How to Apply Foundation

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This article was co-written by Alicia D’Angelo. Alicia D’Angelo is a makeup artist based in New York City. She currently works for Dior Makeup, YSL Beauty and Pat McGrath Labs, as well as wedding services such as Once Upon A Bride and Miss Harlequinn. Her work has been featured on Today.com, New York Live, Forbes.com, VH1, MTV, Vevo, Entertainment Weekly, Refinery 29 and NYXCosmetics.com. She holds a degree in visual communication from FIDM-Los Angeles.

There are 13 references cited in this article that you can view at the bottom of the page.

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If you find it difficult to apply foundation naturally, don’t worry, it’s a common problem. You will need to prepare your skin well in advance by washing your face clean and applying moisturizer. You can also use a primer and concealer or a cpor-corrector. When applying foundation, you need to take a small amount and apply it to the center of the face, then spread it all over the face. Make sure you choose the right skin tone, spend time researching the right shade, and you’ll know how to apply foundation for the perfect look.

Table of Contents

Steps to prepare and nourish the skin

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Wash one’s face. Washing your face properly will remove dirt and oil as well as old makeup. Make sure you choose the right product for your skin type:

Use a makeup remover to reduce redness, as this non-foaming product contains anti-inflammatory agents that will soothe your skin.
Cleansing oils contain emollients, which are great for moisturizing dry skin.
Use a mineral mud cleanser if you have oily skin, because the activated charcoal and clay in the product will remove excess oil from the pores.
For combination skin, use a gel cleanser to remove excess oil while still gently moisturizing.
Use cleansers if you have sensitive skin, these products are less watery and more nourishing.

Exfoliates dead cells and balances the skin. Flaky or rough skin is difficult to use foundation effectively. Use a hydroxy acid scrub 2-3 times per week. In addition, use a facial toner every day after washing your face to keep your skin smooth and balanced.

Use moisturizer. Everyone should use moisturizer with SPF 15 or higher before applying makeup. This step will help protect skin from sun damage as well as make makeup more radiant. If your skin is dry, choose a cream moisturizer. If you have oily skin, choose a gel-based moisturizer.

If you choose a moisturizer without SPF, apply sunscreen with SPF 15 or higher after using your moisturizer.

Use primer. Primer can smooth skin surface and shrink pores. It’s also anti-shine and keeps makeup in place all day long. You can use a cream, gel, or powder primer. Apply primer with your fingers to allow the product to penetrate the skin. ^{[1] X Research Source}

Correction of skin color with cpor-corrector. You should correct your skin tone before applying foundation. Use cpor-corrector to cover dark circles under eyes or uneven skin tone. Different colored creams are used to treat different problems: ^{[2] X Research Source}

Pink cream to cover pale spots on fair skin.
Peach cream corrects blue or purple spots on neutral skin.
Pink orange cream to cover dark spots on dark skin.
Yellow cream neutralizes purple or dark spots on olive skin, dark skin.
The green cream helps to remove the red color.
Purple cream helps camouflage yellow spots.

How to apply foundation

Start with a small amount of cream. You certainly don’t want your foundation to be heavy and greasy, so it’s best to only use a small amount of foundation, if it’s lacking, use more. Dab foundation lightly on the center of the forehead, under the eyes, on the nose and chin. ^{[3] X Research Sources}

Apply foundation all over the face. Starting from the center of the face, work it all the way to the hairline and neck. You can use your fingers, a brush, or a sponge to spread the cream. Whatever tool you choose, you should use the technique of dabbing the cream gently into the skin instead of using a scrub or spread. ^{[4] X Research Sources}

Use your fingers if you only need to cover a thin layer. Make sure to wash your hands thoroughly before doing so. ^{[5] X Research Sources}
Use a makeup brush for a thin and even foundation. Synthetic brushes are best, and you should blend the foundation by brushing in small circles. ^{[6] X Research Sources}
Use a makeup sponge if you want thicker coverage. Be sure to rinse off your makeup sponge to avoid bacteria buildup. ^{[7] X Research Sources}

Choose the best foundation

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Choose products that are right for your skin. It’s important to know if you have dry, oily, normal or combination skin before using foundation. This will determine which foundation is right for you. There are many types of foundations that are specially formulated for a variety of skin types. ^{[11] X Research Source}

Light foundation, like a mousse, is great for oily skin. You can choose an oil-free or a powder-based one. ^{[12] X Research Source}
Liquid foundation with accompanying moisturizer is perfect for dry skin. You can choose between a moisturizing foundation or a stick foundation. ^{[13] X Research Source}
Apply an extra layer of foundation if you have combination skin. This step helps control oil absorption where you need it. ^{[14] X Research Source}

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Choose the right foundation color. As the name implies, foundation is the foundation for your entire makeup. To make sure your face becomes an even foundation, choose a foundation that is as close to your skin as possible. Try a variety of foundation tones on your jawline (but don’t try it on your hands or neck), and choose a cream shade that matches your skin tone without the need to blend in. ^{[15] X Research Source}

Wait 1 minute for the foundation to absorb into the skin before checking the color, as the color may differ slightly as it dries.

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Select the desired coverage. Many people will simply choose a foundation with some medium coverage, but if you have special coverage needs, keep that in mind when choosing a foundation. You can visit a cosmetic store and try a variety of foundations to determine which is most comfortable and natural for your skin. ^{[16] X Research Source}

Powder for lightest coverage.
Pressed powder for light coverage.
Tinted moisturizer also has light coverage.
The spray foundation has medium coverage.
Liquid foundation for full coverage.
Cream foundation with highest coverage.

Advice

If you don’t want to pay a lot for a good foundation, get a sample of a high-end foundation and take it to a local cosmetics store. Then try to find a cheap foundation that is as close in color to a high-end foundation as possible.
If applying foundation with a makeup sponge, you should moisten the sponge first.

Steps

Steps to prepare and nourish the skin

How to apply foundation

Choose the best foundation

Advice

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