By BR Tabatha
You’ve got to love a good foundation. It can brighten your skin, even out skin tone, hide or reduce the appearance of pimples and scarring, all while making you look a little more pulled together. When it comes to applying foundation there are a few basic rules (which you can choose to ignore – it’s your face after all!) To find your perfect colour swipe a stripe down your cheek to your jaw (yeah, that whole only the jaw thing isn’t always the greatest, hit up the cheek as well), the colour that blends seamlessly is the one to go with. Of course we know it’s a crime not to prime. And we know blending out starting from the centre of your face is key to avoiding that mask look. But are there other tips and tricks that could be added into our foundation application knowledge bank? Darn tootin’ there are! Check these five out…
1. KNOW WHEN TO USE COLOUR CORRECTOR
Colour correctors have gone from products to be feared to products to be embraced. A wash of green blended out can hide redness. A pink, peach or orange corrector (depending on skin tone) under the eyes can erase signs of exhaustion… or a far too good night out with the girls! But there’s one thing we need to remember – put them on before you apply foundation. I’ve forgotten this step and attempted to apply green corrector after applying foundation, and, well, let’s just say I was giving Herman Munster a run for his money.
2. MIX IT UP
Don’t be afraid to be a mixologist. If you’re anything like me you’ll have about six different shades of foundation in your collection, and sure, they may be right for your tone, but the colours don’t always correspond with the look of your skin based on the time of the year. If you’re finding your summer or winter shades are too dark or too fair, pop a little of each on a clean surface and mix them up to create a shade that’s perfect. Also if you’re after a different kind of finish you can work some magic by applying extra products. For a dewier look add a drop or two of oil or serum into your foundation. When I want a more luminous foundation I like to mix in a pump of Clarins’ Instant Light Radiance Boosting Complexion Base.
3. DON'T BE FOOLED BY 'RIGHT AND WRONG' WAYS TO APPLY
Know your tools, and go with what works for you. If I’d been given a lipstick every time I’d read you shouldn’t use fingers when applying foundation I’d never need to buy another one (pffft, we both know that’s not true, there’s always an excuse to buy another lipstick). The thing is, if you’re comfortable using your fingers, then use them. Just remember to wash your hands first, and then to apply your foundation with a tapping motion rather than a swiping motion. Then wash your hands afterwards, because beige streaked jeans and tops aren’t pretty (yep, I learnt that one the hard way too.) Of course if you prefer a sponge, then use a sponge. It gives a gorgeous natural finish and there’s something fun about bouncing a damp soft thing all over your face. Brushes are also an excellent option for applying foundation – and there are two ways you can use them. One is to swipe the foundation around then down in order to smooth any facial hair. The other is to stipple it on, which is my personal favourite as I find the swiping technique often leaves lines, which I end up stippling or patting out anyway. Basically, like pretty much anything, it’s a matter of finding what works for you.
4. KNOW WHEN TO CONCEAL
Conceal after your apply foundation. Yes, this was something in my teenage years I did backwards. I’d apply concealer on my zits. Apply foundation. And then wonder why you could still see my zits. Um, because I’d finger swiped the product away when putting on foundation. If you’ve any blemishes you’d like to hide, be sure to apply concealer onto them once you’ve popped on your foundation. You’ll also find you need to use less product because the foundation is the first layer of disguise. Winning!
5. READY...SET
Don’t forget to set! For years I was afraid to use a translucent powder to set my foundation because I was afraid it would result in dreaded cake face. Crazy, I know. These days I know better. A good translucent powder will ensure your foundation sticks around for longer while keeping any oiliness at bay. Of course, if you’re not a fan of powder you can finish off your look with a setting spray, some of which will also have oil-control properties, such as Urban Decay’s de-slick.
At the end of the day it’s so often about what’s going to work best for you. It’s a great chance to play and experiment and figure out how you can get your most flawless and long lasting finish. And as always, if you try something and it looks rotten, you can wash it off. So do tell… what are your top foundation tips? Sharing is caring!
I've never used a setting spray. I used to have a stick that was half green and half beige. The problem was it was the wrong color and it didn't look good so I rarely reached for it. I might look into one in the future.