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How To Apply Foundation the Right Way

By Julyne Derrick, About.com

How to Apply Foundation
The right foundation will even out your skin tone & give you the appearance of flawless skin. But you have to do it right, otherwise you risk looking like a ... clown. Follow these steps for a flawless complexion.
Difficulty: Easy
Time Required: 2 minutes

Here's How:

  1. Begin with clean hands and a clean face
  2. Apply a moisturizing sunscreen that's perfect for your skin type. All foundations will go on more smoothly if the skin is well-hydrated.
  3. Let the moisturizer set for a few minutes.
  4. Wipe off any excess moisturizer with a tissue. Greasy skin will make the foundation slip and slide.
  5. Camouflouge your dark, under-eye circleswith a concealer.
  6. Using a makeup sponge or the tips of your fingers, apply dots of foundation on your cheeks, chin, forehead and tip of the nose.
  7. Using the sponge or your fingertips, blend the dots together. Pay special attention to your hairline and jawline to ensure there's no obvious line where the foundation abruptly stops.
  8. Set the foundation with loose powder immediately after application.

Tips:

  1. You don't have to put foundation all over your face. Try spot-fixes for those areas that need coverage (likely around your eyes & nose & on your chin).
  2. Don't want to go all out with a foundation? Tinted moisturizers may be all you need if your complexion is dewy, but you want a light, sheer wash to even out blotchiness. My favorite tinted moisturizer is by Bobbi Brown. Compare Prices
  3. The tips of your fingers work well, but I like to use a sponge. Make sure & wash out the sponge well so it doesn't start harboring all sorts of nasty bacteria. These Wonderpro sponges are cheap & work perfectly. Compare Prices

What You Need:

  • 1 makeup sponge
  • foundation for your skin type
  • concealer
  • moisturizing sunscreen

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