to work synergistically, each product enhances the work of the next to help you find your flawless. Use our online consultation tool to find the perfect system based on your skin type, tone, and tolerance.

 

Remember, consistency matters. To achieve your best results, stick to your daily regimen religiously. When you first begin using the products, your skin will go through an acclimation period. You can expect some light flaking. That’s the sign of accelerated cell-turnover and the beginning of positive change in your skin. Well done, you. Because the average cycle of a skin cell is 30 to 45 days (depending on your age), give it at least that much time before evaluating your results. We recommend taking before and after pics so you can chart your progress.

 

Products alone won’t do it. Eat a healthy diet of antioxidants, whole grains, fruits and vegetables, lean proteins high in omega 3 fatty acids. Leafy greens, nuts, avocados, salmon, berries, sweet potatoes are just a few of the items that should be appearing regularly on your plate. Minimize sugar, which induces inflammation and undermines healthy collagen. Go easy on the alcohol, which dehydrates. Lastly, drink plenty of water, get good sleep, and exercise to improve circulation bring more nutrients and oxygen to the skin.

 

With a proper, consistent regimen, and a healthy lifestyle, your skin will look so good you won’t need foundation.

 

If you have questions, we’re here to help. Contact one of our skin care experts at by phone at 1-855-484-8268 or via email at info@vivantskincare.com to get all your skin care questions answered.