Base Camp: 4 Australian Influencers Share Their Routines for Flawless Foundation
May 26 | 4 minute read
Words by Danielle Gay
In a sea of filtered photos, unboxing videos and blink-and-you'll-miss-it algorithms, it’s hard to tell which foundation formulas your favourite influencers actually use. We went straight to the source: four Australian influencers aged from 30 something through to their 70s, and their makeup bags – no ring light necessary.
Bookmark their signature prep-and-set techniques, as well as their top shelf options for the right kind of coverage, every time. You won’t find this on your #FYP...
Jhyll Teplin (@lifewithjhyll)
Melbourne-based actor and digital creator Jhyll Teplin has built a loyal audience thanks to her unfiltered content about beauty, ageing and personal style. Now in her seventies, Teplin approaches makeup through the lens of skin-forward luminosity rather than heavy coverage: “My wrinkle-shminkles look tired with flat, matte makeup,” she says.
Some of Teplin’s favourite foundation formulas include Victoria Beckham Beauty The Foundation Drops with TFC8® (applied following serum, moisturiser and an SPF), or a thin layer of NARS Natural Matte Longwear Foundation. “Heavy foundation settles into my lines fast,” she explains, adding that well-hydrated skin is non-negotiable: “Tatcha Luminous Dewy Skin Mist gives my skin the extra boost of hydration it needs during the day.”
For extra glow, Teplin uses cream blushes and highlighters: “[They] move with my skin instead of sitting on top. Too much powder is ageing – I only lightly dust where needed.”
Carol Green (@carol_green_dancer_model)
Influencer, ballet dancer and model Carol Green – who entered the Melbourne fashion scene at the age of 60 – considers her foundation routine as a method for maintaining a healthy complexion, with skincare benefits at its core. Shiseido is a forever favourite (she’s been using it since the 1970s), with the brand’s Revitalessence Skin Glow Foundation a hero on her top shelf. “Its hydrating formula prevents my skin from feeling tight and it doesn’t settle into any fine lines,” she explains.
To prep her second-skin glow, Green reaches for Go-To’s Very Glowy Primer: “It hydrates and has hyaluronic acid which helps my skin feel dewy.” To set, Green applies a light dusting of setting powder diffused with a large, fluffy brush. “I do just the T-zone. I focus on tapping rather than sweeping so as not to upset my foundation,” she explains.
Credit: Alisa Poturaeva
Ruchi Page (@ruchipage)
Melbourne-based beauty writer, model and content creator Ruchi Page is a self-confessed reformed sceptic on priming before foundation. What changed her mind? Charlotte Tilbury Charlotte’s Magic Cream, a generous slather of which now starts her makeup routine. “As a former ‘I don’t believe in priming skin’ person, I will now admit my fault,” she jokes.
“My foundation choice heavily depends on the weather,” Page adds. “I find the NARS Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturiser and Summer Fridays Sheer Skin Tint to be the top picks for a ‘my-skin-but-better’ base. These are ideal for warmer and sweatier months where I still want to look even toned and luminous, not oily.”
For the cooler months, she switches to Anastasia Beverly Hills Luminous Foundation for a soft-focus finish.
To extend wear time, Page – who’s in her thirties – underpaints with concealer and then applies a small amount of foundation where it’s needed: “I warm product on the back of my hand first by dispersing a couple of pumps, then use a dense brush to push product into skin and buff in circular motions.”
Paula Joye (@paulajoye)
Former magazine editor (and forever skin authority) Paula Joye needs little introduction – and we’ll never pass up the opportunity to quiz her on her beauty routine! “It’s always a rotation,” Joye tells the MECCA Memo of her approach to foundation: “I like a dewy, glowy finish, so I am always on the hunt for new products that amp up this vibe.”
Right now, she’s loving Charlotte Tilbury’s Unreal Skin Sheer Glow Tint Hydrating Foundation Stick and Victoria Beckham Beauty The Foundation Drops with TFC8® – both of which she applies on top of a big splash of rhode Glazing Milk Ceramide Facial Essence. “It’s the perfect base for older skin – it doesn’t pill, just plumps,” says Joye, who is now in her fifties, adding, “Also a big fan of rosewater spray before and after application; Mario Badescu is brilliant, and Chantecaille for a luxe treat.”
Joye’s foundation choices get a refresh throughout the year – but not in the way you might think: “I usually have the same foundation in two different shades – one a touch darker. I mix them together to work with skin changes like redness, fake tan and fatigue.”
