Welcome to the pro level of the makeup world! Until now, your daily face makeup routine consisted of a BB cream or a buff of your mom’s compact powder, but things are beginning to advance now.
As you start out on your journey towards a flawless base, questions like which foundation to pick, how to apply and most importantly, how to blend to get the perfect finish can haunt your mind.
Beauty beginners often find themselves in a fix while working a foundation for the first time, especially a liquid one. But that’s okay. Let’s put all that confusion to rest.
Here are pro foundation tips on how to pick, use and blend your liquid foundation to get a flawless, celebrity-esque base for all the makeup noobs out there, aka the only foundation guide you’ll ever need!
Why liquid foundation?
With umpteen number of foundation formulas available in the market, we suggest you test the waters with a liquid foundation. Why? A liquid foundation is a hell lot easier to work with, especially if you are a beginner.
It’s easy to work with and gives you a more controlled finish. Apart from that, it works well for all skin types; an oil-based liquid foundation is perfect for dry, sensitive and normal skin while a water-based liquid foundation is suited for combination and oily skin.
Coverage
This could be a fairly tricky subject for makeup beginners. While a full coverage foundation might sound like an ideal choice, it’s most certainly not the best. Different skin concerns demand different coverage.
Most foundations offer somewhere between sheer, medium and full coverage. Here’s how you can pick the best one for you:
- Sheer - Sheer coverage foundations can be used by those who want a more natural finish or a no-makeup makeup look
- Medium - If an even skin tone is what you’re looking for, you should opt for a medium coverage foundation.
- Full - If you’ve got hyperpigmentation, redness or acne scarring, then a full coverage foundation should be your go-to.
Undertones
Okay, the number one rule to acing that base is picking the right shade of foundation for your skin tone. The key to getting your shade right lies in understanding your undertone.
Here’s how you can determine your undertone:
- Cool - If you have blueish veins, you have a cool undertone
- Warm - If you have green or olive veins, you have a warm undertone.
- Neutral - Bluish-green veins mean you have a neutral undertone.
Take your pick from the 16 shades of Lakmé 9 To 5 Primer + Matte Perfect Cover Foundation that are perfect for different Indian skin tones.
Steps to achieve a flawless base
Step 1: Prep your skin
Prepping your skin well before applying foundation is the key to achieving a flawless finish.
- Wash your face with a mild cleanser to get rid of the sweat and dirt.
- Use a toner to shrink the pores and balance the pH levels of your skin.
- Next, finish your CTM routine with a light-weight moisturiser - It acts as a barrier between makeup products and the skin.
- Don’t forget to slather some sunscreen on before you start with your base makeup.
Step 2: Prime
Priming your face is essential for a long-lasting makeup look. Primers fill in the pores, fade fine lines and wrinkles and help even out the skin texture.
A little goes a long way when it comes to primer. Make sure you don’t apply more than a pea-sized amount on your face.
- Take a pea-sized amount on your fingertips and apply a thin, even layer over parts of your face that tend to get oily - namely, your forehead, nose, cheeks and chin.
- Make sure the primer is evenly blended before going over it with your foundation.
Alternatively, you can also go for a foundation that is infused with SPF and has a built-in primer like the Lakmé 9 To 5 Primer + Matte Perfect Cover Foundation. It primes and protects your skin from sun damage while also giving you great coverage. Two birds, one stone!
Step 3: Apply the foundation
Once your skin is moisturised and perfectly primed, it’s time to reach for your foundation. You know the drill. Dot it and apply.
- Pour some of your foundation on the back of your hand and dot it on your face and neck evenly using your fingertips.
- Start with less product or else you can end up with heavy and cakey foundation. You can add more if you feel you need more coverage after blending.
- The next step is to blend your foundation so there are no visible lines or streaks.
Step 4: Blend it like a pro
You can blend your foundation with your fingers, a flat brush or sponge, depending on the coverage you’re looking for.
Use your fingers to get light coverage. A brush gives you medium coverage, while a beauty sponge will give you a full and even coverage.
As a beginner you can start by blending with your fingertips or a brush as using a sponge can be tricky. Worry not; the term ‘practice makes perfect’ applies to base makeup as well.
- Begin blending your foundation from the centre of your face (cheeks and forehead) and work your brush or fingers towards the edges of your face and neck.
- Blend in upward and circular strokes to make sure you cover every inch of your face and get an even finish.
Step 5: Seal the deal
Conceal the dark circles and blemishes with concealer and set your makeup with a setting powder or finishing spray to set the look.
A buff of powder will give you a matte finish while a setting spray will lend a hint of glow and give you a dewy look.
Image courtesy: Instagram
Written by Anjali Agarwal on Dec 10, 2019
Author at BeBeautiful.