How Do You Apply Liquid Foundation?

[Anonymous]

I’ve tried different ways and sometimes it just seems I can’t get it on right and looks blochy and cracky on my skin but some days I can get it looking good. Certain foundations I’ve tried too don’t seem like they cover my acne scars and red as good and I can’t used the green or pink color correctors because Everytime I do once I apply my foundation those color correctors make my face look cracky... even with just plain concelor it does too. It’s so frustrating.

[thewickedone]

I love using the KVD foundation brush or the Real Techniques sponge!

[Anonymous]

@Anonymous Hi!  I read through your posts and had a couple of thoughts.  First, I was thinking that for skincare (in addition to the serums someone else recommended) that you might want to add a drop or two of face oil to your moisturizer to help with any dryness.  Make sure your moisturizer is fully absorbed before starting with any makeup. 

I personally like using a blender as brushes irritate my skin which is not a good look. Make sure the blender is damp but wring all the excess water out of it. If it’s too wet your foundation will be too sheer.   I put my foundation on the back of my hand and then dab it onto my skin with a finger. I then use the blender to smooth it out.  Always start in the middle of your face and work your way out.  I usually do around my nose out to my cheekbones then my chin and jaw and then my forehead. After that I go all along the edge to make sure that there’s no telltale lines. 

Lastly, I think you may be applying too much foundation at once.  Try applying a lighter layer from start to finish and then if you still need more coverage, repeat in those areas.  Personally i use one pump of my foundation for my whole face (about the size of a pea) and I’ll go over certain areas two or three times. Just super thin layers. If I need a lot more coverage in a spot, I dab on my foundation and let it sit there for a minute before smoothing it out.  

Often just a little too much product can cause a lot of caking.  Especially if it’s in an area where there’s a lot of movement. Always try to use the least amount of product from color correction, concealer, foundation, and powder that you can.  If you go in heavy, especially if you’re layering products, it’s going to be pretty noticeable. 

Good luck and hope this helps.  Let us know if you have any success. 

[kvpalo]

Hey lovely! You probably have already had this thought, but just in case you haven't you might need to work on your base a bit (skincare+primer) to stop the issue of cracking. Serums have 100% saved my skin, combined with a good primer to create what I like to call "an even playing field" will have you feeling less cracked/cake-y in no time. Do you have a go-to or consistent skin care routine? If not the lovely ladies at Sephora can help you set one up, or feel free to reply back to me!

[Anonymous]

I was having a problem with my skin recently with breaking out all the time and having a few dry/itchy patches that eventually went away and yet I decided to go to the dermatologist and he prescribed me this stuff that I use after washing my face and he gave me a list of brands to use for face wash and moisturizers so I went with Aveeno face wash and I use Cerave for moisturizer... he said to use stuff in a jar for moisturizer because those are better anyways my skin seems to be doing better but I still think not 100% as for the foundation after I do that I use a primer and I apply my foundation. My face is sensitive and can easily breakout it seems so I have to be careful when switching products and it sucks so it makes me never wanna try anything but also doesn’t help there is sooo much stuff out there to choose from lol. what is a serum? I’ve heard the name but i don’t really anything about it

[kvpalo]

It sounds like you're having a difficult time. I'm glad you went to see a dermatologist, hopefully things improve soon with their recommendations. A serum is typically a light weight moisturizer that helps you to treat skin with activite ingredients while retaining moisture. Although a serum (in my opinion) can not replace your moisturizing step, because a face lotion/ cream hydrates the surface while also creating a protective barrier. If you want to incorporate a serum into your face routine it actually goes after toning, before moisturizing. You want to go from lightest to heaviest so that everything will work as intended. I typically use Hyaluronic acid + B5, wait 2-5 minutes for my face to dry and then follow up with Niacinamide + zinc, both of these are now being made popular by the brand "The Ordinary" as they are effective and affordable. In the evening I use a Vitamin C serum(the complex I use makes your skin sensitive to sun). Although "The Ordinary" also carries vitamin C formulas, I will be switching over to this brand when my current serums are done. All of that said, keep in mind that your skin and varying products all carry a different pH, so to avoid possibly counteracting anything you should definitely stick to what your Dermatologist recommend. *I am not a Sephora employee, or medical professional just a girl who loves skincare*

[purplerain1582]

Are you moisturizing and then using a primer? Let your moisturizer sink in and then apply the primer. Once that dries and sinks in, then apply concealer for red areas and blend. Then I suggest adding foundation only where you need it and blend it out with a brush or sponge. The primer should help you with being as light handed as possible which would prevent it from looking cakey. I really like Makeup Forever full coverage concealer because it’s thick, blendable, and provides good coverage. 

[Anonymous]

Yeah I use a moisturizer and also primer. I have let both of them dry and it doesn’t help. 

[maria108]

I use both a flat topped kabuki style brush and a beauty blender. I start by pumping foundation into my hand or a mixing pallet (I use an old candle top). I dip my brush into the foundation and stipple it onto my face (almost a stenciling motion). Once everything is covered I switch to buffing motions with the flat part of the brush against my face. Then I take a damp beauty blender and press the foundation into my skin with a rolling motion. Sometimes I put a couple drops of face oil onto the beauty blender first. If I still have cakiness after that (some foundations do tend to look more cakey than others) I will cover my beauty blender in a single ply of tissue paper and buff over the cakey spots in circular motions. Hope this helps!

[JGSFLA]

I have melasma and the only foundation that covers it is Cover Mark.

[Anonymous]

But how do you apply foundation? With a brush? with a blender? and do you just dab it on or what?

[Anonymous]

I use a very cheap beauty blender I get at Walmart or Target. I find those better then the ones in makeup lines at places like Ulta or Sephora. I found one by E.L.F. It's so NICE! I have the Fenty Beauty foundation and concealer at the moment, and the blender applies on my face like a dream! Or sometimes, for foundation, I use a stipple brush for application, once again, another cheap product. Sometimes, cheap products are the BOMB! 

[Anonymous]

Yes! I have a cheap blender I bought off Amazon that I love but I go back and forth between that or a have a stipple brush too. I just am not sure how to use the brushes as much as I should? I like dab the fountain all over/on with the brush well even with the blender because I feel like if I try any other way it doesn’t look as good and sometimes even dabbing doesn’t look good. I just need to learn how to apply the foundation with brushes or blender because I suck at it lol. But like do you apply the foundation on your face in certain areas too and then dab away or do you apply to your hand and someone pick some of it up onto brush and then apply all over face? I’ve tried both and I find it easier to apply directly to face and then start spreading all over.