Although foundation is meant to enhance the natural beauty, it can come with a variety of downfalls, especially to those with sensitive skin. From allergic reactions and breakouts to wrinkles, fine lines, redness, and dark circles, foundation can cause a great amount of trouble if you don’t know what you’re doing. And with the plethora of options available in the beauty aisles, including liquid, cream, and powder foundations, it can be challenging to find the right fit for you.

We put together some foundation tips for those with sensitive skin:

1. Find out your skin type

The first step to finding out your ideal foundation type is finding out which skin type you have. From oily to dry to combination skin, there are many different types of skin. You can discover yours by researching each type and comparing them to your own experience with your skin or by talking to a dermatologist.

2. Skip the foundation

You heard that right, an article about foundation hacks is telling you to skip the foundation. Crazy, right? We don’t mean to suggest skipping foundation every single day, but it’s good to occasionally give your skin a break. As the largest organ, skin needs to breathe as often as possible, so skip the makeup or go for something light such as a B.B. cream or tinted moisturizer every now and then.

3. Double cleanse at the end of the day

The most basic of skincare advice always includes washing your face before you go to bed and we couldn’t agree more. It’s important to wash the makeup, oil, and grime off your face at the end of the day, but a regular cleanser may not be enough. The double cleanse method has been popular in Korea and has recently gained momentum in the United States. This method involves using an oil cleanser to remove oil-based impurities, such as makeup and sunscreen, followed by a gentle foaming or gel cleaner. It can help prevent breakouts and gives you a clean canvas with which to apply skincare and makeup.

4. Contour and highlight

Popularized by the Kardashians, contouring your face after applying foundation can add depth and shape to your face. For the uninitiated, contouring involves using a darker foundation to shade areas on the face, such as the nose, forehead, and cheekbones. Highlighting offsets the contouring by accentuating the points on the face that naturally catch light by using either concealer or highlighter. This method requires practice, so we recommend watching a few YouTube tutorials on the subject to guide you.

5. Ditch full coverage foundations

Full coverage foundations can wreak havoc on sensitive skin. While it may offer more coverage,

It can also clog pores and be harmful to the skin. Instead, look for a light to medium coverage foundations that can help you achieve a flawless look without the same amount of damage.

6. Find your shade

The last step after choosing a brand and type of foundation is to find the perfect shade. To do this, test out swatches on either your neck or inside wrist, both of which are said to be the shade most similar to your face. The makeup aisle can be overwhelming, so we suggest asking for help from the kind people that work behind the counters to help you find your perfect shade.