How to properly apply foundation on your face: how to prepare your face and 8 life hacks

Foundation is the basis of everyday and evening make-up. This tool is used by almost all women, from adolescence to adulthood. But not everyone fully understands how to apply foundation correctly, how to prepare the skin for the procedure, how to choose the best cosmetic product for your type and shade of the dermis. The journalists consulted with leading experts in the field of make-up in order to compile the most complete instructions on the use of foundation for the readers of our magazine. Read the article, and you will not have any more questions regarding the nuances of using this tool.

Why you need to apply foundation

A foundation is a cosmetic product that can transform a woman's appearance. A small amount of this tool will help visually eliminate such aesthetic problems:

1. Wrinkles – expression and age.

2. Various manifestations of other age-related changes in the skin – the appearance of pigmentation, a decrease in skin turgor.

3. Acne, comedones and enlarged pores.

4. Oily sheen or scaly areas of the epidermis.

5. Redness, skin irritation.

6. Vascular mesh.

7. An unhealthy complexion is gray, yellow, or greenish.

8. Bruises and bags under the eyes.

A correctly selected foundation can improve the condition of the skin, saturate the epidermis with useful substances, increase its moisture content, even out the relief and give the face a healthy, radiant look.

How to apply foundation – essential accessories

Women of the older generation, who during their youth were not too spoiled by a large selection of cosmetic accessories, are accustomed to applying foundation with their fingertips. But this method has several disadvantages. Firstly, it is not very convenient – it is difficult to thoroughly blend cosmetics over the entire surface of the face with an even layer. Secondly, it is not hygienic. If hands are not disinfected, pathogens may be present on them even after washing. Which, after getting on the surface of the dermis, can infect it, provoke the onset of the inflammatory process. Experts especially do not recommend applying foundation and other cosmetics with fingers to girls who have problem skin with pimples and enlarged pores. In the assortment of specialized stores, you can easily find several accessories that are specially designed to make the make-up process easier and safer. The foundation can be applied using:

1. Cosmetic brush. It should have a long handle, preferably wooden. The shape of the tip, that is, the fleecy part of the brush, is rectangular, with a slightly rounded cut. The brush should be almost flat, 1.5-2 centimeters wide. In order to apply the foundation, you will need an accessory with an artificial or combined bristle, the tip should be tough enough, elastic so as not to bend too much when you press on the face. Why artificial pile and not natural? Because it cleans up better from the remains of cosmetics and does not absorb the foundation, allowing you to use the drug more economically. But if you prefer the natural bristle brush, you can use that too.

2. Silicone sponge. Previously, sponges in the form of a volumetric triangle were very popular. However, now you can find options with a more ergonomic, easy-to-use shape. For example, professional makeup artists often use egg-shaped sponges to apply foundation to clients' faces. But this accessory has a small drawback – it absorbs the foundation well, so the consumption of the cosmetic product may increase. In addition, the sponge needs to be carefully mother under running water after each use, and it is enough to wipe the brush with dry and damp wipes, you need to wash it about once a week.

3. Beauty blender. This is a fairly new accessory that is used to apply foundation and other liquid cosmetic preparations. The difference between the beauty blender, which was created by professional makeup artist Rea En Silva, from a regular sponge is that it does not contain latex. This is an advantage of the accessory for those girls who are allergic to this substance. Before using a beauty blender, moisten it with water. The more liquid the cosmetic blender absorbs, the thinner the foundation will be. You can find beauty blenders in different shades on sale. Colored for home use, black for professional use, and white for applying translucent products such as serums and fluids, as well as colorless BB and CC creams.

As you will probably apply not only foundation, but also other cosmetics – shadows, powder, blush, you can buy a set of accessories. If it is convenient for you to use brushes, then there are ready-made sets of 3-10 elements or more on sale, each of which is intended for applying a particular preparation.

In addition to accessories that will help you apply your foundation correctly, you will also need:

1. Cotton pads and sticks are indispensable things in every girl's cosmetic bag. They help to correct and remove makeup, and perform many other functions.

2. You also need to buy a make-up remover, because the foundation will not only have to be applied, but also washed off. And plain water and soap are not quite suitable for this purpose.

