No offense, Reader, but you’re probably making one of these six mistakes when it comes to your foundation. It’s no big deal, I was too, until I did some research.
Foundation (aka the art of perfecting your skin with flesh-colored liquids) is one of the trickiest parts of applying makeup. Using blush and swiping on mascara are no-brainers, but it takes a certain amount of technique — both in shade selection and how you apply — to make your skin look natural and flawless.
So if you think you have room for improvement (and sorry, you probably do)… read on:
Foundation Flaw #1: Using Powder Foundation
Throw it out.
Sorry to all the Bare Minerals fans out there, but powder foundation does not give you the best finish. The makeup look that is in style right now is natural and a little dewy, and the best way to achieve said look is with liquid foundation. Powders tend to be drying, cakey, and accentuate wrinkles because they settle in the creases of your skin. The powders with shimmer in them can even make pores look bigger. Yikes!
Foundation Flaw #2: Testing Foundation Colors On Your Jawline
I know everyone says to do this, but you should actually test foundation colors in three places: under your eyes, on your nose, and on your cheek.
Your perfect shade should disappear into your skin, but if you can’t find an exact match, go a little darker, not lighter. A darker foundation conceals blemishes much better, and brightens your skin tone.
Foundation Flaw #3: Not Using Primer
Primer makes your skin look a million times better because it helps your foundation go on evenly, stay on longer, and avoid creasing.
Foundation Flaw #4: Applying Foundation With Your Fingers
I’m actually guilty of this one, even though I have several foundation brushes, but I’m making the change.
Foundation brushes are much, much better than using your fingers because they use a lot less product and are made for blending.
When shopping for a foundation brush, make sure it’s synthetic. Don’t buy a brush made from animal hair if you plan on using it with liquids.
Foundation Flaw #5: Putting Concealer Under Your Foundation
This one is bad. Very bad. Honestly, what is the point of using concealer if you’re going to blend it all away with foundation?
Foundation Flaw #6: Setting Your Foundation With Tinted Powder And A Fluffy Brush
To set your foundation, I highly recommend that you go out and purchase a colorless translucent powder, which works for every skin tone and also prevents that awful cakey texture. Make Up For Ever’s HD Powder is my personal favorite.
Buyer Beware: HD powders show up white under flash photography, so only apply powder in places where you tend to get oily. And don’t use a big, fluffy brush to apply it because you’re going to end up putting way too much product on your face. Use a domed brush instead.
And if you ever need to touch up your makeup during the day, invest in oil-blotting papers — the kind that are powder-free though, or you’ll end up back where you started.