Pro Makeup Tips For The Best Foundation of Your Life
September 19 | 3 minute read
Words by Ruby Devlin
As any beauty lover will tell you, mastering this kind of seamless ‘skin-like’ blend is truly an artform.
So in an effort to learn everything we could about achieving a flawless base, we tapped two of MECCA’s top MUA’s and asked, ‘What’s the secret to the best foundation of your life?’
This is what they told us…
SKIN PREP MAKES PERFECT
“Remember that everything under your base will affect your final product,” explains MECCA Makeup Education Lead, Leanne. “So make sure that your skincare is tailored to your specific skin type.”
This means that any primers you layer on top can “focus solely” on targeting specific concerns, like mattifying oiliness or smoothing texture.
TAKE NOTE OF YOUR FACE
Once your skin is prepped, Makeup Education Lead Sally advises not to rush when applying your base.
“Instead, look at your skin with nothing on it (except skincare!) in natural lighting. Where does the light reflect and in which areas? It’s often the cheekbones, the top of the brow, the inner corner of the eye, the bridge of the nose and across the nostrils,” she explains.
Adds Sally, “Your challenge is to apply your complexion products while retaining that natural reflection and texture of skin.”
IF YOU’RE NOT STARTING WITH ‘PERFECT’ SKIN, SCRUNCH FIRST
“If you have texture or fine lines, I recommend scrunching up your face before applying your base products,” advises Sally. “This way, you can see where you have movement and where your product will most likely to crease.
“Think about it – foundation is supposed to even out skin tone, it's not supposed to completely smooth texture,” she continues. “The thinner the formula and the application, the better.”
Adds Leanne, “Less is more. Work in layers and blend rather than applying a whole lot of product all over the face at once. Opt for more hydrating textures that have medium buildable formulas for a skin-like finish that doesn’t compromise on coverage.”
BRONZE, BLUSH THEN CONCEAL
“When I want makeup to look like skin, I always apply cream bronzers, blush and highlighters and then spot conceal with a tiny eyeshadow or eyeliner brush,” Sally reveals.
“This way you're not overusing your concealer or wiping all your hard work off. Plus, colour products add coverage too. You might find some spots will blend in with your bronzer and don’t require extra concealer,” she adds.
KEEP YOUR NOSE OUT OF IT
When it comes to the centre of your face, Sally advises making sure any product you use is “as sheer as possible”: “As soon as you overload the nose with product, the face starts to look ‘makeup-y’ – the skin there is so thin and reflective and it’s the first thing people see,” she explains.
If you do want some coverage, a touch of concealer or a little bronzer may be enough: “It’ll help ‘settle’ your nose with the rest of your makeup and give it some dimension.”
HELP IT MELT
Leanne’s last step for a flawless base is to blend your makeup once more using your hands: “The warmth of your fingertips helps to ‘fuse’ and melt the foundation in,” she says. “That way it’s sitting with your skin instead of on your skin.”