3. Mirror. Applying a foundation without using this thing is very problematic. If you have a small mirror, it can help out when you are out. But at home, it is recommended to use a large mirror, which will reflect not only part of the face and not even the whole face, but also the neck and décolleté area. This is necessary so that you can evaluate how much the tone of the skin covered with foundation and the tone of the skin of the neck differ from each other. The difference should not be noticeable, otherwise the face, especially if it looks darker than the skin on the neck, in the décolleté area, looks unnatural. An additional plus will be if the mirror is tricuspid and / or equipped with fluorescent lighting.

All these accessories do not take up much space and can easily fit on the surface of a table or in a drawer.

Preparatory stage

Before you start doing makeup, and in particular applying foundation on your face, the skin needs to be prepared. What are the preparatory measures for:

1. To cleanse the skin, foundation and other decorative cosmetics will lay on a smooth surface with a smoother layer.

2. To moisturize the skin and saturate it with nutrients – after applying the care cosmetics, the epidermis will better resist the negative effects of the external environment.

3. To close the pores of the skin, because they can become clogged with foundation.

4. To protect the skin from ultraviolet rays, which stimulate the processes of photoaging of the epidermis.

Obviously, the preparation of the dermis is an important stage in the make-up and should not be skipped. Before applying foundation you need:

1. Remove dirt and sebum secretions from the face. This can be done with a special milk, gel or facial wash.

2. If the dermis is peeling or has acne, clogged pores, scrubbing or light exfoliation is necessary. Dead cells can be removed with commercially available preparations. Or make a DIY scrub using used coffee grounds, a mixture of sugar and honey, salt and lemon juice. You just need to make sure that the granules of the home scrub are small, do not have sharp corners that can scratch the epidermis during the peeling procedure. For a deeper and more effective scrubbing, you can pre-steam the skin by placing a small towel soaked in tolerably hot water on your face. Or hold your face over the steam, as during the procedure for treating diseases of the ENT organs.

3. If you do not plan to apply a daily skin care product to your skin, wipe the surface of your face with an ice cube. This will help tighten the pores. In addition, this is a great way to increase the tone of the dermis, remove fine wrinkles and bags under the eyes. Regular carrying out of such a procedure contributes to the intensification of metabolic and regenerative processes, as a result of which the skin condition improves. Ice can be made not only from drinking water by placing molds in the freezer. But also from green tea, mineral water without gas or freshly squeezed citrus juice. After rubbing with ice, rinse your face with cool water.

4. If you plan to apply a moisturizer or other skincare cream, rub the ice over your face after the cream is completely absorbed. This may take 5-10 minutes. If, after this time, a film of unabsorbed cream still remains on the surface of the face, remove it with a paper towel.

5. Some girls do not carry out preparatory activities, as they believe that they take up a lot of time, which, as a rule, is not enough in the morning. However, if you have everything you need at hand, then you can bring the skin to 'full combat readiness' in just 15-20 minutes. After that, you can do makeup, but applying foundation is not the first stage of the procedure. First, you may need to use a corrector, primer.

What products need to be applied before foundation and why should it be done

If you have more or less even, clean skin, without significant flaws, then before foundation you will need to use only a primer. This is a special preparation that evens out the relief of the skin, its shade. And also fills in all the flaws – irregularities, fine wrinkles, roughness. And one more important function of the primer is to prolong the 'wear' of the makeup. If you do not want the make-up drip and do not have to correct it every few hours, be sure to use a primer under the foundation. There are several types of such cosmetics:

1. Reflective. In the composition of such preparations there are the smallest nacreous particles that give the dermis a natural inner glow. You can use a reflective primer before an evening out or before a professional photo shoot – your face will look perfect in any light. However, this remedy is not recommended for use with any imperfections of the skin, as well as for elderly women. Since the primer will draw attention to the smallest imperfections, for example, to deep wrinkles.

2. Silicone. Such products help to make the skin even and smooth, but do not create a flat effect. Silicone primer is the ideal solution for masking wrinkles and enlarged pores.

3. Mineral. Thanks to the beneficial substances in the composition, such preparations perform decorative and therapeutic functions. They not only mask minor imperfections of the dermis, but also help to normalize its condition. Mineral primer can be a real salvation for those with oily and combination skin who cannot use reflective and silicone analogues.

If you have a problematic dermis with pronounced imperfections, you will need a concealer, which will also need to be applied before the foundation. The corrector can be used locally, that is, pointwise – if you need to mask pimples, scars, scars. Or in larger areas, such as under the eyes. If you need to mask aesthetic defects such as large areas of redness or flaking, a concealer can be used instead of a concealer. But it is better to apply it not before, but after the foundation.

