How To Apply Foundation Like A Pro

In this article we are going to cover the simple steps on how to apply foundation like a pro, but we will also take care of all details involved, including how to keep up with your skin from the inside out.

How To Apply Foundation Like A Pro Sumary

Don’t worry, It’s easy! In a nutshell here is our summary on how to apply foundation like a pro in 5 simple steps. Check it below:

Step 1 Clean your face

Make sure your skin is free from oils and other residuals, such old makeup, impurities and so on. This will assure your skin is well prepared to go to the next step which is prepping your skin

Step 2 Prep Your skin

By prepping your skin you are actually creating a good canvas for your makeup foundation. Do this if you want the final look to look polished, natural and last longer.There is a feel for sub steps while prepping your skin. I have written an article about it which you can find here, but basically, here’s what to do:

Apply Moisturizer: Now that your face is clean use a moisturizer that is suitable to your face.
Apply SPF: For the day, I prefer to use a moisturizer or a foundation that already has SPF 30+. However if you don’t have those, you can apply sunscreen separately.
Use a primer: A primer will create a protective barrier between the makeup and your skin. It will also help to stabilize the foundation, helping it stay longer on skin, help on blending and the final look of your makeup

Step 3: Apply your foundation

Now that your skin is ready, start applying foundation from the center of your forehead with dots and start to blend with your fingers or a brush or a beauty sponge. For better results, make sure you apply a foundation that is appropriated to your skin type.

Step 4: Apply concealer

If you feel like you still want to cover undesired dark circles and other imperfections, now is time to apply a thin layer of concealer onto the area. Make sure you read the ‘concealer’ section down below in this article, if you feel that you need more details on that (check the table of contents).

5. Setting your foundation

Once you are done, you want to make sure that your makeup will stay in place and last longer, throughout the day. For this use a setting powder on specific areas that you think will need an extra fix, such as under eyes, nose, t-zone and so on.

Now you know how to apply foundation like a pro. It’s as simple as that, but we all know that great makeup starts way before application and that’s why, from now one, we are gonna cover not only tons of pro tips that you should know to guarantee the best makeup application, but also lots of skin care tips including, inside out healthy care.Table of Contents

Applying foundation should be simple. Of course there are a lot of details that we can still cover (and we will in this article) but the art of applying foundation is pretty neat.

First thing first: Prepping your skin from inside out and General skin care

Tips for your skin type:

I know you just want to learn how to apply foundation, but it is very important to take care of your skin from the inside out. By doing this, no matter the technique you use, you will be glad to see that even without makeup foundation you will look glowy. Meaning you will need less makeup than usual leaving your makeup routine more simple and enjoyable.

The term skin type, is designed to indicate the level of sebum your skin produces. The less sebum it produces, the drier it looks. You can say your skin is very dry or oily, on a general basis, but in reality, it can vary depending on internal or external circumstances and how you take care of it.

The biggest secret for the perfect makeup is a well treated skin. Of course I cannot generalize it here, there are many people suffering from skin issues because of genetic and medical conditions, and they should not be blamed at all because of their skin condition. But still, there are some things everyone can do to get the most of their skin and it always can be improved and maintained.

That being said, the first thing you should think about, for perfect flawless foundation application, is to bear in mind that some other facts are linked to that:

Check out your hormones and your diet because a bad diet can lead to excess of oiliness and spots
Don’t do Excessive and unprotected exposure to sun, can cause premature wrinkles and other skin problems such as skin cancer
Make sure you have a stress management system in place such as meditation and doing sports, because stress can leave your skin dull and lacking life

To make sure you have the perfect canva for your everyday makeup routine, there are a series of care you shouldn’t leave behind and it will entirely depend on your predominant skin type. Here we have a few tips and tricks you can pay attention, while treating your skin:

Dry Skin

If you are trying to fight dry skin by applying oils on your face, this is not really the best way to go. The best way to take care of your dry skin is to get hydrated, so drink lots of water (doctors recommend around a minimum of 2 liters per day) and use creams that are water based.

If you have dry skin make sure to look for a foundation with a deep moisturizing formula and products with hyaluronic acid that helps skin to retain moisture and also work as an anti-aging.

