Women often blame the product for the unpleasant cakey texture of their foundation-covered face. While product quality does matter, it’s also possible that you have applied the foundation the wrong way.
Makeup artists know this and for beginners out there, you will benefit much from learning the steps outlined here.
Assuming that you have picked the right type of foundation and the perfect shade for you, let’s begin with the actual process of foundation application.
Essentially, the first step is to prep your skin and priming it up which entails cleansing, toning, and adding a layer of moisturizer to your face. You will want a clean base for your makeup, always. And if you have blemishes to hide like dark spots, cover them with a color corrector.
1. Choosing the best foundation
One of the key steps when applying a foundation is choosing the foundation that is suited for your skin type.
It is important to know whether you have oily, dry, normal, or combinations skin before applying a foundation. Many foundations are specially designed for different skin types:
- A light foundation like mousse is perfect for oily skin. You can also choose a powder foundation or oil-free liquid foundation.
- A liquid foundation with moisturising ingredients is great for dry skin. You can also choose a hydrating powder or stick foundation.
- Choose powder foundation if you have combination skin. It will help in distributing more of the oil-absorbing makeup where you need it and less for areas that you don’t.
2. Your beauty tools are important
Many are using the egg-shaped sponge (aka beauty blender) for applying foundation with extra coverage. But you can very well use your fingers for a barely-there coverage or a foundation brush for an even moderately light coverage.
Take your pick. Just make sure to clean your tools. Don’t reuse sponges or brushes already stained with other products or other foundation colors.
This can cause discoloration or coarse textures. Also, dip the makeup sponge or brush in water, just enough to wet it, not soak it. This holds true for both liquid and pressed foundation.
3. Dab from the inside out
Avoid random movements when applying foundation for an even coverage and smoother finish. Dab the product from the central area of the face, around the nose, then gradually move towards the ears.
The idea is to concentrate the product in the middle. More crucially, your motion should be stippling.
Apply as little product as possible in pressing, small strokes, not sweeping nor rubbing motions. Starting with a minimal product amount is easy to correct and blend as well.
4. Dab from the middle up, then down
Starting from the nose area again, gently dab all the way to your brows and forehead. Make sure you evenly cover the areas in the forehead, which are prone to sun spots.
After which, you can proceed down to your chin and jawline. Some people prefer to have dots of foundation on their lips, too. It’s a great way to hold the color of your lippies.
5. Let the product set
The most crucial part but often skipped is the setting phase. Be patient and give your foundation a good 5 to 10 minutes to set.
Let the heat from your face breathe out and blend with applied products. For a nicer matte finish, you may use a setting powder to be tapped on the shiny areas of your face.
Always, dust off the excess powder from the brush first before applying it on the face to avoid dumping unnecessary product drips and patches.
6. Blend
With your sponge, blend your foundation well. It’s highly advisable that you avoid applying makeup under warm, yellow lights. Use bright lights (natural is perfect) or invest in a quality vanity mirror for greater visibility.
You’ll know you have blended your foundation well when you see no visible lines, that is you can hardly recognize where your foundation begins and ends. Your face, neck, and ears are all in one unifying base color.
It’s a relatively easy process – one that you can manage without expert training. And with constant practice, you’ll be able to perfect your application method faster with great results!
Fun fact about Nicola: She owns a lot of sunscreens as she carries a mini sunscreen in each of her handbags and backpacks.
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