Always Swipe Downward "If you go upward on the face, it will fill in your pores and make them stand out," she says. This is a simple tip: If you're applying foundation in strokes, always stroke down.
If using a liquid foundation, apply a few drops to the back of your hand and wipe it up with the damp sponge. If you use a powder formula, dab the sponge into the powder as you would with a makeup brush. 4. Dot the foundation onto your face.
Dab, don't rub.
Whether you're using a foundation brush (synthetic bristles are best) or your fingertips, apply foundation in a stippling motion, which means gently tapping it into your skin. Avoid any wiping or rubbing motions because that will only push the foundation around and cause streaks.
Don't Paint, Buff. No matter what tool you're using—a foundation brush, a BeautyBlender, or your fingers—buff (or bounce, if you're using a sponge) the foundation into your skin as opposed to “painting” it on to build coverage smoothly and avoid streakiness, says Park.
Foundations are meant to make skin even and either luminous or matte, depending on skin type, and both of these formulas will do nothing to help you under your eyes. While it doesn't hurt to put foundation under your eyes, it certainly doesn't help. Skip this move and only add concealer and/or corrector under the eyes.
“Whether you use brushes or your fingers is really down to personal preference,” says Alex Phillips, Pro Makeup Artist at Trinny London. “There's no right or wrong.
When used properly, a brush is one of the fastest ways to apply foundation. They blend foundation seamlessly giving skin an even, airbrushed finish. They provide great coverage. Hygienic.
For warm undertones, the foundation should have a yellowish or peach hue. If you have cool undertones, however, the shade should be pinkish. If you have a mix of both warm and cool hues, you have neutral undertones. This means you can opt for a foundation based on just the light or darkness of your skin's shade.
Bhatty likes to use moisturizer to make her own bespoke foundation—the moisturizer essentially thins out the foundation formula to get the most natural coverage. "The best way to do this is to add a drop or two of your foundation to your moisturizer," she says.
Do not cover the entire face, your goal is to achieve an even skin tone. Moving from the inside of your face outward, blend the foundation into the skin. Blend at the hairline and jawline to avoid the mask look. Finish off the look with any of the following if you choose: powder, blush, bronzer, and highlighter.
If your skin is dry, your foundation is more likely to cling to any dry patches and settle into wrinkles. So make sure to hydrate your skin well before applying foundation. Margina: Hydrating the skin plumps up the skin, which helps to keep makeup from settling into fine lines.
Yes, many professional makeup artists and beauty gurus swear by applying liquid foundation with their fingers. This tactile approach provides a skin-like, natural makeup result since you're massaging the makeup onto your skin. Using your fingers works on all skin types and with both cream and liquid foundation.
Sprinkle recommends working with synthetic brushes if you're applying liquid foundations, as they're easier to sanitize, and create a smooth, even finish. "A sponge is great for sheering out creams and liquids," he adds. "However, keep in mind that it can absorb a lot of product."
So, do you use concealer before or after foundation? The proper way to apply the two products is to first smooth on a foundation and then apply your concealer. Foundation will create that even canvas we talked about earlier, and then concealer can be used to spot correct any outstanding areas that need extra coverage.
Once you've found your cleanser, you've got to know how to use it. We suggest that for foundation brushes, you should simply place a bit of your chosen cleanser in your palm. Then, wet your brush bristles and swirl the brush around on your hand to loosen up the debris.
Quinn emphasizes that the most important tip for applying foundation to mature skin is the prep step right before foundation. "The skin needs to be hydrated before any foundation is applied. Massage in your face and eye creams, use a roller for added penetration, and follow up with a brightening primer," he says.
Dab or bounce the sponge (never wipe or swipe) around your nose first, then move up and out toward your hairline—tap between the eyebrows, then move to the forehead. After, bounce the sponge down around your chin and jawline. If you're applying lip color, you can even use liquid foundation on your lips, too.
But we're questioning one widely accepted makeup practice that many of us have been led to believe is good. PSA: The back of your hand and inner wrist are not the best places to test whether a foundation is a color match for your skin; it's actually your neck or jawline.
Start by applying your foundation in single pea-sized amounts to each area of the face you're covering: generally the forehead, nose, chin, and each cheek. To blend your makeup, use gentle dabbing motions and upward strokes that match the natural contours of your face to create the most even look.
How many layers of foundation do you put on? The number of layers depends on the amount of coverage you want. Generally, one to two layers are good enough to cover any blemishes and give your skin a smooth finish. It is always a good idea to take a minute or two in between layers to check if you need more coverage.
Experts weigh in on topics and give us answers to difficult questions like whether or not primer really matters and if you should really spend any time on contouring your nose. You shouldn't put foundation on your neck. Makeup artists also warn against going crazy with contouring.
The experts have spoken, and the answer is, foundation should be one or two shades lighter than your skin tone. This is because when you use bronzer or contour then the foundation should be able to blend and give the perfect look to your face.