9 Celebrity Makeup Artists Tell Us Their Foundation Hacks For Flawless Skin

Finding a foundation shade that perfectly matches your face and neck can be called Mission Impossible 2020 edition. After all, the perfectly blended foundation sets the base for you to build on a great beaut look. 

So, we spoke to some of the best celebrity beauty experts in the biz to know their hacks on how to choose the correct foundations as well as the product that they swear by!   

Vidya Tikari

"The trick is to find a product that is the closest to your skin tone. While it is common to test out shade on the wrist or inside of your arm, I suggest applying it on your face to get a better idea. Your perfect foundation should blend so well on that it 'disappears' on your skin.

Expert pick: "The cult product Re(marc)able Full Coverage Foundation by Marc Jacobs is one of my favourite foundations.  I love the velvety smooth texture of this product. It gives really good...full coverage and still looks natural on the skin."

Sonic Sarwate

"A mistake most people make while shopping for foundations is that they try it on their hand or neck for 2-3 minutes which I don’t recommend doing. One must use it all over their face and leave it on for sometime before choosing the correct foundation and colour. Also, never opt for a shade that is lighter or darker – go for the shade which is the closest match to your skin tone."

Expert pick: "My favourite foundation for bridal makeup is MAC Studio Fix Fluid because of its oil-controlling formula that offers a matte finish with medium to full coverage."

Eshwar Log

"The best way to find the correct shade of foundation for your skin tone is to try out foundations below the cheekbone. Avoid trying foundations on the back of your hand or your neck. To get it absolutely accurate try out different shades of foundations and have a look at them in natural light. I swear by this!"

Expert pick: "My go-to foundations would be Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation or Dior Backstage Face & Body Foundation. Both brands have a wide range of shades for Indian skin tones. These foundations leave the skin looking silky and gives the perfect amount of coverage, they also stay up to 8-9 hours."

Arti Nayar

"The best way to pick a foundation is NOT to try the foundation on your hand or on your wrist like people usually do in stores. I think the best way to do this is to take a little bit of foundation and apply it on the lower side of your cheek on a small area. Keep it on for a couple of hours – go to the mall, do your other things and see how the foundation sits on your skin."

Expert pick: "My favourite foundation when it comes to bridal makeup is a brand called TEMPTU which is well-known for its air-brushing foundations and kits. I particularly love the airbrushing foundation because it lasts for many hours without doing a touch-up. So I completely stand by that. But I also do love the Armani and Chanel foundations because they are amazing for people who are not used to airbrush."

Ashima Kapoor 

"I would suggest testing the foundation on your jawline. If the foundation blends into your skin, then it is the correct shade for you."

Expert pick: "I like MAC Studio Fix Fluid Foundation gives enough coverage and is buildable. It is also easy to layer up if you want to get a smooth finish if the need be."

Jordan Liberty 

"I always prefer swatching on the cheek and the warmer one on the jawline. For foundation, I suggest going a little darker and then using a lighter concealer because if you use a lighter product on blemishes they tend to look greyer."

Expert pick: "NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer is pretty much exclusively what I use. It not only has a great texture but is light, has great coverage and is also available in corrective shades perfect for dark spots, hyperpigmentation because they have these orangey tones that help brighten the skin when applied."

Pratiksha Nair

"The best way to choose a foundation that is closest to your skin tone is by applying a little bit on your forehead, cheek and jaw. Then, blend it to see if they match the rest of your face. I always say, trust your eyes and don’t try to go lighter than your closest shade. Our society is obsessed with looking lighter and fairer. But, bear in mind that the lighter the shade you use, the greyer your skin will end up looking."

Expert pick: "I absolutely love Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk foundation for brides and celebrities alike. I am not fond of foundations that have thick consistency because they end up leaving a cakey finish to the face. My style of work involves breathable light makeup. So Luminous Silk helps me achieve that beautiful healthy dewy skin which is very important for me."

Kapil Chauhan 

"I believe there are three steps you need to follow to find the perfect shade.
Firstly, you need to work out whether your skin has warm, pinkish tones or cool, yellow ones. Once you have figured that out, select a few shades of foundation and apply a small amount of each product to your jawline. Then, see your foundation in natural daylight to find out if it's a perfect match."

Expert pick: "I don't have one but two go-to favourite foundations. They both are different in their powers but always get the job done. The first would be MAC Studio Fix Fluid Foundation that also has some SPF in it. It gives great full coverage on the face with a matte finish that lasts more than 8 hours. The shades are just right for the Indian complexion.
My second favourite is the NARS Sheer Glow Foundation. This sheer buildable formulation gives a great natural-looking finish that immaculately evens out the skin tone and leaving it perfectly hydrated. It is also very long-lasting, staying in place for more than 8 hours."

Shraddha Bachani

"It can be pretty tricky choosing a foundation but once you do, it's a match made in heaven! First, start by determining whether the foundation has yellow or peach undertones to accurately find your shade. Products with yellow undertones complement medium to deep Indian skin tones while those with peach undertones are more suited for fairer skin tones."

Expert pick: "The Avon True flawless liquid foundation is definitely my favourite. I like its dewy texture when applied. It is light on the face but still gives good coverage."

So, choose your foundation by going for a tone that matches your own skin the closest. However, for concealer, you need to go a tone lighter for best results.