How to Apply Foundation With Tips From a Makeup Artist
How to Apply Foundation Like a Pro
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Step 1: Prime Your Brush
Applying your foundation with a brush will give you more coverage than your hands or a sponge. If this is your preferred application method, Hughes has a few tips for getting a finish smooth. First, you want to "prime" your brush by swirling it around in the product to get the bristles coated in formula. If you're using liquid foundation, like the Make Up For Ever HD Skin Undetectable Longwear Foundation ($43), you can put some on the back but if you're using a powder foundation, like the BareMinerals Original Foundation Broad Spectrum SPF 15 ($33), simply swirl the brush around in the compact. You may think this wastes product but Hughes says it actually helps you use less product because it allows you to cover more surface area on your face. "It's hard to blend when there's too much product there," says Hughes.
Step 2: Use the Stippling Technique
The biggest mistake people make when applying foundation is the way they go about blending it onto the face. Swiping your foundation brush across the skin can leave streaks and bristle marks, which can be frustrating when you're trying to get smooth coverage. Instead, use the stippling technique (aka tapping). "A lot of people tend to wipe when they use brushes," Jennings says. "But the technique is really about pressing or tapping because you have more control, and the result doesn't look as caked on."
The same technique works to cover your pores. "Just press into that area and you'll see that it just becomes more one with the skin," says Hughes. "You're pushing it into the skin."