We may earn a commission if you buy something from any affiliate links on our site.
What is every pro’s top secret for how to apply foundation? Execute it without a trace. “I want people to say, 'Oh my god, your skin looks amazing!' not, ‘Your foundation is so great,’” makeup artist and brand founder Violette explains. And while finding the perfect formula is half the battle, once you have it, making like Houdini and ensuring it vanishes into your complexion is just as crucial. Here, in-demand makeup artists share their fine-tuned tips for how to apply foundation and achieve that ever-elusive, second-skin finish.
Create a Glowing Canvas
Clean and moisturized skin is a no-brainer, but to really supercharge your glow, begin with a hydrating mask and follow it up with a lymphatic facial massage. When makeup artist Nina Park works with clients such as Zoë Kravitz and Bella Hadid, she begins with a sheet mask specifically targeted to their skin type, with ingredients such as rose to combat oiliness, aloe to treat dryness, and green tea to soothe inflammation. After masking, gently massage your moisturizer into the skin to boost circulation and reduce puffiness. “It creates a natural flush that makes the face look more awake,” says makeup artist Kira Nasrat, who helps give Jessica Alba that perpetually luminous complexion.
Prime as Needed
To prime or not to prime? It’s an eternal question for amateurs and pros alike. While Violette typically skips the extra base step in the interest of using as little product as possible, when applied correctly, it can prolong foundation for all-day wear. “I use an anti-shine primer for hotspots like the forehead, hairline, sides of nose, and around the mouth, and then a sheer, illuminating one for the tops of the cheekbones,” explains Park, adding that she applies each with her fingertips.
.jpg)
Pick the Right Formula
Beauty is Boring makeup artist and photographer Robin Black says that while newer generations of powder foundations can give you that second-skin look, they only do so for certain skin types such as oily skin. For fool-proof application, she recommends using a liquid foundation. “Liquid tends to offer more options when it comes to natural finishes and level of coverage.”
Skip out on a full-coverage foundation and go for something more lightweight. The best foundation is the one that suits your skin type. For example, those with oil skin will want something that controls the excess oil and gives a matte finish whereas those dry skin will want a hydrating formula. We like something like the bareMinerals Original Pure Serum Radiant Natural Liquid Foundation Mineral SPF 20 which is packed with nourishing skincare ingredients such as hyaluronic acid and water lily extract to plump and soothe skin while also providing medium coverage. Plus it has a lovely radiant finish for that natural glowy look.
Apply From the Center and Move Outward
Only apply foundation where it’s really necessary, insists Violette, who counts Estée Lauder Futurist Hydra Rescue Moisturizing Foundation with SPF 45 among her favorites. “Start in the center of the face, on the apples of the cheeks, and slowly blend out,” she instructs, adding that another key part of the face is the area around the mouth, which is prone to yellow undertones and shadows.
Black says to apply four dabs of foundation to the center of your cheeks, the low center of your forehead, and the center of your chin. From there, you’ll want to blend from the center of your face toward the edges, making sure you also blend the underside of your jawline and the top of your neck. (If your hair is going to be pulled back, she also recommends sweeping some product across your ears). “This technique helps keep most of the coverage in the center of the face where you are more likely to want it and it provides a very even base without the dreaded ‘foundation buildup’ along the hairline,” says Black.
To ensure the foundation looks as natural as possible, Violette often skips the bridge of the nose—letting freckles show through for those who have them—and the corners of the nostrils, so the pigment doesn’t cling to dry patches.
.jpg)
.jpg)
Don’t Paint, Buff
Foundation application is very important when wanting to avoid that cakey makeup look. No matter which makeup brush you’re using—a foundation brush, a BeautyBlender, or your fingers—buffing (or bouncing, if you’re using a makeup sponge) the foundation into your skin as opposed to “painting” it on to build coverage smoothly and avoid streakiness, says Park.
Less Is More
A good rule of thumb for how much product to use: Use less and blend more. “A good foundation formula doesn’t require much product to even out your complexion,” explains Black. After blending it in, she likes to press the palms of her hands into her face; she says the warmth of your hands and this gentle pressure will create a seamless and natural-looking finish.
Place Strategically Over Acne
While it’s common practice to apply concealer with blemishes, Black says that you can opt for your foundation too thanks to new formulas that will mattify your skin and help your skin breathe. But skincare prep is key when you have oily skin and you want to cover these pesky breakouts. You’ll want to use something that is oil-free, non-comedogenic, and lightweight so you don’t clog pores. Then use a primer to grip the foundation to the acne and provide a protective layer. She says to opt for semi-matte or velvet finish foundations like the Sisley-Paris Phyto-Teint Eclat which has a nice blurring effect with buildable coverage.
Add a Healthy Flush
If you’re going to add a swish of blush, consider the “sunburn blush” strategy to warm up the skin. “It really brings something that’s fresh and genuine to the look,” says Park of the TikTok-beloved technique, wherein blush is applied across the cheeks and the bridge of the nose. “It gives an effortless summer feeling as if you were laying out for a few hours and then quickly got changed for dinner,” adds Violette.
Strobe Wherever the Sun Hits
For dimension, blend highlighter into the high planes of the face that catch light naturally, such as the cheekbones, temples, and Cupid’s bow. “I’m not a fan of powder highlighters because it looks a bit fake to me,” says Violette. “Creamy balm textures will give you a dewiness as if you’re not wearing any products.”
Blot, Then Set
First, sop up excess oil with blotting papers. Then, look to a featherweight translucent powder to seal in foundation and prevent unwanted sheen. “Use a brush to apply it very lightly and only to the areas that get the most shiny,” says Nasrat, adding that the leftover luster is what will really drive home that second-skin guise. Silky smooth and even-toned, with just the right amount of lit-from-within dewiness, that's how you execute believably perfect skin.
Should you use a setting spray or setting powder? Black says this is a personal decision. “I am not a fan of those intense, rather sticky setting sprays but I do keep a floral mist in my refrigerator for hot summer days,” she says. “It's debatable whether I am ‘setting’ my makeup or just enjoying a refreshing final touch.”
Adjust According to the Weather
One last thing to keep in mind, Black recommends changing up your foundation as the weather changes; what your skin needs at different temperatures may vary. “I always have at least three different formulas of foundation in my personal kit: a sheer tinted serum, a hydrating formula with light to medium buildable coverage, and a semi-matte for events, on camera, or just days when I need a little extra boost. Depending on what my skin is asking for, I combine them with a variety of skincare prep, primers, or concealers,” she says.
But in the end, there is no real wrong way to apply foundation. Even with these helpful tips, you have to do what you feel is right. “There really is no ‘one size fits all’ when it comes to foundation,” she says. “Try as many formulas as you have patience for and see what looks good and feels comfortable for you.”