How to apply foundation on your face

After all the preparatory measures and the use of a primer, corrector, you can begin to apply the foundation. This is done in this way:

1. Stand or sit by a window in front of a mirror, and have accessories and makeup ready for easy reach. Some girls are used to applying morning make-up under the light of an ordinary light bulb, most often in the bathroom. This is not worth doing for two reasons. The first is that it is harmful to store cosmetics in the bathroom, since high humidity does not contribute to the prolongation of the shelf life of drugs, they quickly deteriorate, and it is inconvenient to carry them to and from the bathroom every time. The second reason is the result that is reflected in the mirror in artificial light and that that is seen in daylight, often do not coincide. If you want the reflection to be objective, apply your foundation near a natural light source.

2. Apply foundation to the back of your hand, on the base of your left thumb (or right if you are left-handed). Enough product for one application – a 'pool' the size of a large coin. Please wait a few seconds. During this time, the foundation will acquire body temperature, and it will be very easy to apply it to the skin.

3. Dip a brush or sponge tip in foundation and apply it to your forehead, nose, cheeks, cheekbones and chin. Then begin to blend the product, moving along the massage lines from the center of the face to the hairline on the head, spreading the makeup from top to bottom. The cream should be applied by easily driving it into the epidermis, without stretching or rubbing the surface. The area under the eyes may not be touched at all or you may process it even more carefully, making sure that the drug layer in this area is thinnest.

4. Take a good look in the mirror. You should not notice the boundaries of the shades on the hairline, under the chin, near the ears. The color of the skin on the cheek should not differ from the color of the skin on the neck. And in no case should there be a mask or 'plaster' effect. If such an effect occurs, it means that you did not shade the product thoroughly enough or applied it in a too thick layer.

5. You also need to check that there are no strips of brush villi or other traces of using accessories on the skin. If the face looks natural, that is, it is impossible to say with certainty whether it has cosmetics on it or not, then you have learned how to apply the foundation correctly.

What then is the final stage after applying foundation

Once you've finished applying your foundation, you can use additional cosmetics to set the look and complete the look. What types of drugs can optionally be applied to the face after foundation:

1. Concealer. As mentioned, this product can be used to further mask extensive aesthetic defects in the skin. Apply concealer carefully so as not to disrupt the foundation layer.

2. Highlighter and bronzer. These are two face contouring products that are usually used in tandem. Highlighter highlights areas of the face that need to be accentuated. A bronzer is used where you need to remove excess volume, length. That is, a darker pigment distracts attention from the flaws in appearance – a too wide or long nose, wide cheekbones, round cheeks or a massive chin.

3. Powder. This preparation will help remove oily shine, make the face matte, and give the skin an inner glow. In hot weather, many women prefer to do without this product, but it will not be superfluous to have it in a cosmetic bag just in case.

4. Blush. They can be used to highlight the apples of the cheeks and cheekbones. If you used powder on top of the foundation, choose a dry blush – loose, pressed, in the form of balls. If you do not consider it necessary to apply the powder, then the blush that is used over the base should have a creamy consistency.

Also, after the foundation, you can apply lipstick to the face, emphasize the eyes with mascara, pencil, shadows.

How to properly apply foundation on faces of different shapes

Foundations of different shades can be used to visually adjust the shape of the face and individual features of the appearance. If you use a special makeup technique, the need for a highlighter and bronzer will disappear. To do this, it is enough to buy not one, but two tonal means from the same manufacturer – one completely corresponding to the color of the skin, the second – a tone darker.

How to apply a lighter or darker foundation on your face to contour and highlight your appearance:

1. If you have an elongated face, apply a dark product to the chin area and along the hairline on your head. Highlight the center of the face with a light foundation, emphasize the cheekbones and cheeks with blush.

2. If you have a diamond-shaped face, you need to reduce the volume of the cheekbones with a dark foundation and lighten the forehead and chin areas.

3. If you have a triangular face, treat the forehead and cheeks with darker pigment. And on the chin, make a light highlight.

4. If you have a rectangular or square face, round off the outline with a dark foundation. And the center of the face – the forehead, chin, nose and the area under the lower eyelids, need to be lightened.

