FLAWLESS FOUNDATION

Hello again! I wanted to share some of my tips and tricks on how I use makeup to achieve flawless-looking skin. Of course having naturally perfect skin is a plus, but most of us are not that blessed!

So how do you give the illusion of ‘perfect’ skin without your makeup looking heavy? There are a few important tips I think will help most people to achieve this.

Note: any product photos are products I highly recommend!

1) DON’T CHEAP OUT ON FOUNDATION

I am all for saving money in other areas, but when it comes to foundation, I believe you are better off spending more money than looking for a bargain. Remember: when your foundation is solid, anything you put on top of it will be too. A higher price-tag also comes with better staying-power, better coverage, a better shade range and better ingredients. If your foundation is cheap and wears off quickly, the rest of your makeup won’t stand a chance.

2) TRY IT OUT AT THE STORE & HAVE SOMEONE HELP YOU

If you are buying higher-end foundation, chances are you are at a department store cosmetics counter, or in a MAC or Sephora store. The employees are there to help, use them! It is always better to have someone help you shade-match and try the foundation on you rather than playing a guessing game.  If you must do it yourself, the best place to match a foundation to your skin tone is near your jawline. But please take my advice, and take advantage of the help you have available to you! It is always better to get the opinion of someone who is knowledgeable.

Now we will get into some actual application tips…

3) SKIN PREP

This is SO IMPORTANT. Please do not skip this step! Make sure your skin is thoroughly cleansed, moisturized, and primed (if necessary). I like to use a cleanser, then go over my skin with Bioderma no-rinse makeup remover. After that I moisturize with my favourite moisturizer and I will also sometimes use a primer in certain areas to fill in any large pores. Try to look for water-based moisturizers and primers as opposed to silicone-based. Most foundations are not silicone-based and often the slipperiness of silicone primers will make foundation separate on the face.

4) COLOUR CORRECTION

Correct any blemishes and imperfections BEFORE your foundation. The chart above is helpful, and I really love the colour correcting palette by Makeup Forever (available at Sephora). This will help to neutralize any colours that stand out from your skin (dark under-eye circles, blemishes, etc). This will ensure your foundation colour is the same across your entire face.

5) FOUNDATION APPLICATION: LESS IS MORE

I know it is tempting to put foundation absolutely everywhere, but don’t do it! Realistically, most people do not need to cover their entire face in foundation. If you have followed the steps above and have a foundation that matches your skin tone correctly, you will not need it all over your entire face. Put the foundation on the centre areas of the face and blend outward, sheering the foundation out as you get towards the outer areas of your face. Using this technique, you will find you use less foundation, and your skin will look like skin, instead of a mask of foundation. It also helps to have the right tools. Try using a dense but fluffy brush or a damp beauty blender sponge for the most seamless application.

Below is a natural look that I did on a client. Notice her skin is glowing, and still looks like skin – but also looks flawless!

 

I really encourage you to try these tips out for yourself!

Alex xx