Getting your base right can be an obstacle course, before you even consider how to apply foundation correctly, you first have to find a formula that works with your skin, and the perfect shade for your skin tone.
Of course, TikTok has big opinions on all of the above – weighing up endless application methods, from foundation brushes and blenders, to the techniques promising the most seamless finish. It can get a little noisy, but one way to uncover how the pro makeup artists create the beautifully polished, camera-ready looks for their celebrity clients, is to ask those very pros.
So, we asked two pro makeup artists – Nick Barose, Armani Beauty makeup artist and longtime MUA for Lupita Nyong’o and Melissa Murdick, founder of The Pretty Fix and Selena Gomez’s longtime MUA – to share the application techniques they rely on for a seamless, natural-looking finish. When you know the blueprint to beautiful foundation, it’s actually pretty easy to get a really gorgeous, natural result. “Applying foundation to give your complexion that healthy glow and even tone is less complicated than most tutorials make it seem,” says Barose. Ahead, both share their definitive guide on how to apply foundation, along with the best products to use.
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Skin prep is everything.
We all know by now that the quality of our skin beneath will determine how well our makeup sits on top. If you skin is dry and dehydrated, your foundation won’t sit as seamlessly, so it’s worth tailoring your skin prep to ensure your complexion has everything it needs before you go in with foundation.
“Skin prep is super important before foundation,” confirms Murdick. “The first thing I do is assess what each person’s skin needs. I will literally feel around their face to see if their skin feels dry or oily. From there, I typically clean their skin with a bit of toner and apply a moisturiser that will leave the skin balanced.”