Quick Tips for dry skin

Pay attention and avoid sun exposure
Give preference to alcohol free and fragrance free products
Give preference to Products with silicone or collagen that can help prevent moisture loss
Use protective daytime moisturizers (I prefer the ones with SPF 50+)
Use specific masks for dry skin such as nourishing and hydrating masks
Add products with vitamin E to your skin care routine

Oily Skin

If you have oily skin, don’t complain too much, as it can be a good thing, as the natural oils produced by skin can have a natural anti-aging effect. However, too much oil can lead to acne and large pores, which is what you want to get rid of.

Because many of you with oily skin don’t like the oily affect your skin gets, especially in the summer, you might think that washing your face as much as possible will quickly solve your problem. But this is not true. Washing your face all the time, will only make things worse, so better to avoid doing that.

If you have oily skin, give preference to oil-free matte foundation formulas. Be careful because some matte foundations can give you a chalky look. It’s best to test first.

Quick tips for oily skin

Avoid products that contain alcohol
Give preference for matte oil free, oil control foundations
Avoid glossy satin finish foundation formulas
Overall oil based soaps, creams, masks and other skin care products
Normally give preference to look for oil free formulas
Look for skin care products that mentions terms such as anti-bacterial, non-acnegenic

Combination Skin

If your skin is a mix of oily in some areas like the cheeks and under the eyes, and dry in other areas such as chin, t-zone and forehead, then you have combination skin. You might notice large pores around the nose as well.

Because you have two skin types in your face, you need to look after each area according to each skin type. As for example, on the dry area, you should treat with products that are indicated to dry skin, while in the oily area, use products that are indicated to oily skin.

Some quick tips for combination skin:

It’s better to avoid harsh procedures on t-zone, such as exfoliating and scrubbing that area.
Say NO to strong alcohol based toners

Sensitive Skin

It’s usually combined with one of the skin characteristics we have just mentioned, as you cannot only have sensitive skin alone. You can have oily and sensitive skin, dry and sensitive skin, combination and sensitive skin.

In my case for example, I have oily sensitive skin, which limits me a lot while choosing a product and a skin care procedure. I have to take special care, because some products such as poor creams and cosmetics, can leave my skin with red patches and even give me acne.

Especially with makeup I have to be extra careful because some products can give me acne, redness, so it is really important to know how to stand on your skin so you can assure it is healthy and that your skin treatment and makeup won’t expose you to major problems.

If your skin is sensitive, it can be a good idea to look for mineral foundations, free of synthetic ingredients, preservatives and fragrance.

Some quick tips for sensitive skin:

It is better not to use products that contain alcohol
It is more indicated look for products that are hypoallergenic

Skin care basics: Less is more?

I can’t come here and say to you: your skin needs this and this and that, first because I cannot see your skin and secondly because I am not the right person to do that. But what I can do is to share with you my 2 cents, on how I have been treating my skin and that I’m pretty sure, will be universally coherent, doesn’t matter the skin type you have.

I never really had skin concerts, in fact I used to just wash my face and go out. No makeup, no extra care whatsoever. My skin then was very good and healthy and I never really had anything to complain about, even though I would do almost nothing to look after it.

One day, talking to a friend of mine that is kinda obsessed with skin care rituals, products and all matters of skin care concern, she convinced me to get my ass out there to look for some important stuff that I was missing out. Meaning skin care products.

I must say that I got all excited, because in fact, I thought was quite fun to go shopping to get things to look after myself, apart from the money I was going to spend, I mean…invest, I had nothing to lose and was also getting excited about the idea of doing spa days on sundays and so on.

In fact I got so excited that I started to buy a lot of products. Something for my eyes, something for the face, something for this and that, I literally had 6 different products that I didn’t need to have.

The result was that soon enough I started to notice pinpoints and with time I realised the more I put on my skin I would get uncessare problems, like pimples, and redness and when I stopped using it all again, my skin got better.

Having this in mind I may ask you, do we really need all those sorts of different products? Maybe we are just missing the basics and just spending our money for something that is not really that necessary.

