How to Apply Foundation: The Official Guide
When you know how to apply foundation the right way, you end up with skin that *actually* looks like skin. After all, foundation is meant to be just that–the base of your whole look. The goal is to create a blank canvas that serves as a second skin to build on with the rest of your makeup. Easier said than done, right? Don’t worry, though–we’ve put together the official guide on how to apply foundation for a flawless, glowing look. PS… you might wanna take notes.
Prep your skin
Prepping your skin is the first step in making your foundation look natural and last all day. Start with a quick facial cleanse before applying moisturizer and primer. To give your skin a little extra TLC in the morning, try using a jade roller (or one of our makeup brushes with built-in rollerball tips) to wake up your skin by massaging your face and under eyes. A couple of minutes of gentle massage will do the trick to help depuff sleepy eyes and revitalize your skin.
We recommend using either a moisturizer or primer with SPF for ultimate sun protection. Our Selfie Shield SPF primer is our fave. The colorless formula goes on clear (so it works for every skin color) and is specially formulated to work with all skin types. Plus, it’s got SPF 38 to add an extra layer of protection from harmful UV rays.
Prep your Beautyblender
We’ll let you in on a (not so secret) secret: the Beautyblender is the best sponge to apply foundation with. Maybe it’s the shape, maybe it’s our exclusive aqua-activated sponge material, or maybe it’s the airbrushed, streak-free finish it leaves on complexion–okay, it’s all of those things. Once you go BB, you never go back.
All you have to do to ace your base and get a flawless finish is follow 3 simple steps: wet, squeeze, bounce. Wet your Beautyblender before use every time. Squeeze out excess water and watch it expand (almost doubling in size) so your precious foundation product sits on top of the sponge rather than getting soaked in it. Your fave foundation will end up on your complexion for minimal product waste. All that’s left to do is bounce your BB on your skin and you’re left with an even, glowing finish every time.
How to apply foundation
So what are the pro tips on how to apply foundation? Here are our best recommendations for flawless foundation.
@chloemorello is dropping some knowledge on how to use Bounce and a Beautyblender for a flawless foundation finish.
1. Take it one area at a time. You have the most product on your Beautyblender (or makeup brush) when you first begin–so it’s good to start with the areas you want the most coverage.
2. A little product goes a long away. Start with a small amount of foundation to avoid overdoing your makeup or looking cakey. You can always add more, but it’s harder to take away what you’ve already put on. This is especially true if you’re using a full-coverage foundation like Bounce with minimal sheer.
3. Bounce product on your complexion–never wipe or glide. To avoid a streaky look, take your time by bouncing and dabbing your BB to help it set into your skin naturally.
4. Once you’ve applied the first layer of foundation, let it sit. Give your skin a few minutes to absorb the foundation before applying more products. Once you’ve reached your desired level of coverage, finish with your fave concealer.
Bake it & Set it
Once you’re happy with your foundation application, it’s time to bake it–no pre-heating required. Baking your makeup means applying setting powder or translucent powder on top of your makeup and letting it sit for 5-10 minutes. This helps your makeup–especially liquid foundations and concealers–last longer and avoid creasing.
At this point, you’re just about done with your *flawless* foundation application. Your skin should be even and natural-looking like a glowing blank canvas. All that’s left to do is add the finishing touches. If you want to add a little dimension to your look, add some contour and highlighter to catch the light everywhere you go. Our fave highlighter, Glass Glow, is perfect for a natural, dewy glow.
Set your makeup for a 24-hour glow and you’re ready to hit the town. Whether you’re going for a night out or just heading into the office, knowing how to apply foundation is the bare bones of a makeup routine. You can achieve a natural look or a full-glam glow with the perfect foundation blend.
