And while foundation can be a useful tool, it’s important to remember this product is meant to make you feel better in your skin—not hide it completely or make you feel more insecure than before. We’re going to walk you through the basic steps professional makeup artists take and how to customize the process to fit your needs. And remember: As professional makeup artist Jenny Patinkin tells mbg, “I don’t think there’s any right or wrong way to apply foundation, as long as you are happy with the end result.” However, if you want to level up your pre-glam routine, here are a few products that might help you achieve even better results: Some primers are formulated to help your makeup stay put, while others boost hydration, and some help mattify an oily complexion. Here’s a quick list of the best ingredients to keep in mind for your goal: First, you want to know what finish you want, and then keep an eye out for the type of product that can help you achieve your coverage goals. In general, powder formulas will offer a mattifying effect, while liquid formulas can be dewy or matte. Here’s a quick breakdown to keep in mind: The most popular of the bunch for everyday wear is liquid foundation. “Liquid has a lot of versatility,” celebrity and editorial makeup artist Delina Medhin tells mbg. “You can make it really thin so it’s almost like a tinted moisturizer,” she adds. If you don’t love the idea of wearing liquid foundation every day but enjoy a bit more coverage, concealer can work wonders while feeling a bit lighter on the skin—more on that to come. So, if you’re using a product like a tinted SPF but you want it to mask as more coverage, apply it straight to the skin. If you’re using a full-coverage foundation but want to nail a no-makeup makeup look, then apply the product to a blending tool first. When you start, you’ll want to begin with a thin layer. This will help even out your skin tone and gauge how much more coverage you need and in what areas. Try to keep the foundation out of the eyebrows and the under eyes (the latter if you plan on using concealer after). Whether you’re looking for a matte or dewy finish, the less product you can have on the skin, the better. Remember: It’s always better to start out small and apply more if you need it rather than have to start over because you applied more than you fancy. If there are certain areas that you want to go over again, then add a bit more foundation to your tool or use your hands to blend it in. For example, you may want to build more coverage around the nose if that area gets red, or on the cheeks if you deal with hyperpigmentation. Adding another layer of foundation isn’t necessary by any means, but if you feel it will make you feel better about your skin, it can certainly help. For covering breakouts, you may opt for concealer instead. So, don’t worry if your acne is coming through your foundation base, as concealer formulas tend to be higher coverage and easier to use for masking breakouts. How you apply concealer and where you choose to conceal is up to you. However, that’s a whole other topic—so check out this guide for more details. “It’s also helpful to remember that powder products blend better on top of powder and cream products work best with other cream products,” Patinkin adds.
