Foundation: The Building Block of Makeup Success

What do houses and makeup have in common? Foundation. Think about it, every house needs a good foundation to support it and build from. The same is true for the foundation we use everyday. It provides us with an even, strong and healthy look that supports the powerful effect of eyeshadow, lipstick, and everything in-between. Now that we all understand the importance of a good foundation, let’s discuss the proper application to make our face more powerful than a bomb shelter.

Prep Work
After you’ve finished your daily skin care mantra (cleanse, tone, moisturize), it is time to add foundation. Notice this step comes BEFORE the concealer stage. In some cases, a good stick or cream foundation can double as a concealer. Talk about convenient! To find the right shade for you, take some of the tester bottle while at the store and streak across your lower jaw. A good color will blend into your skin giving you an illusion of nothing being there. This would be a good time to insert Maybelline’s “Maybe she’s born with it” slogan.

Rub It In, Rub It In
 
Time to apply. Dot your foundation (either in a solid or liquid form) onto blemishes on your face, or patches where the skin may be darker or redder. The theory of foundation is to make the skin look even and flawless. A lot of problem areas on the face include under the eyes, around the nose and around the corners of your mouth. If your foundation comes off on your clothes, you’re using too much. Remember: A little dab will do ya!

Start from the middle of your face where you applied the dabs of foundation and move outward. Move in circular motions with a finger or a sponge. Finish with downward strokes, making sure the face looks clean and natural. Makeup? Shut up! I’m not wearing a thing!

Tips and Tricks
Brushes: Brushes can come in very handy when applying foundation. The best kind to is a synthetic brush. Use a long and tapered brush for blending it into the corner of your eyes.

What’s that smell? If your foundation starts to exert a funny smell or the texture changes, it’s time to bid farewell. A good time frame for liquid foundation is to keep between 3 and 6 months without it going bad. Compacts last from 6-9 months.

Mixing: When trying to find the right color and you’re stuck between two shades, go for the darker one. If you choose to apply powder after foundation, it will make the shade lighter. Don’t be afraid to mix and match as well. Mix 2, 3, or however many shades you want in the palm of your hand and then apply the new shade to your face. Foundation should make you even more beautiful than you already are, but without making you look like everyone else. Mix and match your unique shade and then name the new color after yourself, such as “the new Jane Doe out of this world foundation!” Just be sure to pass some of the profits my way for helping give you the idea.