Someone sent me a dm on Instagram asking if I had a post on the blog about how to achieve flawless foundation application because her foundation always ends up patchy and streaky. Her inquiry birthed this post and I will be sharing how to achieve flawless foundation application that actually looks like skin based on my 7 year experience as a makeup artist.

Prep the face

Many people do not prep their skin before makeup and it ultimately affects how the whole look will turn out. It does not matter whether you have dry, oily or combination skin; you should prep your skin by cleansing and then with a moisturiser or facial oil before wearing makeup to help it blend smoothly without settling into cracks or accentuating dry patches on your face. This is generally the second to the last step in your skincare routine; the last step is sunscreen, obviously.

Use the right primer

A primer is a base used before an actual product is laid on a surface. A primer is basically the foundation of your foundation lol. There are many types of primers in the market and it is very important for you to know your skin before you purchase a primer. If you have dry skin, choose a hydrating primer; if you have oily skin, look for a mattifying primer (it shouldn’t be drying if not, your skin will only produce more oil). Enlarged pores? Get a smoothing primer; if you have hyperpigmentation, you can find a colour correcting primer.

Find the right foundation for your skin-type

It goes without saying that your foundation cannot look flawless if it is not your colour. However it will be even worse if it wasn’t for your skin type. If you are going to buy a foundation online or a supermarket, make sure you watch Youtube videos or check their Instagram page for people with similar skin-tones using that product so you can make an educated guess. If you are going to buy it in a studio or makeup store, request that it is swatched on your face, then go out into sunlight and see how the foundation reacts after a few minutes; this is the best way to find your exact shade in my opinion; to know how it lasts during the day, wear it for the whole day before deciding to purchase.

The application process

I would recommend that you start off with a little amount of foundation and build up the coverage as you go. I use a flat top brush first to blend out my foundation first because it “pushes” the product into my enlarged pores, making my foundation look smoother. After I buff everything into my skin, I use a damp beauty blender to give it an airbrushed skin-like finish. A mistake people often make is to use a wet beauty blender; always squeeze out all the excess water in your sponge, you can even use a paper towel to reduce the “wetness”. A wet beauty blender will make everything streaky and blotchy. You can proceed to add concealer, setting powder, contour and blush but make sure you use a damp beauty blender to blend it all together after each step.

A valuable tip is to always be light handed when applying any products because it is easier to add than to take away. And you do not want to add too much powder especially if you have oily skin because your skin will feel “caked” and produce more oil to compensate, same advice goes for dry skin because powder settles into cracks and we don’t want that.

Use a setting spray

This is the last step and it is quite important if you want your makeup to stay put all day. If your makeup looks powdery, use a setting spray to make the makeup melt into your skin and look more natural. Some setting sprays offer various finishes like matte, illuminating or dewy so purchase wisely according to your desired outcome. Most setting sprays also extend the longevity of the makeup so that’s a yay!

So that’s all for my tips and tricks on how to achieve a flawless makeup base. For better understanding, watch my video showcasing my full base makeup routine for oily skin.

I do hope you enjoyed this post and learnt a thing or two. See you in my next post. Xoxo.

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So remember that the Lord your God is the only God and you can trust him! He keeps his agreement. He shows his love and kindness to all people who love him and obey his commands. He continues to show his love and kindness through a thousand generations.

Deuterenomy 7:9 ERV