Dewy or matte? Top tips on picking the right foundation
Would you rather look luminous and radiant or velvety and polished? Choosing the right foundation can be a bit tricky.
There is a lot to consider – from matching your shade to coverage preference – but deciding on the right foundation finish is even more confusing. When most of us were beginning to enjoy the dewy look, masks came along, and they didn't allow the dewy foundation to stay even.
The big question remains: which finish should you go for?
Before you decide, you need to understand the good and the bad of each foundation.
The difference between a matte and dewy foundation
Dewy foundations work well for normal-to-dry skin. They are enriched with natural oils and humectants (substances that promote retention of moisture) to reflect light and produce younger-looking skin. Jojoba and almond oils are the most common oils used in dewy foundations.
Formulas include tinted moisturisers and liquid foundations that provide more coverage. Celebs such as Thuso Mbedu and Pearl Thusi often gravitate towards the dewy look.
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Matte foundations have built a loyal fan base and are often described as clean and velvety. They don't have any oils or a shiny finish, therefore can't give you a glow–but they will give you an airbrushed look.
They provide incredible coverage for most skin conditions, anything from tattoos to hyperpigmentation. Matte foundations offer versatile formulas such as powder, cream, liquid, and sticks.
Here is what we like about the dewy foundation
It has a light texture and is easy to blend.
It's enriched with hydrating properties.
It helps the skin to appear more moisturised.
It has radiance-boosting properties.
It's great for normal-to-dry skin types.
Here is what we like less about the dewy foundation
It can make breakouts more visible.
It doesn't last long.
It gives sheer coverage.
Dewy skin is about letting your primer do all the work so that you can get a luminous finish.
Tip
Use skincare products with hyaluronic acid to create a hydrated base for your dewy skin finish.
Here is what we like about the matte foundation
It's long-lasting.
Provides full coverage.
Can be used as a concealer.
It's great for oily skin types.
Here is what we like less about the matte foundation
Not easy to blend.
Can give a cakey look and make the skin look dry.
Highlights fine lines and facial hair.
Skincare products with salicylic acid work well with matte foundations – prepping your skin to create a great canvas for your make-up.
Tip
Avoid using fingers when applying matte foundation, and instead use brushes to help create an even look.
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News24
10 hours ago
- News24
Graphs that paint the picture of HIV in SA
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This is mainly because antiretroviral medicines have kept several million people alive who would otherwise now be dead. The rate of new infections has also declined a lot, as shown in the above graph. South Africa's HIV epidemic is closely entwined with our tuberculosis (TB) epidemic. This is because untreated HIV breaks down the immune system, which then makes people vulnerable to falling ill with TB. Accordingly, TB is the top cause of HIV-related deaths in South Africa. Recovering life expectancy Just what a big deal HIV has been in South Africa is clear from estimates of life expectancy in the country. As HIV killed more and more people through the nineties and early 2000s, life expectancy dropped precipitously from 63.2 in 1990 to 53.2 in 2004. But then, as antiretroviral treatment started keeping more and more people alive, it increased again. It stood at 66.1 in 2024. Graphic: Spotlight There is much history that is not captured in this graph. Perhaps most notably, the introduction of antiretroviral treatment in South Africa's public sector was intentionally delayed by the state's policy of Aids denialism under then-president Thabo Mbeki. While the dramatic improvement from 2005 onward is impressive, life expectancy didn't have to drop as low as it did in the first place. The blip you can see on the right of the graph is a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. While significant, the broader trend is driven by HIV and the recovery from HIV. A massive treatment programme Of the eight million people living with HIV in South Africa, about 6.2 million or roughly four in five, were on treatment in 2024. This means South Africa has the world's most extensive HIV treatment programme by some distance. We take it somewhat for granted these days, but to treat so many people is a tremendous success story for which many healthcare workers, activists, government officials, donors, and others deserve great credit. That said, it is concerning that about one in five people with the virus are not on treatment. Treatment is recommended for everyone living with the virus. Though we focus on treatment coverage here, these numbers are often split further into the UNAIDS 95-95-95 targets. READ | Trump's HIV funding cuts will hit diabetes and cervical cancer treatment hard. Here's why In 2024, 95% of people living with HIV had been diagnosed, 81.5% of those diagnosed were on treatment, and 92% of those on treatment were virally suppressed - meaning the amount of virus in their blood was below a low threshold. The key takeaway from these numbers is that the most significant gap in South Africa's HIV response is in helping people who have already been diagnosed to start and stay on treatment. *Check back tomorrow for part 2 of this series. You can also find the complete version of this #InTheSpotlight special briefing as a single page on the Spotlight website. Note: All of the above graphs are based on outputs from version 4.8 of the Thembisa model published in March 2025. We thank the Thembisa team for sharing their outputs so freely. Graphs were produced by Spotlight using the R package ggplot2. You are free to reuse and republish the graphs. For ease of use, you can download them as a Microsoft PowerPoint slide deck. Technical note: The Thembisa model outputs include both stock and flow variables. This is why we have at some places written 2024 (for stock variables) and 2023/2024 (for flow variables). 2024 should be read as mid-2024. 2023/2024 should be read as the period from mid-2023 to mid-2024.
