Ace of Base(s) | 5 Tips For Flawless Foundation

1. Liquid foundations like Mac Face and Body can be a whole nother beast if you let them warm up on your skin before buffing in. I prefer a softer fluffier brush like the Real Techniques Buffing Brush to stipple on to the skin and then give it 30 seconds or so (say enough time to go start the kettle for some morning tea… yes you might look silly for that half minute) and then work into the skin with the same brush. You’ll get more coverage out of the formula and it will take less elbow grease to work into the skin. If you have a foundation that sets too fast for this, try pouring it into the palm of your (clean!) hand rather than the back of your hand before applying. Your palms won’t absorb the product like the back of your hand, and will help it set up.

2. Let your foundation settle before powdering. When you powder immediately you run into the dreaded cake face territory. Move on to your brows/eyes then come back and set your foundation – you’ll get the chance to blend out any uneven patches and will use less powder as it won’t be soaked up my foundation that is still settling.

3. Match your foundation to your neck to avoid the tell tale, two toned look. I always swatch my foundation downwards along the jaw line towards my neck to make sure it blends. Swatching foundation on the back of your hand to colour match isn’t accurate (think of how often you wash your hands and use hand sanitizer a day) and this way you will do less blending your foundation down your neck, and therefore less likely to have nasty makeup-to-collar-transfer syndrome.

4. Bronze up a foundation that matches, rather than picking a darker foundation shade. Darker than your skintone foundation rarely works – you may think you look tanned, but rarely do we tan one solid shade when it comes to our faces. Pick a shade that is accurate to your skin tone, and then use bronzing products to bring some colour in – it will look the way the sun would naturally kiss the face with colour (think along the tops of cheeks, forehead and nose)

5. Figure out your skin type. Are you dry, dehydrated, both? Oily skin, or just combo? Normal skin? (you lucky thing you!) Pick a foundation with a texture and finish that fits your skins needs. Your girlfriend might swear by Estee Lauder Double Wear, but your dehydrated skin might look like the Sahara wearing it. My skin is normal-dry and dehydrated, so I prefer bases like Mac Face and Body, Illamasqua Skin Base and Diorskin Star Foundation.