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.
If you've got dry skin, a beauty blender is meant for you. This is because the bristles of the brush can irritate your skin and make it look flaky. The smooth, soft surface of a beauty blender is much gentler on the skin, and can help you flawlessly apply makeup without leaving you with a cake face.
While you can apply your foundation with your fingers in a pinch, buffing it in with a high-quality foundation brush can instantly give you a natural, flawless finish. This is especially true if you're using a full coverage liquid foundation (which is thicker and harder to rub in with just your fingers).
Fingers are best for a quick and natural application; sponges are good for achieving a flawless finish; and brushes are ideal for full coverage. And sometimes, a little mixing and matching can go a long way.
If the skin is really dry, I only use damp brushes when applying. Generally speaking, sponges can give more coverage, while brushes can be more sheer.”
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.
Look for a brush with a flat, tapered tip like the NYX Professional Makeup Total Control Drop Foundation Brush or the Giorgio Armani Beauty Maestro Blender Brush to allow for more precise application. “Stipple brushes or using the stippling technique with a damp sponge also blends liquid foundation seamlessly.”
Do I apply concealer before or after foundation? Always apply your foundation first, unless you are using a powder foundation. Applying foundation first creates an even base to reduce overall redness, discoloration and minor blemishes.
Apply Thin Layers
Starting with a small amount of product and building up coverage is a crucial step when applying foundation to mature skin. This leads to a more naturally glowy look versus overdone or cakey, and it can also help prevent your foundation from creasing or settling into fine lines.
You don't wait for your foundation to dry.
Aka it takes a little time to completely dry once you've applied it. This means if you speed through your beauty routine and dust a powder product over it immediately, it's going to heavily absorb into the first spot you applied it and it won't blend out properly.
To “bake your makeup” means to let your concealer sit on your face for 10 to 20 minutes before blending it, so that your own body heat enables the makeup to melt into your skin and cause it to change color and texture.
You're not moisturizing enough.
Make sure you're choosing the right type of moisturizer for your skin–those with dry skin should opt for richer creams while those with combo/oily skin can go for lightweight liquid or gel formulas. Remember to allow 5-10 minutes for everything to absorb into the skin.
Once you've got that new foundation at home, don't apply it just to the face. Blend your makeup, preferably with a blending sponge, all the way down, over and beneath the jawbone, to the neck. This creates a seamless look.
Fingers are best for blending cream products - think concealers, foundations, cream blush, etc. This is because your body heat will blend and disperse better than a brush. The team at BIRCHBOX says it's all about the warmth. The warmth generates slip and movement of the product.
Using makeup brushes not only gives your foundation a flawless finish, it also keeps all the oils and bacteria from your fingers from clogging up your pores — provided your brushes are clean, of course.
Women often swipe foundation or concealer over their lids to minimize darkness and to create a base for their shadows and liners. This is a bad idea. First off, you never want to put anything on your eyelid that is not meant to go on the eyelid.
To avoid drawing unwanted attention to the area, many makeup artists would recommend not applying too much, if any, foundation around the eye. Instead, they suggest using a hydrating, lightweight concealer that has been designed specifically for the under eye area.
The general rule of thumb is that you should always opt for a shade lighter than foundation when choosing your concealer colour. Doing so helps to mask darker discolouration, but be careful not to over-correct! Knowing how to pick the right concealer is essential to ensuring that your look does not appear ghostly.
Opt for a sponge for finishing touches, like cleaning up streaky bronzer or absorbing excess foundation or concealer. Sponges work wonders in applying a light layer of blush or highlighter, and can be used with cream products for a more natural finish.
For a foundation brush to deliver an airbrushed finish it needs to be fluffy, not overly dense, not too flexible, if it's very soft and too flat it will not fit that purpose.
“But, the brush bristles can be harsh on the skin, especially if you have sensitive skin, very dry skin, or brushes are old and not clean,” the expert said. On the other hand, sponges are better on the skin as they cause less friction, Dr Panth said. “It is a better option for sensitive and dry skin,” she added.