I typically apply my makeup products [1] in the conventional order: primer, foundation, concealer, setting powder. I've never really had the urge to stray from the beaten path until I saw a TikTok video [2] by makeup artist Sasha of @sashainspires [3]. In the video, she mixes her foundation with — yes, with — her setting powder to create the fullest-coverage finish I've ever seen. So I attempted the makeup hack [4] myself.
For this beauty experiment, I first primed my face with the Benefit Cosmetics The POREfessional Pore Minimising Primer [5] (£30). Then I used the new Huda Beauty #FauxFilter Luminous Matte Foundation [6] (£34) and my Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder [7] (£32), which is the powder Sasha used, and attempted to copy her technique to a T.
Editor Experiment: Mixing Foundation With Setting Powder
I applied a few pumps of foundation to the back of my hand followed by some powder and mixed it together with a small foundation brush. The consistency of this mixture went from being very smooth and viscous to very thick. When I applied the custom blend to my face with the same brush, I could immediately see just how opaque it was. To keep that finish, I used a dome-shaped foundation brush to blend it as opposed to a makeup sponge, which would have potentially diluted it.
Blending it was a tad difficult. Because the mixture was so thick, it took some effort to get a smooth, seamless finish, and it was drier than the foundation is on its own. But once I did get it blended, it looked pretty damn good — and very full-coverage [8]. I finished the rest of my makeup and didn't find a need for concealer anywhere except under my eyes; it hid my red acne marks well.
My initial thoughts on this foundation hack were pretty great — I was able to get far more coverage than I've ever experienced with a normal foundation, and my makeup looked flawless. It also made my base makeup completely transfer-proof [9], which proves useful for face masks. However, fast forward a few hours, and the finish started to look a little dry, not just feel it. It might work better for someone with oily skin or me in the summertime. For now, I'll probably stick to applying my makeup the regular way.