Let’s be totally honest, Foundation is an essential must-have for achieving flawless makeup.
There is a reason why it is called the foundation of your makeup application. Without an excellent foundation, your makeup will likely not hold up for very long. I mean, you wouldn’t start building a house without laying down the foundation first. So don’t skip this important part of your makeup routine either.
While not knowing the ins and outs of applying foundation may not lead to quite the same disaster as skipping on the foundation of your home, it’s still preferable to get it right. And lucky for you, this article makes the process much easier.
When you are starting out, it is important to find the make-up that works for you. There are so many formulas and different application instructions that it can get really confusing to figure out where to start when picking out your foundation.
It helps if you know what kind of end result you are looking for. That will make it easier for you to choose the right formula.
With that in mind, let’s have a look at 7 basic formulations of foundations before we dive into the 3 pro tips that will help turn you into a makeup master.
Foundation For A Matte Finish
When I am at work, I prefer my makeup to have a matte finish because of how brightly lit my workspace is.
If you also love the look of matte skin, or especially if your skin tends to be more on the oily side, you should reach for a matte foundation.
To use matte foundation, smooth onto skin in a dabbing motion for flawless face make-up.
Foundation For Mature Skin
Remember, certain foundation formulas also offer anti-aging benefits.
Besides looking for a foundation with a really good SPF level, try and get one that is formulated with vitamin B3 and some type of hydrating serum.
To use, apply a small amount to your face and blend evenly onto your skin. Resist the temptation to cake it on over your lines. My mother used to do that and it reminded me of the clown makeup from a certain Stephen King movie.
Foundation For Full Coverage
Most of the time we want a light, airy coverage from our foundation. However, this might not be perfect for every complexion or every beauty look.
Sometimes, you need something a bit more heavy-hitting and long-lasting for an all-night party. Look for a total cover foundation. This will have the kind of long-lasting formula that can be used to cover everything from skin breakouts to tattoos.
Just remember to cleanse really well to get all the foundation and don’t forget to moisturize.
Foundation For Getting A Glow
This happens to me just about every year at the start of Spring. I promise myself that I will get out into the sun a little more so that my complexion loses that pale and washed out look from winter. Before I know it, a couple of extra weeks have gone past and I still see what looks to me like a ghostly face in my makeup mirror.
That is when I reach for my glow foundation. It has a radiant finish that gives my face a subtle glow. To use, shake well and use a makeup blender to dot the formula onto skin in a rolling motion.
Foundation For A Natural Looking Finish
For your everyday makeup look, you’ll likely want to choose a formula with a natural-looking finish. Something that is lightweight, easily spreadable, breathable, and sweat-resistant, meaning it will keep your skin feeling fresh for hours. This is especially true at work, I’d rather not worry about whether my foundation and therefore all my makeup needs touch-ups all through the day.
Foundation For A Perfect Skin Tone Match
It can be very challenging to find face makeup that perfectly matches your skin.
To start you need to identify both your skin tone and undertone. (More on that in the article about how to find your undertone that is coming soon.
To use, dot the foundation onto your cheeks, nose, chin, and forehead, then blend it out toward your hairline and neck.
Foundation For Contouring
Like me, you may not yet have considered this. One of the best and easiest ways to contour is actually with foundation. A buildable foundation stick is perfect for sculpting your features.
This allows you to define and enhance different facial features with a few quick swipes. Just remember to use a beauty blender to diffuse any harsh lines, that way no one will know your super sharp cheekbones are actually an illusion.
Not exactly relate, but if you use something like a blemish stick for covering spots and contouring that it will glow under the black light in a nightclub.
Three Pro Tips For Foundation Application
Now that you have chosen the foundation that best suits you and your skin, it is time to make sure you apply your foundation perfectly.
Here are a few tips that should serve you well:
1. Prep Skin With Primer
One of the makeup mistakes I can remember making when I was starting out was applying too much foundation. I would apply my foundation then look in the mirror and see my complexion was not as smooth as I’d like. I would then add a little more, then a little more again. You can imagine that before long I had that kind of thick layer of foundation that could be scraped off with fingernails.
Now that I know better I can suggest that you apply a layer of base/primer before you reach for your foundation.
Priming makes all the difference in how your face make-up looks and lasts. You want to try a primer that minimizes the appearance of lines and pores, to give your skin an even, smooth texture with only a tiny layer. That will allow you to apply a much smaller amount of foundation and have stunning results.
2. Apply With A Makeup Blender
I know that fingers also work for applying makeup and it is how we all start when we are learning. If you are in a hurry using your fingers may leave your face a little streaky toward the end of the day as your makeup wears thinner.
However, for a more hygienic and perfectly blended application, use a makeup blending sponge.
The blender can help you get a more even application and is much easier to use. It is also a lot more hygienic, we all know the risks associated with touching our faces when it comes to bacteria and viruses.
Simply apply a small amount of product onto the blender, then dab the blender over your face until you’ve achieved your desired level of coverage.
3. Set With A Powder Or Spray
To complete your face makeup look, it’s essential to set your foundation. Whether you prefer a powder or a setting spray, just a quick coat can extend the life of your foundation. I use a powder with a matte finish.
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