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.

If you have large pores, you may be disappointed to hear that there is no treatment that will make them smaller. This is your skin type and you can’t change what nature has given you. What you can do is make your skin appear finer and prevent large pores from becoming caked with dirt, make-up and oil. When pores are clogged, they will appear larger. Heavy make-up, especially foundations can cake in pores.

I read an article that advised you to purposely fill your pores with foundation to hide large pores. In my opinion, that will only accentuate them. Here is the best way, in my opinion, to make pores look smaller.

Obviously, keeping your skin clean is the first and most important step. Remove make-up and wash your face with a mild cleanser nightly. A facial scrub will help dislodge debris caught in pores but don’t be too rough, scrubbing harder will only irritate your skin. You can use a scrub two or three times a week. Once a week, follow up your nightly routine with a clay mask. It will tighten the skin and make it appear finer.