e.l.f. Discovery
HOW TO APPLY YOUR FOUNDATION FLAWLESSLY
A great makeup look always starts with a flawless complexion and foundation that looks like second skin. But how do you achieve “prefect” skin? Obviously, we aren’t perfect. However, we can still try! Here are our best tips and tricks on creating a flawless base.
Step 1: Prep Your Skin
The first step to making your foundation look flawless is to start with clean, moisturized skin. Cleanse, exfoliate and moisturize your skin with your favorite skincare. Massage your face moisturizer in with your hands or a gua sha to help bring a fresh glow to your complexion. Try adding a face serum with hyaluronic acid that can help hydrate, plump, and smooth your complexion to give you a soft bouncy look.
Step 2: Prime Your Skin
After prepping your skin, you will want to apply a face primer so that your foundation stays put all day. Face primers can help to even out your complexion, reduce the look of fine lines and wrinkles and can help large pores look less pronounced. Facial primers come in all different forms for all different skin types. Some primers can also help with brightening, giving you the appearance of healthy, glowy skin. Choose a that can help with the glow as well as lock in your makeup. gripping face primer that can help with the glow as well as lock in your makeup.
Step 3: Color Correct Where Needed
Before applying foundation, correct any skin discolorations with color correcting concealers. If you have blue undereye circles, try using an orange color corrector. If you have any redness, use a green color corrector. Places on your skin that are a little too orange (maybe from tanning gone wrong), try a blue color corrector. To apply, dab the color on those areas that need to be corrected and blend well.
Step 4: Apply Foundation
Whether you choose a cream or a liquid foundation in order to get a flawless look, you will want to apply it in very thin layers. After all, less is more. After each layer, let it set for a minute before you add another layer for extra coverage. To get the ultimate airbrushed look, try applying your foundation with a makeup sponge to really press it into the skin and give your skin a filtered effect.
PRO TIP: After each layer, take a clean tissue and gently press it into the skin. This will help press the foundation into the skin while removing any excess moisture or oil. All you’ll be left with is the flawless pigment. You can also do this throughout the day prior to touchups to help your look stay fresh all day.
Step 5: Conceal Where Needed
When applying concealer, use multiple light layers just as you did with the foundation. Use a makeup sponge to get the ultimate second skin look. Dab the concealer where you need it and then use the sponge to pat it into the skin until blended. Once you are done, wipe off the beauty sponge with a clean tissue and then pat again to really press the concealer into the skin and blend it out to perfection.
PRO TIP: When applying concealer under your eyes, do not put the concealer only on the dark under-eye circles. Instead, make an upside-down triangle (similar to clown makeup) going from the inner corner of the undereye across to the outer corner and then down to a point near the side of your nose. This will brighten up your entire complexion as well as disguise any dark circles.
Step 6: Set with Powder
We recommend applying your loose setting powder or a pressed powder to set your makeup. Once your makeup is set, have fun adding color to your face with blush, bronzer, eye makeup, etc.
Step 7: Set Your Makeup with a Setting Spray
It’s time to set your makeup to last all day. Choose a setting spray based on the finished skin texture you are looking for. Face mists and sprays can help you keep your glow, hydrate your skin, and even mattify your skin depending on what look you are going for.