Hi guys, I am sitting by the fire and enjoying a beautiful winter wonderland outside.  There is just something magical about the first snow fall of the year, am I right ?! Anyway, these freezing temps bring on quite a few challenges when it comes to your skin. Today, I am sharing 8 tips for flawless foundation application as well as some of my favorites for dry, sensitive and mature skin. Recently, so many of you are saying that you are not loving your foundation because it looks dry, cakey, and/or just lays on top of your skin, emphasizing your pores. I get a lot of questions about foundation favorites and I will get to that. But first, chances are, it is not necessarily your foundation that is to blame. Of course, you want to me make sure you are using the correct foundation for your skin type, but there may be some other issues that could cause you to fall out of love with your foundation. Today, I am sharing my best tips to achieve a flawless foundation application.

8 TIPS FOR FLAWLESS FOUNDATION APPLICATION 

PREP YOUR SKIN// I always say, “Your makeup will only look as good as the canvas it is applied upon”. You wouldn’t paint your walls without prepping and priming them, am I right?!  The same goes for your face. Proper prep is crucial to having your foundation look flawless.  If your skin is dry and flaky, your foundation will actually emphasize that. Exfoliation and hydration are key here.  I exfoliate once a week and sometimes right before a big event.  My favorite way to exfoliate is with this mask and then I follow up with a hydrating mask to get my skin as smooth as a babies butt.  The effect usually lasts for a few days. If you don’t do a mask, make sure you use a basic, lightweight moisturizer and let it soak in before proceeding with your makeup application. This is a makeup artists favorite moisturizer for skin prep and I also love this one.

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SHAVE YOUR FACE// Yes, you heard me right.  The fancy term for this is “derma planing” and it is currently a huge buzz word in the makeup industry. It basically eliminates the peach fuzz on your face that can be emphasized by foundation and make you look older.  Derma planing exfoliates and eliminates all unwanted baby hair at the same time, making you look more youthful and letting your foundation glide on flawlessly. Since this is also a method of exfoliation, I would recommend either this or the mask, not both at the same time. You don’t want to over exfoliate. (Read more about that here.) It can be done at a spa, but you can also do it yourself at home. Just be careful. I have been using this tool recently and I love it.  It has hundreds of 5 star reviews and was an Allure Readers Choice Award Winner last year. It is fabulous. If you want to try derma planing first without making a big financial commitment, these razors are cheap and also do the trick. People swear by them.

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USE A PRIMER// This is key and I can not emphasize it enough.  A good primer makes everything you apply on top of it go on more smoother and last longer. It is important to remember to let it dry completely before applying your foundation, otherwise it may start pilling. A pea size amount should be sufficient.  Focus it on the center of your face. I love this primer and their new pearl version and this one is also fabulous and contains an SPF40. It is perfect for Spring and Summer.

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USE A HANDHELD MIRROR// It is so difficult to see what you are doing if you are looking at yourself in a big bathroom mirror that is pretty far away.  A handheld mirror will help you tremendously in achieving a flawless foundation application, but a much neater makeup application in general. You can really see so much more detail. Purchasing a handheld mirror will be one of the best things you can do, I promise. I personally love this one and this one.

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USE A BEAUTY BLENDER// I have recently re-fallen in love with this this beauty tool.  It really makes the biggest difference in how your foundation looks.  The key is to use it damp.  Apply foundation to the blender and then bounce it over your face.  I share a quick tutorial on my Instastories under “Foundation Tips”.

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APPLY FOUNDATION THROUGH THE CENTER OF YOUR FACE// Apply your foundation where it is needed most, through the center of your face, and blend it outwards.  This way you achieve the most natural look while avoiding the dreaded line of demarcation, or that foundation line on your chin.

DON’T TRY TO COVER FLAWS WITH FOUNDATION// The purpose of foundation is to even out your skin tone, NOT to cover flaws.  That is why we have concealer. In other words, apply foundation in a sheer layer and then go back in with your concealer and a small tipped brush to cover any issues. This is how you achieve the most natural, flawless look.

