How To Make Your Foundation Look Like A Second Skin

When applying a full face of makeup, the foundation is perhaps the most essential part of any glamorous beauty look. But if the shade isn’t quite right or you haven’t blended correctly, it can ruin the whole look. Nobody wants a mismatched face and neck, right?

Achieving flawless foundation is a great skill as there’s plenty of room for error. Even the most seasoned makeup-lovers can have times when their foundation doesn’t sit quite right.

If you haven’t mastered the art of applying foundation yet, we’re here to help with these useful tips and tricks. Keep reading.

Pick the Right Shade

This is the first and one of the most important rules of beautiful foundation application. Before you splurge on a fancy bottle, test it out.

Pick two or three shades that you think will match your skin and compare it to your jawline. After an hour, see which melts into your skin the best.

In many beauty stores, staff members can provide recommendations and test the foundation on your skin for you.

Prep is Key

Flawless foundation always begins with a high-quality, hydrating skincare routine. The better quenched your skin is, the less likely your foundation will appear cakey.

Before applying foundation, cleanse, tone, and prep your skin with a plumping moisturizer. Not only will this prep help to restore an uneven skin tone and brighten skin, but it’ll also soften the look of pores ready for makeup application.

The Babor Moisturizing Cream is ideal for dry or dehydrated skin lacking in lipids. The moisturizer delivers intensive hydration while balancing the skin’s natural barrier.

The cream also helps to protect against moisture loss in the skin and promotes smooth, rosy-fresh, supple skin. With consistent use, dryness lines fade for a more youthful look.

Prime for Perfection

A good primer can help maintain your foundation for all-day wear when applied correctly. Apply an anti-shine primer to the complexion, focusing on hotspots like the hairline, forehead, sides of the nose, and around the mouth.

The Dermalogica Hydrablur Primer is an excellent option for pre-foundation prep. The primer blurs fine lines and pores while hydrating and brightening the skin. It’s lightweight, non-greasy, mattifying against that unwanted oily shine for a silky-smooth finish.

The H2O Release Complex and Abyssinian Oil in the formula help to deliver powerful sustained-release hydration that locks in moisture.

A unique microencapsulated tint releases upon release for light, neutral coverage. The primer is ideal for wearing before foundation for a long-lasting makeup finish, but you can also wear it over or after moisturizer without foundations – it’s great to have options!

Buffing is Best

No matter what tool you’re using, it’s important to buff (or bounce, if you’re using a sponge) the foundation into your complexion instead of ‘painting’ it on to prevent streakiness and build coverage smoothly. That’s whether you’re using a foundation brush, BeautyBlender, or even your fingers.

And when you’re applying foundation, the number one rule is not to forget blending down your neck. After all, nothing gives you away like that obvious foundation line at your jawline.

If you don’t want to keep applying down to your neck, at the very least, continue to your chin and blend by dusting a bronzer or matching powder on your neck.

Don’t Forget to Set

Setting your perfectly applied foundation is another essential step for helping it last. Firstly, soak up any excess oil with blotting papers. Then, use a light, translucent powder to lock in the foundation and avoid that unwanted sheen many foundations tend to give.

Use a brush and apply the powder very lightly to the spots that get the shiniest, like the forehead, bridge of your nose, and chin. Then use the leftover powder on the brush to lightly dust along your cheeks and any other areas. Be sure not to use too much to avoid your skin looking cakey – you want that dewy, second-skin look, after all.

Finish with a bronzer to warm your look and make your foundation look natural. Then, for extra effort, use a peachy pink blush for a pretty flush to your cheeks.

Touch Up

If you’ve got a long day or night ahead of you, there may be times when you’d like to touch up your makeup. Be sure not to pile on more foundation, as this is a sure-fire way to achieve a cakey face.

To touch up, first sop up any excess oil with blotting papers. Then address any areas that need fixing with a dab of concealer and gently blend your foundation using gentle patting motions with a damp makeup sponge.

Dust a little powder across your face to refresh your look, mattify, and seal everything into place. Look for a compact powder that you can slip into your purse for touch-ups on the go.

Do you want more skincare advice? Here’s how to apply SPF the right way .