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No matter the occasion, having a gorgeously smooth and flawless base is always nice, no matter what makeup you’re wearing. There are a few steps you can take to get the basics right and make sure your skin looks fresh and healthy. Here are my top tips for Flawless Foundation.
Skin care preparation
One of the first things I think about when I really want to make my foundation look as flawless and skin-like as possible is to spend a little more time on my skincare.
Exfoliate
Exfoliating a little before makeup is one of my best tips for flawless foundation. Any small dry patches or uneven texture are nearly impossible to cover even with the best foundation in the world, so taking a little time to even out the skin always pays off.
For the most immediate results, I love a product that offers both physical and chemical exfoliation. Non-natural exfoliants such as AHAs or fruit enzymes work to loosen dead skin cells while natural particles sweep them all away. What a powerful couple!
For the experienced exfoliator, I would recommend this ExfoliKate by Kate Somerville*, and for something a little softer, I love the old classic, Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant*. Both options take a few minutes to work and you’ll be left with much smoother skin for the makeup to sit on.
For more information on all of my favorite exfoliating products, be sure to check out the best exfoliators for 2023 – all skin types and budgets.
Moisturizing Essence or Serum
I find it’s always a good idea to put a nice layer of hydration on the skin before moisturizer. Foundation will stay on longer when there is hydration underneath – dehydrated skin tends to eat foundation!
As an essence it is a pre-serum or moisturizer step, and the Bioeffect EGF Essence* Instantly fills and provides long-lasting hydration to the skin.
A more recent discovery and a more affordable option for a serum is the Nip+Fab Hyaluronic Fix Extreme4 Hydration Concentrate*.
These moisturisers will sink in beautifully to freshly exfoliated skin – just seal them in with moisturizer before starting your makeup.
For a longer list of serum picks, check out the Best Serums of 2023 – All Skin Types and Budgets.
To Prime or Not To Prime?
I’ll be honest, I don’t always use a primer, but finding one that works for your skin type and the kind of finish you’re looking for can be a game changer for flawless foundation.
Dehydrated skin
Although I have a combination skin type, my skin can suffer from a bit of dehydration so I like a hydrating primer and I do really well with MAC’s new Studio Radiance Moisturizing + Illuminating Silky Primer* (review here). I also really like this because I like the glossy finish.
If you want to avoid multiple layers, a hydrating primer like this could be used instead of a moisturizer.
For a shiny finish
If you want to get a big glow with some added skin perfecting action, then I’d suggest another favorite of mine, the Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Flawless Filter*. I love the glow it gives and it also allows me to use less foundation, minimizing the chances of any malignancy.
The bonus of this is that it also comes in a range of shades. You can see all the swatches here – Charlotte Tilbury Flawless Filter Review & Swatches.
For oily skin and pore minimization
If you’re worried about shine and enlarged pores, then a primer will definitely come in handy.
Benefit’s Professional* it’s a bit classic as far as matte goes, and the blurring formula fills in pores and creates a long-wearing smooth base for foundation to sit on. It is also now available in different options for different skin types.
Choosing the right foundation for your tone
One of my best tips for flawless foundation is getting the right shade, so I spend a lot of time swatching.
Knowing your skin tone is very helpful when it comes to choosing the right shade of foundation. I tend to be neutral toned, so generally shade names have an “N” if the brand groups them into cool, warm or neutral.
How to edit your skin tone
- Warm undertones usually have hints of gold and red in their skin
- Cool tones have hints of pink and blue in their skin
- Neutral tones have an equal mix of cool and warm tones.
One of the easiest ways to find out what tone you are is to check the color of your veins:
- Green veins – warm tone
- Blue veins – cool tone
- Mixture of both – neutral tone
The fuller the coverage of the foundation, the more important it is to have a good shade match. The purer formulas are much more forgiving.
For reference, and in case you have a similar skin tone to me, here is a list of some of my reviews of my current matches:
Most of the posts I’ve listed here will have a number of samples you can view.
Application Foundation
For a really natural look, I like to apply my foundation to the center of my face and then blend outward so that it fades seamlessly to the outer parts of my face.
It’s always best to start with a small amount of product on the areas that need the most coverage and use light layers. You can always add more, but it’s very hard to remove, and the less foundation you use, the more naturally flawless you’ll look. Remember you can always use concealer for specific blemishes, redness or dark spots, so keep the foundation light.
Using 2 different brushes
One of my best tips for flawless foundation when I have time and want a super natural finish is to use a clean fluffy brush to buff the surface after you’ve already applied and blended your foundation. This ensures that everything is blended without streaking and at the same time any excess is removed.
As a final step, I like to use the warmth of my fingertips to really press and blend the foundation into my skin. This helps to give the best blend and a really seamless look.
Setting up your base
Although I’m not a regular powder user, if I want a foundation that really lasts, I like to set only the areas that look shiny. I like to use a very small fluffy brush for this job.
I like From Terry Hyaluronic Pressed Hydra-Powder*. It is invisible on the skin and easily transferred for renewal. Read the full By Terry Hyaluronic Pressed Hydra-Powder review.
Finally, a setting spray not only helps to extend the wear of your foundation, but also helps it look like the most part of the skin. i love it MAC Fix+ Magic Radiance* for a radiant finish that lasts and Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Setting Spray* really keeping everything in its place.
I hope you enjoyed my top tips for flawless foundation. Please let me know yours – I love receiving your messages Instagram or in the comments.
