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No matter the occasion, having a beautiful, smooth and flawless base will always make you feel better, even when wearing other makeup. There are several steps you can take to get the basics right and make your skin look fresh and healthy. Here are my best tips for the perfect foundation:
skin care preparation
When I want my foundation to look as flawless and skin-like as possible, one of the first things I think about is spending a little more time on my skin care.
remove dead skin
One of the best tips for creating the perfect foundation is to exfoliate a little before applying makeup. Small dry spots and uneven texture are almost impossible to cover up, even with the world’s best foundation, so taking a little time to smooth out your skin always pays off.
For the most immediate results, I love products that offer both physical and chemical peels. Non-physical exfoliants like AHAs and fruit enzymes work to loosen dead skin cells, and physical particles remove them all. What a power couple!
An experienced exfoliant is recommended Kate Somerville’s Exfoliate* And for something a little more gentle, I love the old classics. Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant*. Both options take a few minutes to take effect and leave you with smooth skin that’s easy to apply makeup to.
For more information on my favorite exfoliating products, be sure to check out Best Exfoliators of 2023 – Every Skin Type and Budget.
Moisturizing essence or serum
I think it’s always a good idea to apply a good layer of hydration to your skin before applying moisturizer. When there is moisture under your foundation, it will last longer. Dry skin tends to eat away at your foundation.
Essences are a precursor to serums or moisturizers, so Bio Effect EGF Essence* Instantly plumps and hydrates your skin for a long time.
A more recent discovery and more affordable serum option is Nip+Fab Hyaluronic Fix Extreme 4 Hydration Concentrate*.
These moisturizing products penetrate beautifully into freshly exfoliated skin. Just lock it into your skin with a moisturizer before you start applying makeup.
For a detailed list of serum options, check out Best Serums of 2023 – Every Skin Type and Budget.
To prime or not?
To be honest, I don’t always use a primer, but finding one that suits your skin type and the finish you’re looking for can make a huge difference for the perfect foundation.
dehydrated skin
Although I have a combination skin type, my skin can suffer from a bit of dehydration, so I love moisturizing primers and it’s worked really well for me. MAC’s new Studio Radiance Moisturizing + Illuminating Silky Primer*(Review here). I like this one a lot because I like a shiny finish.
If you want to avoid layering, you can use a moisturizing primer like this instead of a moisturizer.
For a shiny finish
If you’re looking for a big glow with added skin-perfecting effects, I recommend another favorite of mine. Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Flawless Filter*. I like this shine. You’ll also use less foundation, minimizing the chance of greasy buildup.
The bonus of this one is that it comes in a variety of shades as well. All swatches can be viewed here – Charlotte Tilbury Flawless Filter Review & Swatches.
For oily skin and shrinking pores
If you’re concerned about shine or enlarged pores, a primer will definitely help.
benefit pop professional* is a bit of a classic when it comes to mattifying, with a blurring formula that fills in pores and creates a smooth, long-lasting base for your foundation to rest on. It also now offers different options for different skin types.
Choose a foundation that suits your undertone
One of my best tips for creating the perfect foundation is to get the shade right. So I spend a lot of time checking swatches.
Knowing your skin’s undertone can be very helpful when choosing the right foundation shade. I tend to prefer neutral tones, so when a brand classifies it as cool, warm, or neutral, the shade name typically includes an “N”.
How to improve skin undertone
- Warm undertones usually have traces of gold and red on the skin.
- Cool undertone skin includes hints of pink and blue
- Neutral undertones have an equal mix of cool and warm tones.
One of the easiest ways to find out what undertone you have is to check the color of your veins.
- Green veins – warm undertones
- Blue veins – cool undertones
- A mix of both – neutral undertones
The more complete your foundation coverage, the more important it is to match the shade properly. The thinner formula is much more forgiving.
For reference, and in case you have a similar skin tone to me, here is a list of some of my reviews for my current matches.
Most of the posts listed here include various samples that you can check out.
apply foundation
For a truly natural look, I like to apply my foundation to the center of my face and blend it outwards so it fades seamlessly towards the outside of my face.
It’s always best to use light layers, starting with a small amount of product on the areas that need the most coverage. You can always add more, but it’s very difficult to remove it, and the less foundation you use, the more naturally flawless you’ll look. You can always use concealer for certain blemishes, redness, and dark spots, so keep your foundation light.
Use two different brushes
One of the best tips for creating the perfect foundation when you have time is when you want a very natural look, use a clean, fluffy buffing brush to buff the surface after applying and blending your foundation. is. This blends everything together without creating streaks and removes excess ingredients at the same time.
As a final step, I like to use the warmth of my fingertips to firmly press the foundation into my skin to ensure it adheres. This allows for optimal blending and a truly seamless look.
Set up your base
I don’t use powder often, but if I want my base to last longer, I like to set only the shiny areas. I like to use a very small fluffy brush for this task.
like By Terry Hyaluronic Pressed Hydra Powder*. It’s not noticeable on your skin, so it’s easy to carry around for refills. By Terry Hyaluronic Read the full review of Pressed Hydra-Powder.
Finally, using a setting spray will not only help your foundation last longer, but it will also help make it look like it’s part of your skin.I love MAC Fix+ Magic Radiance* A long-lasting shiny finish, Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Setting Spray* Keep everything in place.
I hope you enjoyed my top tips for creating the perfect foundation.Tell me your message – I would love to receive your message at Instagram Or in the comments.
