How to Apply Foundation
Today we would be discussing another series of basic foundation guide on how to apply foundation! You must be applying foundation almost everyday but are you applying it the right way? Well, if in doubt, this post will guide you on how to apply foundation correctly to achieve a flawless even look.
The best way to apply foundation is with a flat foundation brush, stippling buffing brush, a sponge or beauty blender. Fingers tend to waste a lot of products, doesn’t give even coverage and leaves lines.
Step 2: Tone! Use a good hydrating toner if you have dry skin and an oil-balancing toner for oily skin, avoid using alcohol based toners as they strip skin off its natural moisturizers.
Step 3: Apply moisturizer as a next step to prep your skin for foundation application. Let the moisturizer sink in for 5 minutes.
Step 4: Prime your skin!! Use a good face primer after 5 minutes of applying moisturizer. A primer will prepare your skin for makeup, it smooths out skin and gives an even base for foundation application. A primer also hides open pores, mattifies face and gives a smooth base. Give primer a few minutes to set in before applying foundation.
Also Read:
Basic Foundation Guide: Types of Foundation
Step 5: Choose a right foundation according to your skin type and the one that matches your skin perfectly. Apply foundation in daylight where you can clearly see how much product you are applying and blend all the foundation into your skin well. Take the foundation into the back of your hands, apply small dots of foundation all over your face, don’t forget to cover the neck area too.
To test a foundation that matches your skin perfectly, apply a swipe of foundation on your jaw line in natural daylight, the right color will remain unnoticeable and will look like your second skin. If you are doing this at the store and planning to buy an expensive foundation, I’d suggest you to test it the way I said and wait for few hours or if you’re short of time, test it for half an hour atleast before investing in it, till that time you can do your rest of the shopping. If you are buying a drugstore foundation, test it the same way by swiping a layer on your jaw line and see the color after 3-5 minutes in the day light, you can move out of the store for a minute and if it disappears or looks like the closest match to your skin then that’s your match!
Step 6: Use any tool you prefer using for foundation application, you can even use your fingers but specialist suggest using brushes as they soak up less product and gives even coverage. There are three methods of applying foundation- brushes, sponges and fingers! Take the foundation out on the back of your hands and take a small amount on your brush or fingers and start applying foundation from the center of your face, start from the nose then move outward to the cheeks, then on chin, on forehead and then on the jaw line. Always blend the foundation downwards in the direction of hair growth. Use a little amount first and then go on building up if you feel the need for more coverage. It’s better to build up slowly with foundation, you can build up the coverage gradually. With liquid and powder foundations, you can always go back in and add more but if you use too much in the beginning, you probably can’t go back in and change it without removing your base makeup completely.
Step 7: Use a concealer with a concealer brush or ring finger on any blemishes and dark circles, that were not covered with foundation. Applying concealer after foundation keeps concealer looking crease free. Choose a concealer one shade lighter than your skin tone. For dark circles, look for a concealer that is highlighting and illuminating like the Maybelline Dream Lumi Touch Highlighting Concealer as it brightens up the whole face.
Step 8: Finish off your makeup by dusting some translucent powder or loose powder that will keep your foundation in place and will keep your skin looking matte.
