How to Apply Foundation Like a Makeup artist

Celebrity makeup artist Arti Nayar shares her easy, step-by-step guide to applying a flawless foundation and achieving that ever-elusive, second-skin finish.

22 July, 2020
How to Apply Foundation Like a Makeup artist

A well-applied base with the right foundation is the deciding factor that makes or breaks your makeup look. To discover the key to achieving that elusive, glowing, second-skin finish, we spoke to celebrity makeup artist Arti Nayar, who shared her fine-tuned tips to create the perfect foundation base for your skin. According to her, your prep and prime routine, choice of foundation, selecting the right tone according to your skin and your finishing technique make all the difference. We take you through her step by step guide to choosing and applying foundation like an MUA. Heres what Arti has to say: 

Prep and Prime 

1. The correct way to apply foundation always starts with the correct prep and prime. If you do not prep and prime your skin, the base will not stay for as long as you want and it will not give you the same flawless, dewy effect or the matte effect you desire.

2.  If you don’t prep your skin the right way, your foundation is not going to blend properly.

3. Different skin types require a different kind of prep, as do different weather conditions. You must definitely see where you are and what the weather conditions are like over there. For example, in Mumbai there is a lot of humidity during the monsoon, it gets really hot in summer and there is no particular winter. So for such weather, you should not do a very creamy prep, it should be more gel-based. 

4. Sheet masks are very good for prep and prime for your skin because there is a lot of product in the mask which really seeps into the skin

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sheet mask

Innisfree Sheet Mask, Rs.100 at Nykaa.com 

5.  There are many different types of primers which are to be used according to your skin type ie. gel primers of oily skin,  cream primers for dry skin and your skincare routine primers such as a moisturiser, vitamin C serum etc.

6. Face oils are also a great option to prep and prime, especially in the winter. They also work well if you are going into an air-conditioned room.

Face oil

Farsali Rose Gold Elixir, Rs. 1,850 at Nykaa.com

7. Once you apply your primer, Arti suggests waiting for half an hour before starting your makeup. 


Choice of Foundation

 

8. After your prep and prime, it is very important to decide what kind of foundation you want to use —do you want to use a cream foundation (medium to heavy coverage), a liquid foundation (sheer coverage) or do you want to airbrush (heavy coverage). 

9. The occasion you are going for will determine your choice of foundation and how heavy or light you want to go. For example, if you’re going for brunch, I would suggest using a luminous, liquid foundation that gives you the coverage that you need but also allows the natural texture of the skin to show. If you were going for a wedding, Arti suggests using a slightly heavier foundation with a corrector and concealer, one that you know can last for 8-9 hours. 

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Giorgio Armani Luminous Skin Foundation, Rs. 5,132 at Strawberry.net

Picking the Right Tone 

10. Finding the right shade and tone is a challenge many people face when they buy foundation. Understanding tones is the key to picking a foundation that looks like a second skin. 

11. To pick the right tone of foundation, you need to first understand what your skin tone is— is it yellow-based, does it have a tone of pink in it etc. If you have a tone of yellow, then your foundation should also have a slightly yellowish tint, it will blend better and give you a more natural finish. If your skin has a pinkish tint, then you should opt for a foundation with a slightly pinkish undertone. 

12. A shade with the right undertone makes all the difference between looking like you are wearing foundation or not. Sometimes, when we choose a foundation that is a different tone to our skin, it could look great at first, but it could oxidize in time and become a  slightly warmer, different colour, causing it to look mismatched later.

Powder it up 

13. An important step that people tend to forget for a flawless base is powdering. Especially in India, a country that is hot and high in humidity,  it is very important to apply powder. 

14. In dry heat, there is a common misconception that just foundation is enough. You have natural oils in your skin which do come out after some time. Without powder, your foundation is going to come off every time you touch your skin, causing it to look uneven in a couple of hours. 

15. Powdering with a loose powder and puff or a brush is very very important. It literally seals the foundation in, resulting in an even tone after many hours and helping your foundation last longer.

loose powder

Too Faced Peach Perfect Setting Powder, Rs. 2,400 at Nykaa.com

 So there you have it, everything you need to know about creating the perfect, flawless foundation base. All you need to do is follow Arti's tips, and you can apply foundation like a makeup artist everytime you leave your home.  

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