But more than that, I started to pay attention to my skin. Am I stressed? Am I drinking water? Am I cleansing it well, the right way? Am I sleeping well? These are some of the questions you need to ask yourself, because there is no good foundation if your skin is not well treated.

What is the necessary? There are a few things that you can start paying attention and that you can put in practice right now to have better skin:

Drink a lot of water: No matter your skin type, drink water. There is this recommendation to drink 8 glasses of water per day. Also wash your face in the morning and at night before sleep
Sleep well: Taking care of your sleep for a fresh look is not cliche. One tip is to sleep and wake up everyday at the same time. One thing that I LOVE doing is shutting down all devices at 8:45 and trying to slow down from the day!
Use sun protection: If you are using the foundation during the day, make sure to apply one with SPF factor 30+ higher. If not possible, try using a lightweight sunscreen, or a primer or moisturizer that contains SPF already. This will protect your skin with UVB/UVA rays, therefore protecting you from skin cancer, plus a serie of other benefits like anti-aging action, avoid sunburn and dark spots.
Moisturizer: Choose a moisturizer that is indicated to your skin type, and use it everyday.
Cleansing: Choose a light soap, that is indicated to your skin type, and wash your face in the morning before applying your makeup and at the end of the day before sleeping. I like to apply a little bit of a lightweight moisturizer after washing the day off, because I have oily skin but if you have dry skin, a heavy cream would be a good idea in some cases.
Eat well: Have a rich diet with a variety of fruits, vegetables, fresh juices, coconut water, and consume lots of liquids. Healthy food is crucial.

Looking after under eyes: Dark circles and puffiness

You can be the best makeup artist applying the best foundation in the world but let’s face it, nothing is better than looking after your under eyes from inside out, in a way you don’t need to worry so much about anymore.

I know that it is not always easy to treat dark circles and puffiness, but there are some things we can do to make it look better. If you are suffering from dark circles and puffiness, the first thing to id, is to analyse your life style so you identify what might causing them:

Stress and/or lack of sleep: Did you ever stop to think about stress management? You can do it by analysing your lifestyle to see what is causing you stress and start making some decisions from that starting point. Is there something you should start/stop doing? What about starting practicing meditation and sports? Think about some hobbies that you can start doing right now and breath! Also make sure you are having enough sleep (around 8 hours) and resting well.
Fluid Retention: Try drinking lots of water and a lot of fresh juices.
Iron deficiency
Aging

There might be other health conditions that might be affecting your under eyes, so it is always good to consult a dermatologist to check out if this problem is only related to your lifestyle or if there is something underneath.

How to look after your undereyes?

I have a confession. I used to believe that those tiny expensive under eye creams were top notch. I spent a lot of money and to be honest I have never seen too much happening there. It was way after I heard many dermatologists saying we should not worry about that, as they recommended using the same moisturizer in your entire face.

However there are a few things I have tried that seemed to work really well and it was cucumber. It really works and if you want, you can try a little coconut oil under the yes as well. If you have oily skin as me, from my experience, I apply the oil literally only under the eyes and just a little tiny bit. Here’s a quick tip:

Drink lots of water
Place something cold onto the area: You can use a cold compress but also a cool roller or a jade roller. Massage with ice cubes can help as well

How to prep your skin before foundation and makeup application?

I used to make a mistake years ago, while applying my foundation. I would just apply it without preparation. I thought it was not necessary to do any sort of preparation, and boy, how I was wrong.

The reason you need to prepare your face before makeup is because you not only need to protect your skin from the makeup and is about to be applied on it, but it can also bring other benefits, like improve the final makeup texture, leaving a more natural look and also help makeup stick for longer.

How to prep your skin before foundation?

Cleansing
Exfoliate
Toning
Sunscreen and/or Hydrating
Primer

In a nutshell here are the steps for prepping your skin before applying foundation. We are going to explore each point in depth on the next lines:

1. Clean your face

The first step for the perfect foundation application is to cleanse your face. Get rid of all oils, impurity, dirty, with a facial soap especially designed to your skin type. By doing this, you are making sure that the makeup you’re about to apply won’t look cakey and will last longer. Not washing your face before makeup can also clog your pores.

How to cleanse your face before makeup?

If you are fresh in the morning, just make sure to use the adequate gentle facial soup. I love using la Roche soap as it is very gentle on my skin and don’t let my skin feel clingy or tight. However, if I already have makeup on, I prefer using Chanel facial soap as I feel that it’s more efficient on removing all makeup. In the case you already have makeup that needs to be removed you can use biphasic makeup remover as well. Just remember that after applying makeup remover, you will need to wash your face with facial soap again, to take off the residuals from the makeup remover.

2. Why You Should exfoliate?

Many people forget or just don’t have to exfoliate the skin while prepping the face for applying makeup, but it’s crucial to polish the pores. It lets your skin even smoother which will provide a perfect canva for your makeup and make it last longer.

As the facial skin is very sensitive, exfoliate twice a week and use a gentle facial exfoliator indicated to your skin type.

3. Should I Apply a Toner?

I have heard some dermatologists saying you don’t really need a toner. Opinions can be divided on that, but I have tested a little to compare what results a toner would bring to me. There was a time my face was getting all these pimples, it was summer and I had never really used a toner, so I decided to give it a try.

As I really wanted to stick to the basics, I limited myself to use a facial wash, a moisturizer, sunscreen toner and makeup remover and a surge spray (or thermal water to finalise). You might say that’s a lot of products, but it is not compared to the tons of different product options you find out there.

And these are the basics that are recommended by dermatologists, and the extra thing I was using was the toner and final thermal water or surge spray. I used Stee lauder toner and I loved it. After a while I could feel the difference on my skin and I felt my skin was purified, and something happened to the texture.

Of course I remember I was drinking a lot of water as well and I was avoiding junk food which was the main cause that skincare products started to work better on my face but I can tell you that it was a very good experience and I have nothing to complain.

It can be true that you still don’t have to have a toner as some dermatologists say, but at least it will not harm. To be honest, I cannot guarantee 100% to what extent the improvement of my skin was caused or related to a toner, but I can say that it didn’t harm my skin and I liked the results.

What does a toner do?

You probably know that some cleansers can take off the natural moistness of the skin, leaving it tight and even dry, depending on the product. A good idea is to apply a moisturizer but before the moisturizer and after the cleansing comes in the toner. A toner helps to take off excess dirt that facial soap was not able to do, residual oils and makeup. Here’s what it can do:

corrects and balances the PH of your skin and will help a lot on acne control
Remove dead skin cells
Cleans and close pores

Then you can take your conclusions if you want to apply a toner or not. In my opinion, it can be a good idea to have this step before applying foundation because it means an extra cleansing for your face, plus, as it closes the pores, it can result in a more polished finish for your foundation.

4. Sunscreen and/or Hydrating

Some dermatologists like to make it simple, recommending choosing between sunscreen and a moisturizer, as they say you don’t need both at the same time because there are great facial sunscreens that already have moisturizing ingredients.

You can also buy a foundation with at least 30+ SPF factor, which will obviously substitute the need to apply a separated sunscreen. In this case, you can use only a moisturizer and the desired foundation and things will stay in place.

Just make sure that when you buy a foundation with SPF that this has a high SPF spectrum like at least 30 plus. I normally go to the highest number available because then I will have more protection. There are some foundations that offer SPF 15 for example and these are not really good for using during the day time.

This is because if you really want to have the protection in the case of SPF 15, you will need to apply a lot of products to get the best skin protection. This should be fine with a sunscreen but for a makeup foundation, you won’t want to apply a lot of foundation just to keep up with the SPF protection.

5. Do I need a primer?

There might be one million ways to prep your face before foundation, but to do it the right way, you need a primer, as it will create a protective barrier between the makeup and your skin. It will also help to stabilize the foundation, helping it stay longer on skin, help on blending and the final look of your makeup.It is applied right after the foundation and before the makeup and its function is also to smooth your makeup, giving extra moisture to the skin and oil control.

How to apply a primer?

In order to properly apply a primer, you must use a little amount of the product on your face, right after applying the moisturizer. A tip for a better application is to use a brush for primer, as a sponge will absorb the product.

Types Of Primers

Gel And Mattifying Primers: Best suitable for OILY SKIN. Perfect for long lasting matte effect
Oil Based Primers: Primers: Best suitable for DRY SKIN, flor a glowy results
Cream Primers: Ideal for all skin types. Just make sure to choose a silicone free primer, as this can be prejudicial to acne prone skin.

Should I apply concealer before or after foundation?

If you don’t need a concealer, don’t feel obligated to use it just because everyone does. Oftentimes I avoid using a concealer for my everyday events, because I noticed that when I apply it too often, the skin under my eyes gets very sensitive so I don’t use it so much.

What I prefer is to look after dark circles and puffiness from inside out as we discussed before, but I know there are situations that we cannot help but just jump to a quick fix like concealer will work great.

Everybody has a party that you cannot mess up and dare go without looking flawless on that date you want to impress, or just because you feel like and want to use it, no problems! We’ve got you covered.

Now you ask me, should I apply it before or after foundation?

Have heard people saying that either way is fine. You decide what works better for you, but most makeup artists agree that it should be applied after foundation. For example, I alway apply concealer after foundation because I have the feeling it sinks in best. For it is totally up to you. What will make the difference however is how you will apply your concealer.

How to apply concealer?

As you know, concealers are made to cover imperfections. As it is much more ficker and drier than foundation, it’s indicated to apply concealer only onto the areas that need a quick fix. It can be under the eyes to cover dark circles or any spot of imperfection on your face and body.

There are a few considerations I would like to share with you regarding where you will apply concealers because there might be some tips you can use to achieve better results:

Use a more liquidish/light creamish concealer to fix sensitive areas such as under eyes
Use concealer on the top and/or bottom of eyelid in preparation for eye makeup such as shadow applications
Always be extra gentle while applying concealer under eyes. I prefer to apply it with my finger, always using my ring finger for ultra gentle little taps.
Use a thicker texture concealer for the other areas of body

Make sure to apply as little as possible, just enough to conceal the area. There are three ways that I like, in order to apply the concealer. One way is to applying little dots onto the area and the other is to trace 3 vertical thin lines on the under eyes and the other way I like is by tracing a triangle under the eyes and then blend it with a small sponge.

What is color correction? How do I do it?

Color correction concealer is applied under base or conventional concealer and is indicated to temporarily fix redness, dark circles and so on. It uses complementary colors to conceal imperfections and cancel the look of imperfections. Here they are:

Generally Speaking

Peach: Indicated to fix dark circles and dark spots on deep skin tones
Lavender: Indicated to brighten skin that has lost its natural color complexion (sallow skin)
Yellow: Conceal dark circles and dark spots on medium skin tones
Pink: Conceals dark circles and dark spots on fair skin tones

Being more Specific

Peach: Indicated to cover BLUE tones in your face such as blue or purple under eyes
Green: Indicated to cover RED tones in your face such as redness, acne.
Lavender: Indicated to cover YELLOW tones in your face such as brightening sallow complexion.
Yellow: Indicated to cover PURPLE tones in your face. Use it if you want to fix uneven skin tones.

It is always important to read the instructions of the brand you are using, because directions may vary from producer to producer.

How to use color correction?

Prep your face
Apply thin layers
Use your fingers or a brush to apply the right color corrector in the right areas of your face
Blend it well with a sponge
Do your contouring as you want (and if you want)
Go on apply your foundation and finalize your makeup as usual

Bases Basic

Nowadays we can find a series of alternatives for foundations that claim to be more healthy and less damaging. Plus these products claim to aggregate benefits to your skin such as antiaging, sun protection and so on.

This is really good because after the launching of these type of bases grow, there are more demands for the production of super charged foundations that try to be less damaging and more beneficial to our skin. We are gonna talk a little more about each type of foundations now:

Tinted moisturizer: For those days you want to look super natural, aiming for a more discreet look. It is just a moisturizer, caring a little bit of color. I love to apply tinted moisturizer when I go to the beach. Or when I take the plane or the train and I want to feel comfy without overdoing it. If you want to stay at home to receive friends or just to look a little more fabulous to your partner, there is a good product to apply!
BB Creams and CC Creams: BB creams are the ‘beauty balms’ and CC cream stands to color correcting. BB creams treat specific needs of skin such as hydration, sun protection and many of them come with anti aging properties. BB creams are more focused on prevention and maintenance, for those who want to start an anti aging routine for example. CC cream has also anti aging protection and sun protection. It combats redness, it is very good for those with uneven complexes, but anyone can use it. It is a bit like cc cream but it has more powerful anti aging agents and is more powerful in concealing uneven skin tones.
Foundation: It is more opaque than the other bases and provides a more uniform color coverage than the other types of bases. The other bases were designed for everyday situations, because of their extra benefits you will have no problems using them on a daily basis. The foundation however, being a little more strong in some cases, are more indicated for events and special occasions. Theoretically foundation will significantly improve your skin and offer a stronger coverage and allow you achieve more dramatic looks.

There are many types of foundations. Thick, lightweight, powder, liquid and so on. Pay attention to the texture of the makeup because it will determine how much coverage you will get. Creamy and balms will give you stronger coverage, while liquid and powder foundations will give you a lighter coverage.

How to find the perfect skin shade?

There are quite a few recommendations on how to do that such as trying on the neck and palm of hands, but in my opinion, it makes more sense to test it on your face and neck. Don’t forget your neck because in the case your foundation matches your face well, but doesn’t fit to your neck, you might be looking for an alternative shade.
Test it in sunlight. Be aware that department lights are well designed to make you look and feel beautiful. I don’t really know how they do it, but they do. I have learned the lessons after buying the wrong shades twice. Then I realised I was trapped by the beauty store lights. The secret is to go outside and test it in natural light.
Get a foundation that is strictly indicated to your skin type

How To Apply Foundation?

If you are able to apply foundation and look fresh and natural at the end of the application, you have succeeded, as this is the goal of your makeup: to look natural, for as much as possible. You want your skin improved, to look awake and revived without really showing up. You have too much product on your face and it is totally possible.

You can apply foundation with your finger, brush and sponge but the way you apply your foundation will directly affect the results of your makeup application. Some foundations are better applied with brushes and others with sponges, if you know how to apply it well, you will have great results with a finger, sponge or a brush. As we covered before, you should properly prep your face for better results.

Prep your face, let it dry
Apply a small amount of the foundation on the center of your forehead, cheeks and chin
Then using a foundation tool or your finger, gently apply and spread on your ace, creating a thin layer of product on your face
Start blending the foundation as soon as you apply it on the face
After Applying your first (thin layer) let it dry for a few seconds, only after that, go ahead and apply the next foundation if needed. Make sure that you start slow and carefully build the next layers if needed.
Apply concealer as needed and contouring as you wish
Once you’re finished, wait a few instants and apply the powder, as it will seal your foundation application. To assure better results, remember to use a brush for that.
Go ahead and finish your makeup then use a makeup setting spray

Applying foundation with your fingers: It is good if you are applying a light-coverage foundation, as well as a bb cream, cc cream and tinted moisturizer. The natural heat of your fingers will help the product to blend well on your skin.

Applying foundation with a beauty sponge: I normally like to use a sponge to apply concealer and some types of foundation work better with it. Have heard people saying that a wet sponge leads to a more dewy effect while a dry sponge is better for a matte finish. Even though that makes sense, I prefer to damp my sponge with micellar water as I think it helps me better blend and settle the foundation onto skin. And remember, always tap, tap, tap.

Applying foundation with a Brush: A brush can be a good idea for makeup application. The best way to use a flat foundation brush, making gentle circular movements on the face.

How To Minimize Imperfections On Your Foundation Application?

As you make sure that you are using the right shade and the adequate foundation for your skin type, there are some other tips and tricks I am gonna share with now:

Blend it very well: Make sure you pay closer attention to blending. Don’t forget the neck and jaw lines, make sure they are aligned with your face color.
Use a primer, moisturizing and setting spray for a flawless look that will last longer. Also, the secret for a great blending is exactly a good primer and moisturizer. I always like to use the lightweight ones for a more natural look.
Use the powder for a more polished look. I suggest you use a translucid powder because it will set your foundation and doesn’t change your foundation color, this way, your foundation will look even more natural.

