Foundation – or more, the entire art of perfecting your skin is the most important part of the whole process of applying makeup. Today we’re going back to the basics and talking about the 3 biggest mistakes to avoid when applying your foundation. Let’s face it – throwing on some lipstick or mascara isn’t really rocket science…but making your skin look both natural and flawless, well – that’s another story. Here’s what you shouldn’t be doing!

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1. You’re not using primer underneath your foundation.

   OK, so welcome to the blogosphere – you’re obviously new around here because I feel like we talk about these all the time! Most people look 110% better with a primer – no seriously, they do! Most primers (Check out my favorite primer for oily skin here) are silicone-based…and silicone is larger than the pore so it’s almost like it creates a “second skin” that helps your makeup to go on smoother and last longer (since the makeup isn’t traveling into the pore). Not to mention the fact that a lot of companies are now adding skinvigorating ingredients into their primers to help delay the signs of aging, combat acne – whatever!

2. You’re applying your foundation with your fingers or a sponge.

   I’m sure most of you are longtime finger users – that’s all  about to change though! The reason foundation brushes (check out my favorite foundation brush here) are so superior is because they blend your foundation effortlessly and use much less product. This obviously leads to a smoother, more natural finish – and a lot less money down the drain! The biggest issue with sponges is that they tend to only be good for stippling product into areas for extra coverage; they have a lot of issues with blending out those tight edges – not to mention the fact that blending can take forever with a sponge! Finally, to finish this up, the reason you don’t want to use your hands is because all too often the heat from your hands causes your foundation to oxidize and change color (not to mention the amount of product wasted when you slather it on with your hands) – that being said, are you going to break your bad hand habit?

3. You’re applying concealer under and not over your foundation

   This one doesn’t make sense to me – you’re putting concealer on the areas you’re most concerned with then going over the whole face once again with foundation…don’t you think that’s a little bit pointless? When you apply your foundation over your concealer you’re adding extra layers of coverage where it might not be needed – which means a heavier, less natural finished look. The key to perfecting the art of foundation is to apply a light layer of foundation first (remember, if you need more coverage you can always mix your concealer and foundation) and then to follow-up with concealer on the areas that need it most.

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Were you guilty of one of these foundation mistakes?

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