It doesn’t matter if you’re a pro makeup artist or novice, we all want to achieve flawless skin that is radiant along with pore-and-blemish-free. Makeup is meant to boost our confidence and express ourselves with a first glance. With so many different foundations out there, it can be easy to make mistakes and choose the wrong one for you. Foundation is the base– in order for your makeup to look perfect, you need to make sure your face is a seamless canvas. Here are some major do’s and don’t’s when it comes to foundation!
At our New York makeup school, there’s so much to cover in four weeks of class time! Whatever your skill in makeup is, we’re always keen to go over the basics and build our way up. We talk about the importance of hygiene in our Beauty Makeup course; if your station isn’t clean, the chances of you getting hired again are slim! From there, we go on about color matching, color theory, brush fundamentals, as well as foundation. In order to create perfect makeup, you need to make sure everything underneath is flawless as well. Did we miss something? Be sure to let us know your favorite makeup tip in the comments.
Do prep and hydrate your skin
The road to flawless foundation application begins with your base. Before applying anything to your face, make sure you’ve washed it to remove excess oils that might’ve popped up while you were sleeping. Smoother skin makes for a smoother application! Exfoliate as well so you make sure there aren’t any dead skin cells that could bunch up and make your face look textured. Tone and moisturize so your skin feels not only clean but also hydrated! With all this facial prep, you might’ve stripped your skin of natural oils, so you have to put them back in. This step is the most tedious but definitely the most important.
Don’t forget your SPF
It doesn’t matter what area you live in– the sun is out and it can be harmful towards your skin. If you know you’re going to be out all day and in the sun, make sure to either use a primer, moisturizer, or light facial sunscreen to protect your skin from those UV rays. Sun exposure causes premature wrinkles– you never want that! Keep your face looking gorgeous every day so you can look flawless even without foundation.
Do blend your foundation with a brush or sponge
If you’re wondering why your foundation application isn’t on point, it could be the tools you’re using. Using your fingers is great for lighter foundations, like BB creams and tints, but to get a seamless finish, you should invest in tools that do the job. You’ll be able to get the precise application when blending around your face and you’ll use less product! If you’re using a brush, use it in a buffing motion to really press the product across the skin to create an airbrushed look. When it comes to beauty sponges, always use them damp with foundation. From there, bounce it (don’t drag) onto the skin for a natural coverage. Keep it hygienic, beauties! When it comes to these tools, your skin comes first, so make sure you’re always washing your brushes and sponges after each use. The cleaner it is, the smoother the application will be.
Don’t forget to test it out
Try before you buy! We have no clue who told us that testing foundation on your hands was a great idea but it’s definitely the wrong one. Never swatch foundation on your arms and hands as your face is a lot lighter than the rest of your body. The best place to test out if foundation matches are on your cheek towards your jawline. Put a streak of makeup on the area and blend it into your neck– if it’s seamless then it’s a match! When it comes to testing products in the store, the fluorescent lighting could also alter the look of the foundation. Make sure to test a patch of foundation on your skin, wait 15 minutes, and see if it has oxidized/changed color. Just by doing this trick, you’ll see the foundation’s true color.
Do use the right formula for your skin type
Your skin type can drastically affect how the foundation sits on your skin. If you have dry skin, stray away from foundations with a matte finish because it’ll emphasize dry spots and make your skin look aged. If you’re oily, not only should you go for matte finishes, but choose foundations that are water-based. What’s great about most foundations today, is that on the bottle, they’ll mention what skin type they’re designed for. Some brands will create a line of foundations that have the same effect, but their ingredients are different in order to cater to different skin types.
Don’t apply too much foundation
No cake face allowed! In order to avoid looking too made up, ease up on the foundation used and apply it sparingly. You never know how far one pump of makeup can take you! According to the lessons we teach in our Chic Studios classroom, you should apply the thinnest layer of makeup to areas where your skin is thinner: forehead, bridge of the nose, and around your eyes. In these areas, you’ll also be using concealer and powder for the finishing touches. For the heaviest application, aka the places where makeup is known to either transfer or rub off: your cheeks, nostrils, chin, jaw, and upper lip. The next time you do your makeup, remember to apply the lightest amount in the center of your face and blend out. Not only will your makeup look more natural, but you’ll be free of heavy and caked up makeup.
Do conceal + set!
In the last bullet point, we said to apply the lightest amount of foundation to the center of your face. The reason why is because you’ll be added concealer to certain areas as well as setting your face to lock in the foundation so it doesn’t slip throughout the day. When applying concealer, your face ends up looking very one dimensional. Adding a concealer that is one shade lighter than your foundation will highlight and brighten up dark areas like the bridge of your nose, under the eyes, and forehead. In order to conceal blemishes that are still poking through the foundation, use a concealer that is the same shade as your foundation. Just like priming your face, you need to set it all in so choose a finishing and setting spray that will either last all day long or bring life back to your skin (dewy).
Can’t get enough of all this foundation talk? Check out our list of Top Foundations for your Professional Makeup Kit!