Setting Your Foundation

You can set your foundation by using a setting powder or a setting spray. The reason you do it is to keep your makeup in place throughout the day, that way it won’t get off easily while you are busy on your normal day.

If you have oily skin your might end up preferring setting powder over setting spray because it will give you the desired matte effect you crave so much.

What’s the difference between setting powder and setting spray?

Apart from the difference in the format, there are also quite a few other differences that you can spot. You use the setting powder to ‘set’ the foundation and concealer. You can apply it under the eyes, or in some other specific areas you have applied your base. While the setting spray is designed to set your entire face makeup including eye makeup. Both will stick your makeup as it should be so it can last longer and stay in place.

How to apply setting powder?

Even though you can apply setting powder on your entire face if you want, you don’t need to. Just apply on the critical areas where you feel that are normally problematic to retain the makeup till the end of the day, like under yes, nose, t-zone, you know the best. You can use a brush, a sponge or even your fingers for that.

How to apply setting spray?

Once you finish your entire facial makeup, including mascara, eyeshadows, lipstick, gloss, everything, just spray the setting spray for a few seconds and you are ready to rock.

How To Contour Your Face?

Contouring is generally used to give dimensions to your skin after applying the foundation. A full coverage foundation can leave you looking flat and without life. Contouring can fix that but also can make your nose look thinner, define your jawline and define your cheeks.

If you find contouring intimidating and difficult to learn, we are gonna fix it now as you will see that with a little practice you can master it in a short time. Here’s what you will need:

You will need 3 foundation shades: Your actual foundation shade, then a lighter shade for highlighting and the third is deeper shade for the contouring
A good brush or a sponge: You can use which one you prefer, just make sure they are clean and ready to use
A loose powder to settle your makeup

See? Not as intimidating as you thought right? Now, that you know what you need for contouring, right below is how to do it.

How to contour your face?

Apply your usual foundation that you normally use for your skin tone on full face
Use a brush or a sponge to blend it on full face as you would normally do
Now it is time to apply the darker shade foundation. Make a ‘fish-face’ and trace from your temples to the hollows of your cheeks. (the hollows of your cheeks is the line you see when you do the ‘fish-face’)
Use a sponge or a brush to blend the contour you have just traced and blend it well with the base foundation you applied first.
Apply the light foundation under your eyes, center of forehead, chin and bridge of the nose. Then blend it well to be in harmony in your face
Finish with a loose powder to set your makeup. You can also use a setting spray as it will help you look more natural and keep your makeup for longer.

How to know which foundation is good for my skin type?

Foundations are classified in 3 categories: light coverage, medium coverage, full coverage. Depending on your skin type and preference, you must know yourself first to then decide what foundation is best for you.

Light coverage Foundations: Normally are also called tinted moisturizer, they offer just a hint of colour and hidrate at the same time and can cover some redness. This is most indicated for those with not much imperfections.
Medium coverage: If you have minimal skin problems, you can use this foundation. Most medium coverage foundations permit you to build a full coverage by applying layers
Full coverage: It is more used for special occasions, events, photography and camera shoots. They last longer and cover severe acne scars, tattoos and other imperfections.

If you have oily skin make sure to use matte foundations, oil free. If you have dry skin make sure to use hydrating foundations, that gives you a glowy effect.

Applying Foundation On Special Skin conditions

Every skin is unique and different. There are some special tips and tricks that can be used while applying foundation that will be specific for special situations. Here is some advice you can use on some of the most common skin conditions.

