Guide to foundation application

In our previous two beauty articles makeup artist Viktoria Vlasenko explained how to prep your skin for makeup and how to pick your foundation (click here to read the article). It’s time to learn about the best ways to apply it.

You can apply foundation with a brush, a sponge or with your hands. Each method is good in its own way but you have to understand what finish you wish to achieve and what tools are compatible with the type of foundation you use. (If you need to look up the foundation types click here to see the texture guide).

Brushes:
Brushes work best with liquid or powder foundations. Cream formulas are thicker so they usually don’t apply well with a brush but some brands offer great brushes for cream foundation application, too. Stick formulas can also be blended into the skin with a brush.

There are hundreds of foundation brushes on the market. You have to choose the shape, material and density depending on the coverage you want and the texture of your foundation. If you’re not sure which brush is the most suitable for your needs ask a professional at the store to see which one works best for you and what fits your budget (good brushes can be quite pricey). With a brush you can achieve an even finish and it is a very hygienic way (you have to clean your brush regularly) to apply foundation without wasting product.

Sponge or beauty blender: You can apply liquid, cream, stick and powder foundation with it. There are different shaped sponges made from different materials. Some of them work well with all kinds of formulas, some of them (for example silicone sponges) are perfect for liquid, cream and stick formulas but cannot do powder foundation. Again, if you’re not sure what would work best with the products you’re using, ask a professional at a beauty shop. Finding the right texture and shape for your sponge can be a game changer.

It is very important to keep your sponge clean. You should wash it properly after each use and dry it out – this can be time-consuming. If there is leftover product in the sponge it will affect the quality of the next application and it is not hygienic. Sponges are generally not recommended for long term use so it can be a bit expensive to buy new ones on a regular basis. There are also sponges designed for one-time use only. If you use makeup daily you can go through your sponges very fast.  
When you apply your foundation the sponge has to be damp and instead of smearing, use tapping motions. Some makeup artists recommend using a dry sponge to achieve fuller coverage but bear in mind if the sponge is dry it absorbs a lot of product, so you might be wasting foundation.

Sponges have many cons but they are still very popular and it’s not by accident. With beauty blenders you can really achieve a flawless, beautiful finish.

Hands: Some claim that applying foundation with your fingers will give you the most natural, skin-like finish. The warmth of your hand heats up the foundation, making it easy to blend into your skin. With this method you usually don’t waste any product – what is on your fingers goes onto your skin. Use tapping finger movements applying the foundation from the center of your face out to the edges. As you may guess, hands don’t work with powder foundation.

It takes time to figure out which method works best for you. Before you go ahead with the rest of your makeup, always check if you applied the foundation correctly:

• The skin looks one-toned.
• The color of the face and neck don’t
differ – there is no mask effect.

• The foundation does not emphasize the imperfections of your skin but
makes it as smooth and flawless as possible.