What’s every pro’s top secret when it comes to applying foundation? Execute it without leaving a trace. “I want people to say, ‘Oh my god, your skin looks great!’ not, ‘Your foundation is so amazing,'” explains makeup artist and brand founder Violette. And while finding the perfect formula is half the battle, once you get it, it’s just as important to make like Houdini and ensuring it blends into your skin tone. Here, sought-after makeup artists share their refined tips for applying foundation and achieving that ever-elusive, second-skin finish.
Create a glowing canvas
Clean and hydrated skin is a no-brainer, but to really boost your glow, start with a hydrating mask and follow this with a lymphatic facial massage. When make-up artist Nina Park working with clients like Zoë Kravitz and Bella Hadid, she starts with a sheet mask tailored specifically to their skin type, with ingredients like rose to combat oiliness, aloe to treat dryness, and green tea to soothe inflammation. After masking, gently massage your moisturizer into the skin to stimulate circulation and reduce puffiness. “It creates a natural flush that makes the face look more awake,” says makeup artist Kira Nasratthat gives Jessica Alba that eternally radiant complexion.
Prime if necessary
To prime or not to prime? It’s a perennial question for amateurs and professionals alike. Although Violette typically skips the extra basic step of using as little product as possible, when applied correctly it can help foundation last all day. “I use an anti-shine primer for hot spots like the forehead, hairline, sides of the nose, and around the mouth, and then a sheer, brightening primer for the tops of the cheekbones,” Park explains, adding that she uses them all with her. fingertips.
Choose the right formula
Beauty is boring makeup artist and photographer Robin Black says that while newer generations of powder foundations can give you that second-skin look, they only do this for certain skin types, like oily skin. For flawless application, she recommends using a liquid foundation. “Liquid typically offers more options when it comes to natural finishes and coverage levels.”
Skip a full-coverage foundation and go for something lighter. The best foundation is the one that suits your skin type. For example, those with oily skin will want something that controls excess oil and gives a matte finish, while those with dry skin will want a hydrating formula. We like something like the bareMinerals Original Pure Serum Radiant Natural Liquid Foundation Mineral SPF 20 which is packed with nourishing skincare ingredients such as hyaluronic acid and water lily extract to plump and soothe skin while providing medium coverage. Plus, it has a beautiful radiant finish for that natural, shiny look.
Apply from the center and move outwards
Apply foundation only where it is present Real is necessary, Violette emphasizes, that counts Estée Lauder Futurist Hydra Rescue moisturizing foundation with SPF 45 among her favorites. “Start in the center of the face, on the apples of the cheeks, and work your way out slowly,” she instructs, adding that another important part of the face is the area around the mouth, which is prone to yellow undertones and shadows .
Black says to apply four dollops of foundation to the center of your cheeks, the low center of your forehead, and the center of your chin. From there, you should blend from the center of your face to the edges, making sure to also blend the bottom of your jawline and the top of your neck. (If your hair is pulled back, she also recommends swiping some product over your ears). “This technique keeps the majority of the coverage in the center of the face, where you’re more likely to want it, and provides a very even base without the dreaded foundation buildup along the hairline,” says Black.