Rosacea: You can use tinted moisturizer to reduce redness, because dense products can result in an artificial effect.
Combination skin: Use moisturizer on the dry areas, and another specific product such as an oil absorbing lotion on the oily area. Use an oil-free foundation formula during the summer but during the winter, it is good to use a more hydrating formula foundation
Extremely dry skin: Best to use a rich moisturizer, and give preference to creamy foundations. In this case it’s best not to finalize your foundation application with powder and use a good setting spray to finalize.
Blemishes: A good tip is to use an oil-free cover stick or foundation to the belish area. For better results, gently use a concealer brush and pat the area instead of hubbing. Always make sure you use the right shade on the blemishes, not lighter, not draker.
Hyperpigmentation: One technique you can try is to first apply a foundation or a concealer that’s one tone lighter to the hyperpigmented area. Then apply a foundation that matches your skin tone on top. Set the foundation with powder.
Birthmarks: Step 1. Try to apply a yellow toned foundation, that is 3 tones lighter than your skin. Step 2. Apply another layer of foundation, this time use a product that’s slightly slightly lighter than your skin tone. Step 3. Layer up a full coverage foundation, this time, matching your exact skin tone. Step 4. Seal with powder and setting spray
Uneven Skin: In this case one tip is to have one foundation for each area or you can do color correction. Down below we have more details on how to color correct.
Freckles: It is normal to apply foundation and leave your freckles underneath showing up. So don’t worry about it, freckles are beautiful. If you still want to cover, try a sticky full coverage foundation.

How to avoid cakey foundation?

No one likes to have an unpolished heavy. The first step to avoid a Cakey makeup foundation is to be light hanged while applying foundation, but there are also other factors such as the quality of the foundation you are using.

Oftentimes, the secret for a natural non cake look however is to apply the foundation the right way. I have detailed already step by step how to apply foundation the right but to refresh your memory, here’s a quick recap:

Clean your face very well to get rid of extra oil and residuals
Moisturize and use SPF
USe a primer
Apply the suitable foundation for your skin type
Apply thin layers
Blent it very well. If you use a sponge, it would be nice to wet it before application
Use a loose powder and setting spray

How to fix cakey foundation?

If you have already applied the foundation and you feel that it’s looking cakey, just apply enough facial spray, such as a surge spray or thermal water. Then with your fingers, gently massage your face. Gently tap your face with a dry paper towel to take off the excess of spray and then apply loose powder.

Top mistakes to avoid, for a perfect foundation List

Make sure you choose the right shade
Don’t apply too much foundation
Make sure you clean and prep your skin before applying foundation
Don’t forget to apply the primer before applying foundation
Don’t forget to set your foundation with powder and setting spray
Don’t forget to match the foundation you have just applied on your face with your neck. Don’t forget to apply foundation on your neck!
Don’t forget to use the right tools. Use a specific brush for foundation and make sure to clean your tools to avoid bacteria
Don’t forget to choose a foundation that’s indicated to your skin type
Don’t apply concealer underneath foundation
Never touch up your foundation: Once full face makeup is finished and you have applied your final product don’t add foundation again. If you are sweating during the day and need a touch up, don’t do either. I you feel like touching up your foundation, apply a little bit of concealer in the area and then seal with powder
Avoid dragging sponges while applying foundation

Top foundation hacks for the best natural long lasting look List

Clean prep your face use moisturizer and then primer
Depending on the foundation, applying with your hands can give you a more natural look. Use your fingers for lightweight/ light coverage foundation application
Start applying foundation at the center of your face and start moving towards the other areas from there
For a more natural look and light coverage, mix foundation with moisturizer
If you don’t feel like powdering your entire face, you can powder only the T-zone and you will be ready to go
If you use a beauty sponge, dump it with micellar water or facial spray
Mix a lighter tone foundation with a slightly darker tone together go get the right shade for your skin tone
Read the label to make sure the foundation is specific for your skin type
Oil free foundations will last longer than the other ones. If you have dry skin and worries about using an oil free foundation, just moisturize well your face before applying foundation
Always apply foundation using light layers for more natural and longer lasting looks
Use translucent powder
Finish the look with a setting spray
Once your makeup is ready, don’t touch your skin
Use a Beauty Blender’s Bloterazzi sponge or something similar to pat on your face during the day to take excess oleosity away from your skin without disturbing your makeup.
Add exfoliation to your facial routine
There are foundations that are labeled long wear. Look for those kind of foundation if you really need a foundation that should stay in place all day