The Ultimate Makeup Guide Part 3 – Makeup Foundation

In Part 1, I explained the basics of makeup and Part 2 was about brushes so part 3 of the Ultimate Makeup Guide Series is all about finding the foundation matching your skin tone. Why do I start with makeup foundation you might think. Well, if you choose the wrong foundation shade, then no matter how flawless your makeup is, it’s going to look wrong so it is important to choose the right foundation. But before you ask yourself “So what foundation color am I?”, there are a few things you should know:

What Is A Foundation Makeup And Why Do I Need it?

Foundation is the base makeup you apply to even out the complexion and it covers flaws. It is a skin coloured makeup that are available for various skin tones and types. A makeup foundation basically helps you to even out the skintone while covering up flaws and blemishes. These are available in different brands and formulas which you can buy depending on your budget, skin type and complexion.

Ok, So Now I Know What It is But What Type Of Foundation Will Suit Me?

There are several types of makeup foundation made for different types of skin and personal preferences. Your friend might be a fan of liquid foundations but you like stick or powders more that is a personal preference. There are also several finishes available like natural, matte, satin and dewy. Also each product has various coverages like sheer, medium and full coverage. Various types of makeup foundations include liquid, cream, stick, powder, mineral and spray on foundations. I’ll break down what foundation suits best for each skin type:

I’ve Found Out Which Type Suits Me, How Do I Choose The Right Foundation Shade?

After choosing the correct type of foundation for your skin type it is time to find out the perfect shade match for your skin tone. There are many different skin tones but there are only 3 different undertones irrespective of the complexion shade.

Once you determine your undertone correctly it is time to get swatching find the closest 3-5 foundation match and swatch them on your jawline one below the other and see which one melts into the skin seamlessly. That is your perfect match but again not all drugstore have testers but you can get the makeup foundation matched at a good department store like Sephora or Ulta. Another easy way is to find your perfect shade in MAC and you can easily find matching shades in other brands by using online makeup foundation matchers. You will get the hang of it after buying 2-3 correct foundation shades.

Right, I’ve Gone Out And Bought It, So Now How Do I Apply Foundation?

Well congratulations! Now comes the real lesson. I’m splitting this into the different types of foundation and the best way to apply them, you can go to the type of makeup foundation you have bought or you can read through them all.

How To Apply Liquid Foundation

Liquid foundation suits all skin types beautifully but there are a lot of ways to apply them for different finishes. Again this is a personal preference and you will get to know which technique you like the most with practice.

1. How To Apply Liquid Foundation With Fingers?

The cheapest (and simplest) way to apply foundation is by using fingers. Use clean hands before applying makeup keep it is a general rule. Pour a small amount of foundation on the back of your hand or a mixing plate. Then start by dotting the foundation on the face and neck, once that’s done start blending it in. The warmth in your fingers will help the foundation to melt into your skin for a more natural finish. But the downsides with this technique is you cannot achieve full coverage by rubbing it in using fingers and also you should never use bare hands on a client’s face not very professional and hygienic.

2. How To Apply Liquid Foundation With a Brush

The second technique is by using makeup brushes always invest in good quality makeup brushes. These are the tools of the trade and that doesn’t necessarily mean it should super expensive. If you are makeup beginner, buy not so expensive brushes and work your way up as you master the techniques of makeup. A few brands of makeup brushes that I love are BH Cosmetics, Coastal Scents, EcoTools, ELF, Morphe Brushes, Sedona Lace, Sephora, Jessup, Real Techniques and Zoeva. A flat foundation brush gives a streak free light coverage finish. A flat top kabuki and buffing brush gives the maximum coverage it also buffs the makeup foundation in perfectly.

Some of my favorite brushes to apply liquid foundations are- BH Cosmetics Duo Fiber Stippling Brush, EcoTools Custom Coverage Buffing Brush, ELF Ultimate Blending Brush, Real Techniques Buffing Brush, Real Techniques Expert Face Brush, Real Techniques Flat Foundation Brush, Sigma F80.

3. How To Apply Liquid Foundation With a Sponge?

The last and final technique is to use a good latex free sponge like the Beauty Blender or Real Techniques Miracle Sponge. These once get saturated under running water becomes double its size and it can be used by squeezing out excess water. Pour some liquid foundation on the back of your hand or mixing plate and dip the damp sponge not wet never use wet sponge and start pouncing on the face and neck for a flawless looking airbrushed finish. This is super quick and efficient once you get the hang of it.

How To Apply Cream Foundation

Again you can use fingers or brushes or sponges.

How To Apply Stick Foundation

I find stick foundations blend seamlessly with a damp latex free sponge.

How To Apply Powder Foundation

Powder foundations apply beautifully with brushes like the Real Techniques Buffing Brush, Zoeva 102 Silk Finish Face Brush, Zoeva 104 Buffer Brush. These brushes are dense and they apply the powder makeup foundation flawlessly without looking cakey. If you want to lightly dust powder on top then use a fluffy powder brush.

How To Apply Mineral Foundation

Mineral foundations work best with dense brushes and you will need to pick only very little product on the brush bristles. If you want fuller coverage opt for a brush like Sigma F80. For a light coverage opt for fluffy powder brushes.

How To Use a Spray On Foundation

Even though this type of foundations can be sprayed onto the face directly they still need to be blended out with a brush for a more flawless and even finish. I like to use a stippling brush for a polished, natural finish like the Sigma F15 Duo Fiber Brush. For fuller coverage again use a dense brush like the Sigma F80.

Makeup Foundations I recommend for you!

I have a few foundation recommendations that you guys can check out-

Liquid Foundation

Cream Foundation

Stick Foundation

Powder Foundation

Mineral Foundation

Spray On Foundation

Hope you enjoyed reading the post as much as we did writing this. Also share it with your friends who are getting into makeup as it might help them out.
Let me know your thoughts in the comments section below.
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See you in my next post. Until then, stay beautiful.

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Welcome to MakeUp Martini! My name is Pavithra and I run this website. I am an Ex-IT Techie, a Fashion Stylist and a Professional MakeUp Artist. I love everything related to beauty and fashion. Here you will find beauty reviews, product swatches, makeup tutorials, fashion inspirations and many more.