No offense, but you’re probably making one of these 7 mistakes with your foundation
It's okay, I was too. And it appears thet even after 5+ years in the business, YES, yes it is possible to teach a beauty consultant a few new tricks.
Arguably, foundation- or more accurately, the entire art or perfecting your skin with makeup- is the hardest element of the application process. Let's face it: filling in your brows or swiping on mascara is not rocket science. But it takes a special effort (both in shade and product selection, along with technique) to make your skin look both natural AND flawless.
So if you think UR DOIN IT WRONG (and sorry, but your probably are)...read on:
1. YOU'RE USING A POWDER FOUNDATION
Ditch it.
I know, I know-I used to be a massive fan too. And yes, mineral makeup IS supposedly better for your skin (non-comedogenic, naturally anti-bacterial and with built-in sunscreen).
The problem is that powder foundations don't give you the best finish. The look right now is very, very natural and a little bit dewy (see the Mary Kay Luminous-Wear foundation) and the best way to get said look is with a liquid foundation. Powders are drying, tend to cake and can even accentuate wrinkles because they settle into the creases. And makes your pores look larger- horrifying!
2. TO FIND YOUR SHADE, YOU TESTED YOUR FOUNDATION ON YOUR JAW.
Yes, everybody tells you to do this but I have some breaking news: you should actually test your foundation in three spots: underneath the eyes, on/around the nose and at the cheek/jawline. Do it all on one side of your face so you can compare with the no-makeup side.
The perfect shade should pretty much disappear into your skin- but if in doubt, go slightly darker, not lighter. A slightly darker shade covers flaws A LOT better and will warm up your skin tone. Remember, nobody want to pull an Eagle (light face, dark body) like Emily Blunt.
Mary Kay is the leader in foundation app & shade matching! When it comes to foundation, it's actually a pretty incredible selling point that one of our reps will actually come to your home/workplace etc. and help you find your perfect match in person.
3. YOU'RE NOT USING PRIMER UNDERNEATH YOUR FOUNDATION.
Most people look 150 percent better with primer-really, they do-because it helps your foundation glide on smoother and stay put longer. (As in: it will be much less likely to slipe n' slide around your face, to start to crease.) They're making REALLY cleaver ones lately that can also soften the appearance of wrinkles, control shine or boost radiance.
4. YOU APPLY YOUR FOUNDATION WITH YOUR FINGERS OR A SPONGE.
Guilty as charged! I was a longtime finger user, but I made the change!
The reason foundation brushes are superior is because they use far, far less product & are also ACE at blending- and that means a smoother, more natural, less cakey application. Sponges are okaaaay but the problem is that they waste a lot of product. Plus, they tend to be better at dabbing on areas where you need more coverage instead of creating a smooth, even application.
When looking for a foundation brush, make sure it's synthetic, not animal hair. And it's a pain in the bum, but you also have to wash it regularly with either a makeup brush cleaner or a gentle baby shampoo. If you use Mary Kay's spray, its easy to spray & wipe each time you use so your brush isn't out of commision while it dries!
5. YOU'RE APPLYING FOUNDATION ALL OVER YOUR FACE.
So not necessary, doll. The purpose of foundation is not, in fact, to cover up every square inch of your face-it's really only suppposed to be used on the areas where you need it. Think: the redness around your nose/chin, the darkness underneath your eyes, the random rogue blemishes.
Blend everything really well using your aforementioned foundation brush, and if you've selected the right shade, it will look seamless. (If you need more coverage, we're talking about concealor next...)
6. YOU PUT YOUR CONCEALOR ON UNDER, NOT OVER, YOUR FOUNDATION.
Okay, this one is bad. Very, very bad. But I will forgive you if you didn't know better. This is a myth that has been perpetuated, even by makeup artists. Eeeek.
Honestly though- what is the point of applying concealor if you're just going to blend it all away by putting foundation on top? It boggles my mind. So remember: foundation first, then concealor. Go in with a brush to dab it on top only where you need it. Then blend!
7. YOU'RE SETTING YOUR FOUNDATION WITH TINTED POWDER AND A BIG, FLUFFY BRUSH.
If you want to "set" your foundation, I strongly, strongly advise that you invest in a translucent powder, which not only works for every single time in existence, but will also prevent any horrendous cakey texture from messing up your otherwise bang-on makeup application.
Make sure you blend well, unlike Nicole Kidman....
The look right now, as I said, is dewy, so I would only apply your powder in the areas you tend to get shiny: the forehead & maybe the chin. And contrary to past beauty myths, don't use a big, fluffy brush to apply because you will deposit waaaaay too much product. Instead, go for a domed, fluffy shadow brush.
And if you need to touch up during the day, please invest in some handy oil-blotting papers. Get the kind that aren't coated with powder though, or you're just going to end up back at square one.
8. SPRAY FINISHED MAKEUP WITH A FINISHING SPRAY
Set your look for lasting beauty when makeup meltdown is not an option. Give it staying power to last up to 16 hours. Spray as a final step & helps makeup look freshly applied for hours. It also works as a refresher any time of the day. This product will also reduce oiliness...score!
SO there you have it. So now, let's discuss:
Do your wear foundation?
Were you doing some things "wrong"?
Do you have any other foundation or skin-perfecting tips to share?