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A genius 2-in-1 knife and cutting board perfect for all your quick chopping needs that don't require a whole production of cutting boards. This scissor-like contraption lets you slice against a flat surface for easier use, then slide your veggies into a bowl or on top of a dish in a flash. A microwave pasta maker so you can enjoy the glory of your favorite carbohydrate by literally just pressing a button on the microwave and walking away, so you don't have to hover over a boiling pot listening to a podcast just to get your noodles on. A jar of all-in-one decor paint, a chalk-style paint with a built-in primer designed to easily glide on furniture, upholstery, and any wood, metal, and glass surfaces. It's eco-friendly and dries with a chalky matte finish within 30 minutes of application, making it a boon for parents doing DIY projects. Reviewers use it on everything from old couches to front doors to dressers to fences. A teensy undetectable laptop mouse jiggler you can slide into the USB to keep your computer active on Teams, Slack, and all those other various technological overlords that keep track of you so you can take some moments to yourself in the sunshine when you need it. ☀️😎
News24
13 hours ago
- News24
Who pays my medical expenses when I am in a road accident?
The lengthy, ongoing legal battle between Discovery Health and the Road Accident Fund (RAF) may leave you wondering who is liable for your medical costs if you are injured in a motor vehicle accident. The Discovery Health case is confusing and unresolved, but in the meantime, the courts continue to issue judgments ordering the RAF to pay medical scheme members' medical bills. Where does this leave you if you are a medical scheme member injured in a motor vehicle accident? The court cases highlight that the RAF is legally liable for your medical costs, and potentially lost income, when you are injured in a motor vehicle accident and unable to work. However, as a scheme member you are also entitled to claim from your scheme and your scheme is most likely to pay your immediate costs and ensure you are admitted to a private hospital. Schemes pay medical expenses immediately Jaco Rupping, COO of Short-Term Insurance at ASI Insure, says medical schemes are often the first line of financial support for individuals injured in vehicle accidents. 'Your medical scheme will cover immediate and ongoing medical treatment or care, for instance hospitalisation, surgery, and rehabilitation,' he says. The RAF is an after-the-fact insurer, as it takes longer to claim, Rupping says. 'Medical schemes will step in to ensure that treatment is not delayed due to funding concerns,' he says, while cases before the courts prove that RAF claims can take a long time Dr Ron Whelan, chief executive officer of Discovery Health, says that your medical scheme will generally cover the cost of medical care associated with road accidents, particularly where this is an emergency. Schemes are obliged in terms of the Medical Schemes Act to cover all medical emergencies and a number of other listed serious conditions as prescribed minimum benefits (PMBs). Many scheme options also cover you for private hospital admissions. What is the RAF and what does it do? The RAF is a South African state-supported fund that provides compensation to victims of road accidents. It is a form of compulsory social insurance funded by a fuel levy that everyone who puts petrol or diesel into their vehicles pays. The amount of the levy used to fund the RAF is determined annually in the National Budget. In the 2023/24 fiscal year, it was 218c a litre. Last year, almost 80 000 claims were filed and just over 63 000 were finalised. However, the RAF admits that it hasn't resolved all claims dating back several years. It says 90 percent of these have not been paid as a result of inadequate paperwork, which it is attempting to resolve. In addition, the fund has massive liabilities amounting to hundreds of millions of rands and recently lost a court battle with the attorney general to restate its liabilities to a fraction of this amount. In an effort to fix the fund's problems, more proposals have been put forward to limit claims from foreigners and wealthy individuals. What will the RAF pay? The RAF's fact sheet lists the costs for which it will pay, or reimburse, claimants as long as they are not responsible for the accident: Medical expenses, which include emergency and non-emergency medical treatment, only in cases where the expenses have not been paid by your medical scheme; Past and future loss of earnings or income; Future medical expenses; General damages for serious injuries; Direct funeral expenses (excluding aspects such as catering); Past