7 Common Foundation Mistakes

posted in Beauty on 12/21/2013

USING A POWDER FOUNDATION:

I know, I know—I used to be a massive Bare Minerals 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 natural & a little bit dewy. The best way to get said look is with liquid foundation. Powders are drying, tend to cake and can even accentuate wrinkles and pores because they settle into the creases.

TESTING YOUR FOUNDATION ON YOUR JAWLINE: 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.

NOT USING PRIMER UNDERNEATH YOUR FOUNDATION: Most people look 150% better with primer—really, they do—because it helps your foundation glide on smoother and stay put longer. They’re making really clever ones lately that can also soften the appearance of wrinkles, control shine or boost radiance.

APPLYING YOUR FOUNDATION WITH YOUR FINGERS OR A SPONGE: The reason foundation brushes are superior is because they use far, far less product and are also ACE at blending—and that means a smoother, more natural, less cakey application.

The problem with sponges 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. Also wash it regularly.

APPLYING FOUNDATION ALL OVER YOUR FACE: The purpose of foundation is not, in fact, to cover up every square inch of your face—it’s really only supposed to be used on the areas where you need it. Think: the redness around your nose/chin, the darkness underneath your eyes, the random blemishes.

PUTTING CONCEALER UNDER, NOT OVER, YOUR FOUNDATION: What’s the point of applying concealer if you’re just going to blend it all away by putting foundation on top? So remember: foundation first, then concealer. Go in with a brush to dab it (a cream, not liquid) on top where you need it. Then blend!

SETTING YOUR FOUNDATION WITH TINTED POWDER & A BIG, FLUFFY BRUSH: If you want to “set” your foundation, I strongly, strongly advise that you invest in a colourless translucent powder, which not only works for every single skin tone in existence, but will also prevent that horrendous cakey texture.