L’Oreal has introduced Bare Naturale, a mineral based foundation powder. Mineral makeup is great for any skin type. It won’t clog pores and it’s naturally gentle to skin. Bare Naturale has vitamins and minerals for nuturing your skin as well as an SPF 19 sunscreen.

L’Oreal’s Bare Naturale is available in 8 shades to match your skintone. The applicator brush is swirled into the sifter, embedding powder on the bristles. After shaking off any excess, the foundation powder is applied with the brush using circular motions from the center of the face out to the hairline. You can repeat the application process until you reach your desired level of coverage.

In 2004, a British archeological dig in London yielded an unusual find. A metal container, with the lid intact was unearthed. The container still held its original contents of cosmetic face cream of the type used by fashionable Roman women. This cream was made of refined animal fat, starch and tin. The starch would produce a powdery texture and the tin was to produce the pale white complexion that was highly prized by Roman women. Researchers know that the Romans used lead for that purpose in face cream, the tin was probably an indication that they were using a non-toxic substitute for the poisonous lead.

Today we would call this kind of face cream, foundation. Rather than being used to produce a pallor, foundation today is used to create a base for your makeup, cover imperfections in skin and skin tone and sometimes to hide blemishes. It makes the face look smoother and more even-toned.

Choosing a foundation can be a matter of trial and error but there are a few things to keep in mind that will help you get it right the first time.

The two most important factors you must consider in choosing a foundation are: coverage and color.

If you have young, unlined skin and are not trying to hide blemishes, you will probably like “sheer” foundations best. They even out skin tone without being thick or obvious. If your skin has a few fine lines or is dry, a moisturizing liquid foundation will help create a dewy glow. A good choice for oily skin is one of the many brands of powder foundation. They create a matte finish and usually contain ingredients like talc that absorb excess oil.

If you have many lines or large pores, avoid heavy coverage liquids that collect in creases and clog pores. Many times women think that a heavier foundation base will help hide these imperfections but in actual fact, it can make them much more noticeable.

When choosing a shade, you want one that most nearly matches your own skin tone in natural light. Don’t make the mistake of going too light or choosing one that is too pink or peachy in the belief that you will have a healthy glow. Your colors are going to come from your blush, eyeshadow and lipstick, not from your foundation. Foundation is just that. It merely prepares the canvas so you can artfully create your look.

Maybelline has introduced a new line of “air-whipped” make-up called Dream Mousse. The line includes foundation and bronzer as well as blush and eye shadow.

The formula is named Dream Mousse because of its smooth, whipped consistency. The product goes on smooth and blends seamlessly. The foundation comes in 12 shades to match most skin tones, while the bronzer comes in two shades, Sun Glow and Glistening Sun to give you a sun-kissed look that’s just right.

The eyeshadow is yummy in shades of sherbert and sophisticated in the natural tones. The blush is soft and subtle with colors like Peach Satin and Cloud Wine.

Average price for each item is between $6 and $8 at local drug and department stores.

L’oreal Paris is moving this season’s colors from bland to bold with their new line of make-up called HiP, High Intensity Pigments. Gone are the days of the “natural” look, these products promise greater intensity and impact of color. The products are designed to be used to create either a “harmony” with harmonious colors blended to create a more understated look or a “disharmony” which takes advantage of bold and contrasting eye and lip colors. Both looks employ eyeshadow applied beyond the natural lid lines creating a look that is both dramatic and sophisticated.

The colors are bold and rich with names like Sassy, Dreamer, Elated, Mischief and Vivacious. If your goal is to be noticed this season, this is the look for you. The liquid foundation sells for $13.00, the eyeshadow duos around $7.00 and the lipcolor and cheek color sell for $10.00 each.