and future loss of support; and, Home modifications and caregivers if needed. Recent court rulings show that if you are in any way to blame for your accident, the RAF will not pay all your costs. Why are Discovery and the RAF arguing over medical costs? In one of the RAF's recent attempts to limit its liabilities, it directed its staff in 2022 not to pay the medical claims of medical scheme members whose schemes had paid their medical bills. Discovery Health succeeded in having this directive declared unlawful in 2023. The RAF then issued a new directive to its employees not to pay medical costs that schemes are obliged to pay as prescribed minimum benefits (PMBs) or emergency medical conditions. Discovery Health challenged this directive as being in contempt of the court order made against the first directive, but two out of three High Court judges ruled against the medical scheme administrator and the challenge was dismissed. Discovery Health has been granted the right to appeal the judgment, and the appeal has yet to be heard. Despite this, in January this year, the RAF was ordered to pay medical costs incurred by Rahldeyah Esack to his estate even though Esack's medical expenses relating to an accident in 2015 were paid by Discovery Health Medical Scheme. Most recently, in March, the RAF was ordered to pay the medical costs of John Moss, a cyclist and medical scheme member who was hit by a vehicle in 2017. The scheme's view Whelan said Discovery Health went to court to stop both the RAF and the Minister of Transport from implementing these directives not only on behalf of the schemes it administers, but also 'in the interests of all medical scheme members in South Africa'. 'Discovery Health's firm contention is that medical scheme members' valid road accident-related medical claims must be processed and paid by the RAF, on the same basis as for any other eligible claimant – as has been the case for the past eighty years,' Whelan says. Whelan said there are two reasons why some medical schemes, such as Discovery Health Medical Scheme, want members to claim medical costs from the RAF and repay the scheme: It ensures that individuals do not benefit from being refunded for medical expenses which they did not actually pay in the first place. The cost of medical schemes is kept as low as possible. Model rules published by the Council for Medical Schemes mean that expenses that can be recovered from other parties are not paid for by the scheme. 'Where these medical claims, which have been paid by the medical scheme, are settled by the RAF, they are refunded to the medical scheme. This protects members from higher medical scheme contribution increases,' Whelan says. Some medical schemes have taken a different approach. The Government Employees Medical Scheme, for example, does not expect members to claim accident-related medical expenses from the RAF. Are scheme members expected to claim from the RAF? Whelan said that, as the process of claiming back from the RAF can take between four and five years on average, Discovery helps members claim these costs back from the RAF. He provided the following bullet-pointed explainer: In terms of the registered rules of the Discovery Health Medical Scheme, members who have lodged a claim against the RAF must: Inform the scheme of such claim; Include the scheme's accident-related medical expenses in the claim against the RAF; Promptly reimburse the scheme with any payment made by the RAF in respect of accident-related medical expenses which were paid by the Scheme; and Inform the scheme of any undertaking made by the RAF in respect of future accident-related medical expenses. KEEP THIS IN MIND Claims against the Road Accident Fund (RAF) can take long and may not cover all your losses, especially income-related losses or non-medical expenses, so it is best to have additional cover to protect yourself, Jaco Rupping, COO of Short-Term Insurance at ASI Insure, says. Also the fund will not pay claims, or not pay them in full, if you were to blame for the accident. Rupping suggests you consider: Disability insurance that pays a lump sum or income if you're permanently disabled; Income protection that covers your loss of earnings if you cannot work either permanently or temporarily; Life insurance that provides for your dependants in the event of death; Severe illness insurance that pays you a lump sum if you are diagnosed with a serious condition; Gap cover insurance that pays shortfalls in medical scheme cover for doctors who treat you in hospital; and, Personal accident cover that pays out a lump sum for injuries, regardless of fault. 'RAF is helpful but not a replacement for these kinds of cover as it is often delayed, partial, and limited,' Rupping says.
