A question that I get asked often.....
"How should I apply my foundation?"
Firstly, I'd like to say that there isn't really a 'wrong' way to do makeup.
There are, however, things you can do to make application easier and give a better/smoother result, so that's what I'm talking about here.
You can apply foundation with your hands, a sponge or a brush (or a trowel in some cases ;p) and it's mostly personal preference as to what you use, but the type of foundation you use might determine what's best.
So, whichever implement you choose to use, make sure it's clean to start with - you don't want to go rubbing bacteria, crusty makeup and old face-grease back into your skin do you? That's exactly what you're doing every time you use your makeup-encrusted brush or sponge that used to be cream but is now a browny/orange colour! Gross, I know! You should really try and wash your brushes once a week to keep them in good condition and nice and fresh, sponges every few days. Use an anti-bacterial soap, rinse well, gently squeeze excess water out then lie flat to dry overnight on a clean towel.
Applying Your Makeup:
If you're using your fingers, the warmth from your hands will warm up the foundation and make it that bit easier to blend into your skin. You can apply cream, mousse or liquid foundation this way. Be gentle, especially around your eyes, and use your fingertips to stroke the makeup over and blend in into your skin, not drag your face around! Using your fingers will generally give a full coverage and can be hard to ensure everything's gone on evenly.
If you use a sponge the same follows: Smooth don't drag the makeup over your skin, not forgetting to blend around the edges of your face. Use a sponge for creams, mousse, liquid or powder. Sponges will suck up more makeup than brushes or your fingers, so they can be a waste of foundation and are harder to control the amount of makeup you end up putting on your face. They are also harder to clean properly.
Using a brush is by far my preferred method - it keeps your hands clean, the brushes are easy to wash and if you look after them they will last a long long time!
The classic foundation brush is great for liquid foundations, especially if you like a fuller coverage, and many have a curved or angled edge that make it easy to get right in by your nose and eyes so you don't miss a spot.
The duo fibre brush is my personal favourite. The black bristles are natural and the white synthetic and it makes a little foundation go a long way. Once you're done swirling the brush round your face you're left with an airbrush-like finish as the makeup has been buffed to perfection! What's more these brushes can be used with any type of foundation, wet or dry. You only need a little on the brush and then using gentle circular motions sweep the makeup over your face.
You can also use a blush brush in the same manner - the soft and fluffy bristles will mean that the makeup is dispersed evenly over your skin and is well blended.
There are a lot of good makeup brush suppliers out there now, and although MAC do great brushes, I can also highly recommend Royal & Langnickel and Crown.
So, whichever implement you choose to use, make sure it's clean to start with - you don't want to go rubbing bacteria, crusty makeup and old face-grease back into your skin do you? That's exactly what you're doing every time you use your makeup-encrusted brush or sponge that used to be cream but is now a browny/orange colour! Gross, I know! You should really try and wash your brushes once a week to keep them in good condition and nice and fresh, sponges every few days. Use an anti-bacterial soap, rinse well, gently squeeze excess water out then lie flat to dry overnight on a clean towel.
Applying Your Makeup:
*Gently blend the makeup onto your face, starting at the centre and working outwards - this will help to avoid too much makeup in the hair line or around the jaw line.
*Finish using gentle downwards strokes - smoothing down the tiny hairs on your face so they don't end up pointing in all directions!
If you're using your fingers, the warmth from your hands will warm up the foundation and make it that bit easier to blend into your skin. You can apply cream, mousse or liquid foundation this way. Be gentle, especially around your eyes, and use your fingertips to stroke the makeup over and blend in into your skin, not drag your face around! Using your fingers will generally give a full coverage and can be hard to ensure everything's gone on evenly.
If you use a sponge the same follows: Smooth don't drag the makeup over your skin, not forgetting to blend around the edges of your face. Use a sponge for creams, mousse, liquid or powder. Sponges will suck up more makeup than brushes or your fingers, so they can be a waste of foundation and are harder to control the amount of makeup you end up putting on your face. They are also harder to clean properly.
Using a brush is by far my preferred method - it keeps your hands clean, the brushes are easy to wash and if you look after them they will last a long long time!
The classic foundation brush is great for liquid foundations, especially if you like a fuller coverage, and many have a curved or angled edge that make it easy to get right in by your nose and eyes so you don't miss a spot.
The duo fibre brush is my personal favourite. The black bristles are natural and the white synthetic and it makes a little foundation go a long way. Once you're done swirling the brush round your face you're left with an airbrush-like finish as the makeup has been buffed to perfection! What's more these brushes can be used with any type of foundation, wet or dry. You only need a little on the brush and then using gentle circular motions sweep the makeup over your face.
You can also use a blush brush in the same manner - the soft and fluffy bristles will mean that the makeup is dispersed evenly over your skin and is well blended.
There are a lot of good makeup brush suppliers out there now, and although MAC do great brushes, I can also highly recommend Royal & Langnickel and Crown.
