Foundation Application

Glowing natural foundation

Article by Jane, Makeup Artist

If you’re going to spend a lot of money and time finding the perfect foundation, then don’t waste your time or money on tools that are not going to do anything for your face but break it!

Finding the perfect foundation is 50% of the job and application is the other 50%.

Before I share my advice on achieving a flawless, smooth, even, base let’s eliminate some of the tools you may have lurking in your makeup bag that need to go.

Firstly, have a look and see if you have any sponges that used to be white and are now orange, starting to crumble and have a funny smell… take them out of your makeup bag… walk to the bin and put them inside. Sponges are not made to re use over and over.  They harbour bacteria if they are kept long enough so they won’t be doing your skin any good!

Another thing about sponges is that they tend to absorb a lot of product, so you may in fact be wasting a great deal of that expensive foundation you just bought.

Next task is to throw away any cheap nasty powder brushes. You know what I’m talking about, the ones you probably got as a gift with purchase with the really thick bristles that seem to fall out every time you use it! This will not help you apply your powder any better than it will to apply it with your dads’ old shaving brush.

And finally, the applicators that come with your products are generally not made to be used for long periods of time or necessarily give you the best finish for your base… even if it came with the product in the same box. I’m specifically talking about those cheap little powder puffs that come with your pressed powder ( you know the ones with the papery plastic on one side and a tiny sheet of fabric on the other) the sponges that come with your pressed powder and the tiny little brush applicators that come with any powder product. If you have specifically been told by the beauty advisor that the product you purchased needs to be applied with the applicator it came with for it to work, then it’s probably best to hold on to them for example, some wet and dry powders will need special sponges to do the job right.

Now let’s talk about what you need.

I recommend a good quality Foundation brush. Yes they are a bit pricy, but remember that brushes are an investment. If you buy the right one and take care of it properly, you shouldn’t need to replace it. You don’t need to go out and buy an $800 brush roll straight away, just buy one brush every so often and slowly build up your collection until you have all the brushes you need.

Any reputable brand will have a good quality foundation brush. They will range from around $50 to $100. Foundation brushes are not made from animal hair like most other brushes are, they are made from synthetic fibres because they are used for liquid products not powders, So you don’t need to be going to every counter asking what their foundation brushes are made out of because they will all give you the same answer… that’s not to say some aren’t better than others, it should still feel soft when you touch it and the bristles should not fall out when you use it.

Secondly a good quality powder brush. These brushes (the good ones) are made from animal hair. Different brands will use different hair but the most common are sable, goat hair, pony hair, squirrel and badger. This will help to apply your powder evenly over the face without rubbing it off like the cheap ones will.

As an optional extra you can also add to your makeup kit a concealer brush which is basically just a very small foundation brush that can get into all the small areas such as around the eyes… but you can also use a sponge for this.

If you do feel like you need to use a sponge after applying your foundation to buff it all out or if you just can’t get used to the idea of  applying your foundation with a brush then buy some disposable latex sponges. These sponges will not crumble, they do not absorb the product and they usually come in bulk amounts so you won’t feel like you need to hang onto them until you’ve used the life out of them.

If you really like to use a powder puff to apply your foundation or if you really like the look of heavier powder coverage than choose a powder puff with a washable cover. These are not too hard to find, most cosmetic companies and some chemists will have them, they are just a piece of sponge with a velour cover that can be taken off to wash so that you can keep them clean and fresh.

How I apply foundation for a perfectly flawless finish!

Step 1:  Follow your usual skin care routine, applying your moisturiser, primer, serum, or whatever you like to use underneath your foundation.

Step 2:    Apply your liquid foundation using your foundation brush. I usually put a small amount of liquid onto the back of my hand and then grab it with my foundation brush, this is more hygienic than dipping and re-dipping your brush straight into your foundation bottle. Brush your foundation onto your face staring from your t-zone and blending outward with small downward strokes. Once you have the hang of the foundation brush, you will find it very easy to blend and buff out and strokes with the brush to give you an airbrushed finish. If you can’t kick the habit of the sponge then now is the time to buff out what you need to with your sponge using a soft dabbing technique.

Step 3.    Apply your concealer to the places you need to around the eyes and any problem areas using your concealer brush or small foundation brush.  You can also use a sponge around your eyes if you desire, use a soft dabbing motion.

Step 4:    Apply a small amount of loose setting powder with a powder brush using a rolling on technique rather than a brushing movement. This will ensure the powder is pressed into your skin rather than sitting loosely on the top. If you prefer fuller powder coverage or a completely matte finish you can roll on your powder (pressed or loose) with your powder puff. By using the powder puff you can press larger amount of the powder onto the skin and this will give you a complete matte finish.

Step 5: smile at yourself in the mirror because you’re done!

Practise makes perfect girls and all tools take a bit of getting used to, but, if you will notice a big difference in the look of your base if you follow these simple steps, even if it’s the first time you try!

Until next time… Don’t go to bed with your makeup on! Jane, Makeup Artist Sydney | Wedding Makeup Artist Sydney