Applying Foundation

by Valerie Gladstone — November 12, 2007

I don't know about you, but I see an awful lot of women who don't seem to know how to put on foundation. Maybe they get ready too fast in the morning or put on their makeup by candlelight--not that some mornings I wouldn't like to. I prefer tinted moisturizers to most foundations, which feel too thick on my face. Gunky. But recently I tried Stila's Natural Finish Oil-free Makeup and liked it a lot. It's $32 and comes in 11 shades at Sephora.com.

How To

• On clean, moisturized skin, dot the foundation along your forehead, down the nose and chin, and across each cheek with your fingers.
• Dampen a wedge-shaped makeup sponge and squeeze out any excess moisture.
• Using the sponge, blend foundation with short, downward strokes, from the middle of the face outward. To prevent mask-like edges, smooth more at your jaw and hairlines.
• To hide dark circles, dot a concealer under the eyes with the pad of your ring finger. Use a small, pointed brush to dab a thicker formula on top of blemishes, red spots, or small areas of discoloration on the rest of the face.
• Dip a large fluffy brush in a pot of loose translucent powder, and then tap the handle to remove any excess. Lightly sweep the brush over the forehead, nose, and chin to set the foundation and eliminate shine. Apply the rest of your makeup as usual.
• Check your face in the best lit mirror in your home or near a window.

Tips

• To get the exact color you want, combine two shades of foundation. Mix them in your hand, not on your face.
• Apply a silicone-based primer after your moisturizer and before foundation, to keep makeup lasting longer.
• Cream and liquid foundations last about a year after being opened; powder formulas for two years. Toss them earlier if the odor or texture changes.
• To get rid of shine during the day, use powdered blotting papers for oily skin or non-powdered for normal skin rather than powder, which can build up and look cakey on the skin.