5. If you have a round face, you can visually stretch it by applying dark pigment to the side zones, especially in the cheek area. It is recommended to lighten the forehead, chin and the entire central part of the face.

6. When using and combining two face sculpting foundation, remember to blend the pigments. But overdo it so that your makeup doesn't look like a smudged, smudged patch.

7. To contour with foundation, practice a few times before going out. You need to achieve such a level of skill so that it is not noticeable from the outside that you are using a special make-up technique, otherwise your face will look like a theatrical mask.

How and what to wash off foundation

Before you do make-up, you need to take into account that the foundation will not only have to be applied, but also washed off. And for this purpose, water and soap can be used only by owners of normal skin. But even in this case, it is better to refuse to use soap, as it negatively affects the skin, which, after such manipulations, can lose its natural moisture. Therefore, experts recommend using special makeup remover, which will remove the foundation quickly and without harm to the epidermis:

1. Micellar water is a drug that is used by both professional makeup artists and ordinary women at home.

2. Means for washing – a variety of gels and lotions, foams. They perform a double function, since not only the make-up is removed, but also the complete cleansing of the skin using water.

3. Hydrolat is an aqueous solution of herbal extract, which is also called flower water. The drug allows not only to cleanse the face, but also to saturate the epidermis with useful substances.

4. Hydrophilic tiles are a solid cleaning and care product. Reminiscent of soap bars. Upon contact with the skin, it softens, melts and turns into a cream with the lightest texture, which is used to wash the face.

You can prepare a liquid that will help remove makeup in general and foundation in particular with your own hands. To do this, try the following recipe:

1. Take equal parts natural plain yogurt and freshly squeezed lemon juice. Mix them in a glass container – one tablespoon of ingredients is enough for one application.

2. Apply the mixture to your face and neck and décolleté for 10 minutes.

3. Remove the cleansing agent from the skin with a cotton pad or cotton ball or paper towel.

4. Rinse your face and other areas of the body where the drug was used with running water.

It is not necessary to prepare such a cleanser for the future, but every time anew, since it is not recommended to store it, even in the refrigerator.

Types of foundation – which is better to apply on the face so as not to spoil the makeup

Recently, many new tonal preparations have appeared on the decorative cosmetics market. Before, women had little choice – the Ballet foundation and several much more expensive preparations. Now the range of tonal creams is much wider, each large company produces entire lines of such products. Also, in addition to the usual foundation, you can use the latest developments of foreign cosmetic brands – bibik or BB cream, CC cream and DD cream. Their differences from the classical counterpart are as follows:

1. Lighter texture and less dense consistency. The product is practically not felt on the skin and you do not have to worry that the make-up will look like a continuous mask, and the pores will clog or the function of the sebaceous glands will be disrupted.

2. Fewer pigments. In contrast to the classic foundation, which consists of a base, pigments, preservatives and fragrances, about 30% of coloring substances are present in the Bibik and its 'brothers'. Therefore, the overlapping properties of new generation drugs are not as high as those of the toner. But even this is enough to mask aesthetic defects, while maintaining the natural look of the skin of the face.

3. Skin care. This is the second function of BB, CC and DD creams. Such preparations can be applied not only in order to hide imperfections of the skin, but also to eliminate the causes of defects, to improve the dermis.

4. UV protection. Almost all new generation foundations contain sun protection factors. You can easily find products labeled SPF15 or SPF50 – it all depends on the needs of your dermis.

5. Multifunctionality. BB cream and similar cosmetic foundations can replace primer, moisturizer, foundation, sunscreen, and anti-aging product. This circumstance contributes to the fact that instead of several preparations, one should be applied to the skin of the face – less time is spent on makeup.

6. Natural composition. It is believed that the formulas of BB-, CC- and DD-creams are developed on the basis of natural ingredients. That they contain a minimum of synthetic substances. Therefore, the use of such cosmetics significantly reduces the risk of allergies or other side effects.

The only drawback of the new generation of foundation is a smaller range of shades. Since innovative drugs were developed mainly by Korean manufacturers, the assortment includes several light shades and there are practically no options for owners of dark skin. But lately, reputable brands have been working in this direction as well, so on store shelves you can find foundations marked BB, CC or DD, which are suitable for any skin color.

