It's time for the third and final part of my Foundation Guide (check out part one here and part 2 here). We're finishing up by talking how to best prep your skin for foundation, the best brushes for perfect application and how to make it last.
Prepping and Priming
Whether your skin is dry, combination, normal, oily or anything in-between; always start by moisturising. I always give it a good ten minutes to 'sink in' before priming my skin. When applying a primer, I use light sweeping motions. These things stop your primer and moisturiser separating out and 'bobbling' into little balls.
There are a few main types of primer: illuminating, smoothing, mattifying and hydrating. They all aim to provide the best base possible for your foundation to apply to and increase wear-time. As my skin is combination, I tend to use a primer that will reduce my facial shine.
Your illuminating primer is definitely more of a highlight. Unfortunately these won't do much to conceal pores or prolong the staying power of your foundation, however it's a subtle way to add a bit of glow to the skin as it comes through very naturally from beneath your base.
Mine include:
L'Oreal Lumi Magique Base | £9.99
Supposedly a dupe for MAC's famous strobe cream, this is an iridescent base to go underneath foundation.
Revlon Photoready Skinlights in Peach | £11.99 | post
This is a more natural peach shade that looks beautifully dewy as a primer.
Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector in Opal | £33
This has to be my favourite, though it's a little expensive for what it is. The shade Opal is the perfect pearly shade that's not too warm or too cool in tone.
I tend to prefer matte and pore-reducing formulas. These tend to be quite silicone-based, which isn't always everyone's cup of tea.
Mine include:
L'Oreal Infallible Mattifying Primer | £7.99
This is a great drugstore option and although it could reduce the look of pores a little better, it definitely ensures my makeup lasts and stays shine-free.
Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer | £25.50
This is my go-to for a night out as it feels so silky and smooth on the skin. It not only makes my foundation last but stops it settling into pores or fine lines.
The Body Shop All-in-One Instablur Primer | £14
Somewhere in between the Smashbox and the L'Oreal in price and with a similar concept is the Body Shop's Instablur. The texture takes some getting used-to but this is the best affordable primer at reducing the look of my larger pores.
Benefit Porefessional | £24.50
This is less a primer to make your makeup last and more a pore-reducing balm. It smooths out the area to stop your foundation settling in and drawing attention to pores and is also nice and mattifying.
Soap & Glory One Heck of a Blot Primer | £10 | post
This is hands-down my favourite drugstore primer as it's so creamy and hydrating on the skin but blots away any shine. I love how long-lasting it makes my base.
Picking the Perfect Brush
Light, liquid foundations apply the best with a stippling brush in my experience. I alternate between a dotting action and circular motions. It definitely takes a bit of time but you get such a natural finish.
My Perfect Pairing:
Bobbi Brown Skin Foundation | £ 31.50
Real Techniques Stippling Brush | £11.99
Powder-shaped brushes work well with just about every formula but they're especially good for quite matte bases which may not be as easily blended in.
My Perfect Pairings:
Estee Lauder Double Wear Light | £29.50
Real Techniques Bold Metals Arched Powder Brush | £25
Sephora Pro Airbrush #55 | $34
Rounded brushes are probably my most-used type of brush as they're perfect for building medium coverage foundations, which tend the be the kind I wear day-to-day.
My Perfect Pairings:
Nars Sheer Glow | £31
102 Zoeva Silk Finish Brush | £11.50
Bobbi Brown Full Coverage Face Brush | £31
I love buffing brushes for lighter bases like a tinted moisturiser or bb cream as it makes them look so natural as opposed to sitting on top of the skin.
My Perfect Pairing:
Nars Pure Radiance Tinted Moisturiser | £29
Real Techniques Buffing Brush | £21.99 (for Core Collection Set)
For a matte full coverage base, I use a flat top brush to get that totally flawless look.
My Perfect Pairings:
Estee Lauder Double Wear Stay-in-Place Makeup | £30
Nanshy F01 Flawless Foundation Brush | £9.95
Zoeva 103 Defined Buffer* | £11.50
Tightly-packed brushes are amazing for creamy foundation formulas that come out quite thick and provide good coverage but are a little more dewy in finish. They really work the product into the skin for a natural but full-coverage look. Of course these work amazingly well for just about any other medium or full coverage base too.
My Perfect Pairings:
Cover FX Natural Finish Foundation* | £34
Real Techniques Expert Face Brush | £9.99
Cover FX Custom Blending Brush* | £32
Although I'm not much of a fan of the BeautyBlender (it's good for making sure my concealer and foundation are seamless, but I wouldn't apply my entire base with it), I do think that some formulas really do work best with your fingers! I always have a bit of an experiment if my usual favourite brushes don't seem to be doing the trick. Also, if you're in a rush, tinted moisturisers often look just as good applied the old-fashioned way.
Application Tips
1. I find it best to start by dispensing one pump onto the back of my hand; it's easy to build up the coverage and apply more if you need it...not so much to get it off if you go overboard!
2. Next I swipe it with my finger across my forehead, down my nose, on my chin and across my cheeks.
3. Time to blend it in with your brush. Take your time for this step, and always remember some formulas need more work than others. More watery formulas often work best with more of a dabbing motion, whereas full coverage bases often benefit from large, circular motions. Play around and see what works for you.
4. Have a proper look in the mirror and see where you're happy with the coverage and where (if anywhere) you'd like to build it up a little. Also bear in mind the parts of your face that tend to drink up your base quickly!
5. Dispense half a pump onto the back of your hand and dab with your fingers onto the areas you identified and blend again with the brush.
6. Repeat that until you're totally happy with the coverage. It sounds obvious but don't forget to take it slightly down your neck and take it right down the side of your jaw and to your hairline to avoid any dodgy tide marks!
Setting it all in Place
After you've added in concealer, it's time to ensure your bases doesn't go anywhere. Although I always prime, setting is also a crucial step in my routine.
I have combination skin so a powder is a must for me. If I'm wearing something quite matte or my skin is looking a bit dry, I reach for an illuminating setting powder like Hourglass Dim Light to stop things from sliding around without a heavy or powdery finish.
However most of the time, I go for a matte powder to reduce my facial shine without looking too cakey or adding loads more coverage. My favourite is the Bourjois Healthy Balance Compact.
Last of all, I seal my makeup in with a setting spray. If you use a BeautyBlender you can also try spritzing it with a setting spray back where you're blending in your foundation and concealer. My favourite is the Urban Decay De-Slick as it keeps my makeup in place and stops things getting too shiny.
So there you have it; my Foundation Guide in full! I really hope you guys enjoyed this little series and found it helpful. Thank you so much for all your positive feedback on it so far.
What are your favourite brushes and top application tips for foundation?
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*DISCLOSURE - ITEMS MARKED WITH AN ASTERISK ARE PR SAMPLES/GIFTS. ALL OPINIONS ARE MY OWN. PLEASE VISIT MY DISCLOSURE PAGE FOR MORE INFORMATION.