Welcome to foundation.ca - Information on Makeup

STRIKE IT RICH

Whether you're a natural woman or a makeup maven, you'll find fall color is ripe with luxurious picks. When sensuous color is applied, it's precisely placed on either the eyes or lips, framed by an otherwise neutral face. The nude palette includes subtle bronzers, skin-finish textures and sheer color--nothing that screams makeup. Get ready to go for creamy lids, velvet matte lips, soft highlighted cheekbones--you get the picture.

This season's makeup is a cinch with the right staples (from top): Giorgio Armani Deep Mediterranean Palette. For one-stop sheer color, reach for II Makiage Studio Tones in Burgundy, ideal for lips, eyes and cheeks. If you love a berry lip, try a sheer violet kiss from MAC Lipstick in Cyber, or create a bit of drama with the velvet matte finish of Dior Rouge Lipstick in Holiday Red #863. On a "nude" face, add a sweep of Revlon Lash Fantasy in Bronze Remix to brows to spice things up.

[ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED]

Neutral Wonders

An Indian summer glow plus soft sheer color equals the pared-down perfection of fall's nude palette

EYES

A shorter, thicker, nutty-colored brow is ideal on an otherwise nude face. Get the look fast with one sweep of coppery mascara on brows. Continue the subtle radiance on the lids with a caramellike shadow. Try Nars Eye Shadow in Ondine. Finish up by rimming the entire eye with a liner or shadow like Lorac Paparazzi Pencil Eyeshadow/Liner, a smooth milk-chocolate hue with a touch of sparkle.

FACE

It's clear that the almost-naked face is the rage. What sets this neutral palette apart from last season's is the hint of sheer illumination. To achieve a minimalist finish, turn to base formulations that offer subtle radiance. Trish McEvoy Even Skin Foundation (right) is a gorgeous option.

CHEEKS

They key to blushing up now is to apply the lightest suggestions of color. Start with the sheerest of blush or bronzer. We like Tarte Cheek Stain in Bronze Goddess or Bobbi Brown Pot Rouge in Chocolate Cherry. Blend, blend, blend along the apples of the cheeks and toward the ear until the color lines are practically invisible. Finish with a dab of subtle shimmer like MAC Mineralize Skinfinish in Metal Rock (below right).

LIPS

Again, stick with nudes that provide a sheer satin finish. Look for Revlon ColorStay Overtime Sheer in Sheer Champagne or Almay Truly Lasting Color in Brown Sugar. If your natural lip color is more than one hue, before you apply color, even things out with lightweight concealer like Clinique Quick liquid concealer.

eye love ...

Fluttering lashes, hints of liner and muted color are the soft sells of the season

BROWN-EYED GIRL

Peachy-, bronzy- and woody-browns have us sitting pretty this fall. To achieve creamy molasses lids like the ones shown, turn to eye color with depth and transparency like MAC Cream Color Base in Brown (a primer that not only gives sheer color but also holds your eye makeup all day long). Line the top and bottom rims with an angular brush and try Victoria Secret Eye Liner Duo in Pink Penny.

get down brown

Black Radiance Eyeshadow in Desert Clay.

go grape

Diane Stevens Eye Shadow in Eggplant.

true blue

Maybelline Expert Wear Eye Quad in Destination MNY.

COLOR LINE

Unexpected flashes of color like teal and purple take the place of last year's deep, dark smoky eyes. Such tapestrylike hues--like Urban Decay Eye Shadow in Purple Haze or Prescriptives Colorscope Eye Color in Indigo--took our breath away. If you're reaching for color, try accenting these pretty shades with a bolder pop of the same hue in the inner and outer corners of the eyes. We like MAC Fluidline in Blue Peep or Iris Eyes.

[ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED]

lip shtick

Fall's most sensuous and modern accessory is luscious lip color

THE COLOR PURPLE

Berry-beautiful lip color is also back--the perfect complement to the royal purple hues that reigned supreme on the fall catwalks. Show off your rich violet lips with loads of pitch-black mascara and a smoldering eye. Get a glossy, pretty pout like the one above with MAC Lipglass in Decorative or this Chanel Glossimer lip color in Sensuelle.

PRETTY IN PINK

Pink lips are still popular, but we're glad it's no longer about bubble-gum brights. Muted strawberries and antique roses are the trend du jour--and they look so pretty on us. Do try Mary Kay Signature Creme Lipstick in Whipped Berries or this Skin by Alison Raffaele. Lipskins in Smile.

RED ALERT

The red lip is most ravishing this Season--solo, without even a bit of makeup. Get red-y with MAC Lipglass in Russian Red, Prestige Lipstick in Velvet or this Shiseido Perfecting Lipstick Color in Real Red.

NUDE AND IMPROVED

With the naked face so popular, when choosing lip color, stick to the nutty, whiskeylike hues that look beautiful on brown skin. And there are many to choose from this season. Among our favorites: Skin by Alison Raffaele Lipskins in Breathe and this Bobbi Brown Bare Shimmer Lip Tint SPF 15.

[ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED]

PHOTOGRAPHED BY FERNANDO MILANI