Large and open pores can act as a magnet for makeup, causing it to sink in and create an uneven texture on the skin. Factors like genetics, age, and skin type can all contribute to the size of your pores. Additionally, improper skincare and makeup application techniques can exacerbate the problem.
Priming Your Face
An excellent way to stop this from happening is to create a barrier between your skin and your foundation. This is where primer comes in. Primer can fill your pores, so your foundation doesn't. It helps reduce the appearance of pores and gives you a smooth finish to apply your makeup to.
“If the skin surface is dehydrated, textured, [or simply] not at its best, this can change how makeup lays on the skin. That's why skin prep is the key to ensuring that your foundation has a skin-like finish and never looks cakey. ”
"For example, if someone has dry skin and opts for a matte foundation, it will settle into dry places and form dry areas that separate the makeup. If you're oily, opt for foundations that are oil-absorbing or matte. Oil-based foundations may move around as you naturally produce more oils throughout the day."
Right before applying foundation, it's important to cleanse your skin to help prevent clogged pores and remove any dirt that may be dulling your natural radiance. Next, gently exfoliate your skin to sweep away any dry, dead skin cells that may cause foundation to go on unevenly or look flaky.
Freda says, “A sponge is ideal for a flawless natural foundation application"—and perhaps, everything else, too. Keep in mind, however, that the finish you get from applying foundation with a sponge can change depending on what type of foundation you're using.
Add Retaining Walls
Retaining walls are the most efficient way to protect foundation soil for the majority of homes. Because they cleanly separate different points of elevation, they're especially useful for keeping soil from sliding down sloped terrain. They can also divert water away from the foundation.
Incompatibility: Using makeup products that are not suited for your skin type (e.g., using an oil-based foundation on oily skin) can cause them to settle in pores. Powders: Overusing powders or using them with a heavy hand can accentuate pores and make them more noticeable.
Mistake #2: You apply foundation all wrong.
Wearing way too much, wearing none at all, or wearing a color that doesn't match your skintone are all big no-no's. Why? Skipping it completely while still adding other makeup (like mascara) can make your skin look washed out.
Celebrity esthetician Cynthia Franco (who has worked with Salma Hayek, Lucy Boynton, Lena Headey, and more) points out pores can become packed and dilated with sebum, makeup, dirt, and other debris, which can ultimately cause them to stretch, making them appear larger than their natural size.
To get a truly airbrushed finish, apply foundation with your fingers and then tap a damp Beautyblender all over your face to even things out, Streicher suggests: "It blurs hard lines and picks up excess product so foundation never looks cakey." Also important: running the sponge under your chin and down your neck.
When in doubt, always pick a shade that is slightly lighter than your complexion rather than darker. This can prevent your complexion from looking darker than the rest of your body. It is the safest way to go when unsure about two shades that may look too light or too dark.
If you have bought a foundation that is too dark or too light for your skin tone, try to mix and match them before applying it. If you have a foundation that is too dark for your skin tone, you can add a few drops of moisturiser and mix until you find the perfect shade for your skin tone.
Flawless finish
The second reason to use a damp makeup sponge is that it makes your foundation or concealer look so much better. Some of the water in the sponge infuses with the foundation, which gives the skin a more luminous and healthy finish.
I like to use brushes for application when I want to focus on a detail area, or when I want to use a sheer finish and give a wash over the skin. 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.”
Where liquid foundations tend to fare best with buffing brushes, stippling brushes, and oval brushes, powder foundations apply best with fluffier, powder-centric brushes, as they help keep the coverage looking light and natural, as opposed to caked into pores.