How to choose a foundation for your skin type

To apply the foundation on the face and see the optimal result in the reflection of the mirror, use the advice of professional makeup artists and make-up masters on the choice of cosmetics:

Take into account the type of skin, and select the product according to the composition:

1. For oily and combination skin, foundation creams that contain antiseptic substances, for example, tea tree extract, are suitable; absorbents that will absorb excess sebum; hydrolipids; vitamins and minerals; extracts of medicinal plants; zinc; sulfur. It is advisable that the foundation that you are going to apply to the oily dermis does not contain oils and wax, which will give the surface an extra shine.

2. For dry skin, preparations based on hyaluronic acid and its derivatives are suitable; glycerin; natural vegetable oils and extracts.

3. For normal skin, any means are suitable, there are no special requirements for the composition. But if the drug is used by a woman over the age of 35, it is desirable that it contains hyaluronic acid, collagen, coenzyme Q10, vitamins A, B, C or substances with similar properties.

Consider the skin tone of your face. After all, color is the basis for the correct application of a tonal foundation. Experts recommend choosing a drug in this way:

1. If your skin is pinkish, choose a light beige toner.

2. If your skin tone is yellow, try a beige-pink product.

3. For dark skin, a dark beige or beige-peach foundation is ideal.

When buying a cosmetic product for the first time, do it in a stationary store. This will give you the ability to:

1. Find the optimal shade of foundation by applying a little of the product from a disposable tester to your face. Keep in mind that when choosing a cream, you should apply it on your face without makeup, and you need to evaluate the result under natural light.

2. Find out the physical characteristics of the cream – its consistency, color saturation, overlapping properties, smell. And also to understand whether the packaging of the drug is convenient for you, whether it will be comfortable to carry it in your purse, and use it at home.

3. Find out how long-lasting your chosen cream is. You can apply the drug to the back of the hand and walk around the mall for about 20 minutes. After that, rub the skin lightly with your finger – if the cream remains on the fingertip, it means that it is not persistent enough to stay on the surface of the face throughout the day.

4. Understand how comfortable it is to wear the product on the skin. If, after using the probe, you experience a feeling of tightness, reddening and itching of the skin, then this cream is not suitable for you.

If you have already bought a toner of a certain brand before, you can safely make a second purchase in a large online store or on the manufacturer's website, since you already know all the characteristics of the drug.

How to apply and use foundation correctly – life hacks from experts

These recommendations will help you learn how to make makeup using foundation, as well as avoid common mistakes:

1. You need to apply foundation at least 30 minutes before leaving the house. It should adapt well to the skin and 'settle'. This advice especially applies to makeup during the cold season. If the product contains moisturizing ingredients, going outside immediately after applying the cream on the face, you risk causing harm to the skin, as the moisture will begin to cool, freeze on the surface of the face and in the layers of the epidermis.

2. It is imperative to apply evening make-up to cleansed skin. Daytime cosmetics must be washed off first.

3. Always wash off the foundation from the face at the end of the day, the product should not be on the skin for more than 8-10 hours. At night, the epidermis must rest and recover; the presence of cosmetics on the face can interfere with these processes.

4. Alternate your foundation according to the season. In late fall, winter and early spring, go for denser, creamy textures. Such drugs will not only help camouflage imperfections of the skin, but also protect the dermis from wind, frost, and snow. In warmer months, switch to light textures that do not weigh down the epidermis and allow the skin to breathe. The same applies to the shade of the drug – in winter the skin becomes lighter than in summer. Therefore, you will need to change the shade of your foundation at least twice during the calendar year.

5. It is necessary to apply the foundation in the direction from top to bottom. Otherwise, you will lift the fluff that is present on the cheeks, especially in girls with an oriental type of appearance.

6. Try to 'hammer' the foundation into the skin, which is 1 to 2 millimeters behind the hairline on the scalp. And also apply it to the earlobes and around the ears. This will allow for a more natural make-up.

7. When applying foundation, do not forget about the area under the eyebrows. One brush stroke under the tips of the arches will make your eyes more expressive and your eyebrows more graceful.

8. If, after using the foundation, surplus of the product remains on the surface of the back of the hand, you should not send it back into the tube, which many girls do in order to save money. The drug, which was in contact with the skin, mixed with sweat secretions, bacteria penetrated into it. If you mix unused leftovers with the bulk of the tube, the foundation will quickly deteriorate.

As you can see, our experts do not give any difficult recommendations. Use the advice of professionals, and the foundation will be your best aid in the process of daily beauty routine.

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