Frequently Asked Questions
Who is matte foundation best for?
Matte foundation is best suited for “naturally oily skin, which tends to break makeup down more quickly throughout the day,” says Arthur. ”Excess oil can make foundation separate or slide around,” so matte foundations use “ingredients such as silica or oil-absorbing powders to help keep the skin looking smoother for longer.” As a result, you don’t need to constantly touch up throughout the day.
Many reach for dewy foundations for everyday wear but opt for matte on special occasions. Why?
It comes down to how light interacts with skin under event conditions, says Arthur. “For photoshoots or events with bright lighting, too much glow can sometimes read as excess shine on camera.” Studio lights in particular, she notes, “tend to pick up every reflective area of the face, which can leave the skin looking overly shiny rather than healthy and radiant.” To avoid that, we recommend applying an all-over matte base and adding glow “strategically onto the high points of the face where you actually want light to hit,” as Arthur sums up, for a balanced finish.
Meet the experts
How we test and review products
We always enlist a range of testers for our makeup vertical, but hair-care products and tools are another story. While there are certain products that can be used across different hair textures, lengths, curl patterns, thicknesses, colors (natural and unnatural), and needs, hair products are often created with specific consumers in mind. Many are created in order to address a concern (dandruff, breakage, brittleness) or to work most effectively for a specific hair type (4C curls, wavy hair, gray hair). You wouldn’t want to pick up a purple shampoo that’s only been reviewed by someone with, say, auburn hair, or a diffuser that’s never been tested by anyone with curls—right?
For our review of the best concealers for dark spots, we enlisted the help of multiple editors, writers, contributors, cosmetic chemists, and makeup artists—who have a range of experience studying and using these products. Testers considered performance across four primary categories: efficacy, texture, experience, and formula. For more on what’s involved in our reporting, check out our complete reviews process and methodology page.
Our staff and testers
A beauty product is a personal purchase. You might be searching for a face cream to address persistent dryness or a new nail product to add to your Sunday self-care routine; you may simply be browsing around for the latest launches to hit the hair market. No matter what you seek or your individual needs and concerns, Allure wants to ensure that you love anything we recommend in our stories. We believe that having a diverse team of writers and editors—in addition to the wide range of outside testers and industry experts we regularly call upon—is essential to reaching that goal.
After all, can we really say a skin-care product is the “best” for people over 50 if the only testers we’ve solicited opinions from folks who have yet to hit 30? Can we honestly deem a high-end diffuser worthy of your hard-earned cash if it’s never been tested on curls? We’re proud that our staff spans a wide range of ages, skin tones, hair textures, genders, and backgrounds, which means that we are able to fairly assess any beauty product that comes into the beauty closet.
Now, watch the Every Year After cast spill secrets after sipping the truth serum:
