Expert Tips on How to Apply Foundation

Mastering the art of how to apply foundation takes time – especially with liquid formulas, which demand a little more finesse to achieve a radiant, smooth base. Between your technique and choice of finish, there’s a lot to consider in order to get the perfect end result. The key to an immaculate look includes finding the right makeup products, securing the ideal foundation shade and ensuring your application is smooth. This process can certainly be daunting, but we are here to help. Follow our step-by-step guide to learn how to use liquid foundation like an expert, ensuring flawless application every time.

This is a crucial step in how to apply liquid foundation – but one that is easily overlooked. Matching your foundation formula to your skin type can make or break your finished look. Lancôme Australia’s Beauty Director, Lara Srokowski, shares her thoughts:

“When it comes to our skin, some liquid foundation formulas are just going to play better than others. For example, dry skin tends to ‘drink’ a liquid matte formula, which further dries out the skin and causes your foundation to crumble and flake throughout the day. Meanwhile, a dewy formula can overemphasis shine on oily skin types, with makeup sliding off unevenly throughout the day.”

As a general guide, dewy liquid formulas work best with dry skin types, delivering a burst of hydration and radiance. Oily skin types can reach for matte and non-comedogenic formulas, which will control shine without clogging pores. Combination skin types may benefit from semi or lumi matte finishes that offer the best of both worlds. The Teint Idole Ultra Wear range boasts easy-to-wear, long-lasting foundations – in matte and dewy finishes – that adapt throughout the day.

Before we dive into how to put on foundation, you will need to pick the right foundation colour for your skin tone. The best way to find your colour match is to swatch test shades in-store or use our e-shade finder online. Start by identifying your skin tone – deep, medium, light or fair – then your undertone – cool, warm or neutral. This will give you the closest colour match to your complexion.

The Teint Idole Ultra Wear Foundation has more than 45 colour tones to pick from, making it simple to find your perfect shade. This oil-free, matte liquid foundation provides medium- to full-coverage for 24 hours, making it the ideal foundation for oily skin. Teint Idole Ultra Wear Care & Glow Foundation, the collection’s answer to a dewy, light-reflecting formula, is available in 30 blendable shades. This hyaluronic acid-infused formula provides long-lasting radiance and coverage for a wide range of skin tones.

An essential component of how to apply foundation that lasts (and looks flawless) is to ensure the skin underneath is clean and well-nourished. We recommend that you build a skincare routine that’s tailored to your needs, ensuring that you cover three key stages: cleansing, applying serums, and moisturising. Using a cleanser will remove impurities, laying a clean base for your makeup. Targeted serums will help address your individual skin concerns (such as hydration or oil control), and moisturiser will soften the skin surface for more even foundation application.

The best way to apply foundation is to firstly begin the process with a primer, which will help provide a smoother skin surface and give your liquid foundation something to grip onto. Primer (like its setting counterpart) is particularly useful in extending the wear of your foundation look, so this is a must-step if you’re seeking longevity for the day or night. Lancôme’s La Base Pro Face Makeup Primer refines the skin’s texture and diffuses light, visibly reducing imperfections and creating a beautiful base.

In addition to choosing the right formula and laying your base, mastering how to apply liquid foundation hinges on the tool you use: a beauty sponge, foundation brush or your fingers. Your application tool is ultimately your preference, but they will achieve slightly different results. Let’s take a look.

• Sponge: using a damp beauty sponge will give you a flawless, natural-looking finish. Though the sponge allows for great buildability, you will find that this tool absorbs more product than others.
• Brush: a foundation brush offers great precision, but it’s important to choose a flat brush with dense bristles to give you that high control and performance.
• Fingers: some people prefer to simply use their fingers to apply foundation because they get total control and there is little worry of over-using product. Make sure your hands are completely clean to avoid the spread of bacteria.

Now that you have adequately prepped your skin for makeup, how do you apply liquid foundation? Less is more when it comes to foundation application, so the best way to apply foundation is by gradually building your coverage – this gives you total control and helps you avoid a cakey finish. Lara shares her favourite tip for how to put on foundation:

“Take one to two pumps of your foundation on the back of your hand – like your personal paint palette. Then use another finger to dot the foundation over your face. If you apply foundation directly from sponges and brushes, you tend to lose a bit of product in the process and often end up going back in with more product than you need.”

After you have blotted the foundation across your face, take your brush, fingers or beauty sponge and gently blend into the skin using tapping motions. You will want to avoid sweeping movements, as the foundation will not blend well. The key is to use pressing movements across the face, jaw and neck to deliver a seamless finish.

Whilst learning how to apply liquid foundation, look to the professional makeup artists for guidance. They have a number of tricks up their sleeves to hold your makeup and set your look into place. We recommend applying a light dusting of setting powder over a thin tissue pressed to your face. This will let an inkling of powder through for the most natural of looks without completely mattifying the skin. If your skin is on the drier side, you can try Lancôme's Fix It Forget It Spray for a makeup-setting mist that holds for 24 hours.