The Proper Way to Apply Liquid FoundationFoundation can seem a bit tricky at first if you are a newbie in makeup application, but fear not.

The name “foundation” itself is quite self-explanatory; foundation is the base of your entire face of makeup. Think of it as a blank canvas, really. The start of any gorgeous masterpiece. Perfectly, seamless, natural foundation is the secret to the start of any beautiful makeup look.

So, thinking of my fellow makeup-lovers that are just starting out, here are the secrets for a flawless foundation application. These are the 3 easiest ways on how to apply liquid foundation.

General tips and tricks

First things first, you need to make sure you have found the perfect foundation for you. Pay attention to skin tone, undertones, and skin type to find your best match. Find your favourite product in the formulation of your preference, it being liquid, cream or powder, in the finish and in the right coverage for you.

Now remember, always remember: foundation is not supposed to be a mask on your face. This is extremely important. In this case, less is more. Foundation’s aim is to even out uneven skin tone, not covering your every flaw. That’s what concealer is for. Pay more attention primarily to the specific areas of your face that need the most coverage, and blend the remaining from those areas toward the rest of the face. By using less product, you are going to get a better, more natural result instead of the so feared cake-face. Natural is what you want to go for. If you do find you need a lot of coverage or if you prefer that type of look, find a product with great pigment payoff so that less product grants you more coverage while still looking like skin.

Ok, Tip number one: find a good primer. Primer can make worlds of difference in the way your foundation looks, while making it last longer. There are a number of different primer formulations out there, find the one that suits you.Tip number two: set your foundation. This is going to make it last all day while still looking like you just put it on. This mainly applies to cream and liquid foundation, since powder foundation stays put more easily. Rule of thumb is, you set your foundation with a powder, be it tinted or translucent. This is very important if you have oily skin since the oils in your face disrupt the makeup, so you can skip this step if you have dry skin. Powder will mattify your complexion, and make the foundation stay put for longer. You can even set it with a powder foundation for an extra kick of coverage.

The different ways to apply liquid foundation

There are numerous ways you can apply liquid foundation, but I’m going to focus on the three easiest ways. They all differ in the tool of choice: your fingers, a brush or a sponge. These methods also apply to cream formulations.

Applying with your fingers

That’s right; believe it or not, you were born with of the best tools of them all your hands. Your fingers have the advantage of being warm, slightly melting the product through touch, further blending it onto your skin. Plus, their free! Who doesn’t love Mother Nature after all?

Apply the product where you need it and spread it throughout your face with circular motions. Pat the product into the skin to avoid streak marks, using your ring finger on more delicate areas such as the under eye zone because it’s the finger that applies the least amount of pressure.

Though many people prefer this technique, it can be hard to achieve a flawless look in little time because you do have to put an effort in seamlessly blending the foundation, which wouldn’t happen if you used a tool, say, a brush or a makeup sponge, that does the work for you.

Applying with a makeup brush

Yes, brushes. The greatest invention in the makeup realm. They are the ultimate tool in makeup application, and if you find the right one, it will blend the foundation impeccably for you.

There are mainly 3 kinds of foundation brushes available : the one I like to call a “paddle” brush, the duo-fiber brush and the buffer brush. I personally dislike paddle brushes because they are known for leaving streak marks on your skin.

For duo-fiber and buffer brushes, the best way is to stipple the product on while slightly buffing it in circular motions. This technique minimizes the appearance of pores and lines and results in a flawless finish.

Some good brushes can be expensive, and cheap brushes can be of poor quality, so it is tricky to find the right one, but once you do, you’ll be thanking the heavens.

Applying with a sponge

Sponges are your best friend. Most of them are cheap and don’t leave any streak marks, while doing all the blending for you.

My tip is to invest in a beauty blender type sponge. They are a type of sponge that increases size when wet, and there are plenty of cheaper dupes out there that work the same.

Wet the sponge to prevent it from absorbing too much product, then pat the foundation onto the skin evenly where you need the most coverage. This technique will let you apply liquid foundation smoothly with a natural texture and minimal effort.

Beauty blender-like sponges are reusable as long as you regularly clean them, while the standard triangular shaped cosmetic sponges are not. Change these out every once in a while to prevent harmful break-out causing bacteria developing in them.

So there you have it! These are the easiest, more accessible ways how to apply liquid foundation I have come across. Do you have a favorite way of applying foundation? Let us know in the comments!