 

SET WITH A SHEER POWDER + SETTING SPRAY// A good setting powder is such a boring product to buy at the store, but it will pay dividends in making you look your best, I promise.  It will smooth out your pores, giving you that airbrushed look, and it will also help with keeping everything in place all day long. This setting powder has been a long time favorite and works perfectly for all complexions, but this one is my new obsession. It is perfect for dry and more mature skin and gives you this ethereal, candle lit glow.  I am obsessed. Use powder very sparingly and only where needed. Finish everything with this setting spray. A staple in my makeup bag.  It takes everything down a notch and sets your makeup for the entire day. I use it on all of my brides, so I promise it works. I also share another great hack for using this setting spray to keep your concealer from creeping in my “Everyday Makeup Tutorial” on Instagram stories. Head on over to check it out. *PRO-TIP – In general, makeup looks best about 45 minutes after application. Everything settles in a bit and warms up on the face. That is the time to go back in a fix any issues.

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FOUNDATION FAVORITES

Now that you have fixed all of your skin issues,  it is time to chat foundations.  Keep in mind, these are my personal favorites that I have tried and that work for me. I have dry and sensitive skin with rosacea, so I prefer a hydrating, medium coverage foundation that covers my redness.

IT COSMETICS CC CREAM// This stuff is da bomb diggity! I talk about it all the time and I can not tell you how much I love this stuff.  It does a fantastic job of evening out my skin tone and reducing my redness from my rosacea. It is pure magic. I have told so many people about it and everyone loves it and thanks me for the recommendation. It covers everything, yet still lets your skin shine through and look completely glowing and natural. It also has contains SPF 50, so you are covered on the sunscreen front. Not sure how they do it, but it is pure magic. 

L’OREAL PRO GLOW FOUNDATION// Holy wow! I was blown away by the quality of this foundation. Not only is it the best drugstore foundation, it is one of the best foundations I have ever used, period.  IT.IS.SO.GOOD you guys!!!! It covers flawlessly and leaves my skin glowing without looking heavy. My only gripe is that it doesn’t contain any sunscreen and that I have to mix 2 shades together, but hey, I get a custom blended foundation for $24.00. Not bad in my book. ( The foundations are $12,00 each). If you have oily skin, the matte counterpart seems equally amazing.

BOBBI BROWN FOUNDATION STICK// I use this foundation on all of my brides. It works on most skin types, comes in tons of colors and looks beautiful in person & flawless in pictures. This is a cream based foundation. The coverage is easy to control with this and can be layered to go from sheer all the way to a fuller coverage. It also doubles as my concealer in a pinch.  I prefer wearing it during the  Fall and Winter when makeup is a little more refined and polished. I also love how portable and mess-free this stick is. Great for travel!  With cream foundations, the key to applying it properly is to warm the product up with your fingers first.  This will give you the most natural looking finish. This is one of the few foundations where I prefer applying it with my fingers instead of the beauty blender for the most natural look.

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BARE MINERALS ORIGINAL FOUNDATION// There is a bit of a learning curve with this product, but it can’t be beat for a beautiful and flawless finish. I show you the correct application technique in my Instastories under “Makeup Tips”. it is important to learn the proper application technique here, or you are bound to hate it. It provides a flawless, non cakey finish that last all day long, especially when using it in conjunction with a primer. You do need a special brush to apply this with, as you are literally buffing it into the skin. This brush is great and works well with said foundation and comes in handy at other times as well, so it is a worthwhile investment.

CHANEL VITALUMIÈRE AQUA//  If you are not a foundation girl, but are looking for something sheer to even out your skin tone, this is the one is for you! The texture is extremely light, almost like water. It feels like nothing at all. Yet, somehow it miraculously manages to even out your complexion and make you look like you have perfect skin. Who doesn’t want that? I used this almost exclusively during the summer and I was so glad I discovered it. It is that perfect balance of not too much and not too little. In one word, perfection! Just remember to shake it first.

WET N WILD PHOTO FOCUS FOUNDATION// If you are looking for a budget friendly, long lasting foundation, look no further than this one. It is only $6.00 a bottle. It is like your skin, only better. This high-performing, skin-perfecting Photo Focus Foundation underwent major road testing under seven different photo lighting conditions to deliver flawless camera-ready makeup every time. Specially made with a matte, light-diffusing complex to give your skin #nofilter perfection. The one thing I found a bit off putting was the slightly chemical smell, but otherwise, I loved it.

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There you have it, all of your foundation woes solved in one place.  I hope you found this helpful and will find a new foundation to love.

XO,

 

 

 

 

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