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What's your favorite way to apply foundation?
What’s your favorite way to apply foundation? Share!
I use finger tips to dab the foundation all over the face, and then I use either Tom Ford’s Foundation Brush or Real Technique’s Expert Face Brush to blend and work the foundation in. Depending on the formula, I typically spritz the brush with water to sheer it out further, then build up coverage just where I need it.
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I put on the foundation and spray a lil bit of water or rose water and blend it. And I am all set with my natural look!
That is such a great idea/method!
Powder foundation: Kabuki brush, in a circular motion, starting with my jawline and under my chin, then my neck, then my T-zone, then lightly on my cheeks. I build up coverage where necessary (usually jaw and under my chin because of acne flair ups).
BB Cream, Liquid Foundation, Cream Foundation, Stick Foundation: Usually just my fingers. I will use a sponge if I need a little extra help blending or the foundation is really thick. I used to use wedge sponges when needed, but now I like the Beauty Blender-type sponges.
I tap some on my forehead, cheeks, nose, chin and neck and blend out and up to blend the sections into each other.
Beauty Blender or Dior Full Coverage brush, depending on the foundation. I love them both.
I do the exact thing as you lol. Except I work in sections around my face since the foundations I prefer tend to set quickly. Dab foundation on, lightly blend it in with my RT expert face brush. I don’t like to use buffing motions too much since it has an exfoliative effect on my skin. Sometimes I like to mist my brush with setting spray to dampen it, giving me more time to work with the foundation and help with longevity.
I’m either using a damp BB or a flat top, dense brush. When I do use a brush, instead of buffing, I press the foundation on in a stamping motion, which pushes the foundation into the skin. I find that buffing just emphasizes any texture issue I’m battling.
I use my fingers to dab and work the foundation into my skin. I then use the Balm’s Blend a Hand brush to buff it in, paying special attention to the area around my nose where my pores tend to look bigger.
Buffing the foundation in soft, small circles makes a big difference to get a smooth-looking skin. Like Christine, I may spritz some water onto the brush if the foundation needs a bit of sheering out.
This is the same technique I use and I even use the same brush!! I think the blend a hand brush is so underrated!
fingers! 99% of the time.. I get a very natural skin like finish that ways.. I don’t trust tools! 😛
I use the Chanel foundation brush, but I’ve recently been trying out the Real Techniques EFB, and I dot it wherever I need coverage and blend out towards my hair and jawline. Sometimes I’ll go back in and layer more foundation if any redness is peeking through.
Liquid foundation I use my fingers primarily or Real Techniques expert face brush. I use a kabuki brush for powder foundation or a puff. For under eye concealer I apply it with a paddle brush then blend it out with a fluffy eyeshadow brush; for blemishes I use a tiny sable art brush.
I love apply foundation with MAC 190 or Sigma F80! but with some waterly foundation I love to using my hands
I actually learned this technique from gossmakeupartist. I like to start with mineral foundation first so I won’t need a lot liquid foundation on top and blend everything with RT buffing brush. To finish it off, I like to spritz mario bodescu facial spray
Usually with Real Techniques Expert Face Brush, unless I don’t want to bother with brushes, then I just use my fingers.
Beauty Blender.
I only wear foundation on my bad days anymore (who thought I’d ever say that :-O) but when I do I like to use my new EL Sculpting Foundation Brush. It has such a unique shape and it really follows the contours of my face perfectly!
I put liquid foundation on the back of my hand, and then use Real Techniques Expert Face Brush to dab from the back of my hand to my face. I almost always start near the centre of my face then blend out.
That’s exactly what I do, even using the same brush. However I do mix in a little illuminator (usually Becca skin perfector) on the back of my hand (2 pumps foundation, 1/2 pump illuminator) and I also like to run a foundation sponge over at the end as I get a more natural look that way, evening out all the edges. Sometimes fingers, if I am in a huge hurry but I don’t like the feel of it on my hands.
I also like to dot the foundation around my face and then blend using either the RT Expert Face Brush or Shiseido’s small, slightly angled foundation brush. Less waste than applying to the back of my hand and then picking the foundation up with a brush or applying the foundation directly to the brush.
I mix a pump of my liquid foundation with my face cream and apply with my fingers, then use a large powder brush to press finishing powder into my skin. When I need better coverage I use my foundation straight with UD’s optical blurring brush, but while I still have some tan left i mix it because it keeps me from having to buy another color.
I love using my Beauty Blender. I wet it until it’s damp and then stipple on my foundation. It’s so quick and easy
I apply it with my fingers!
Apply with brush and and then smooth out with sponge after I’ve applied with the brush.
With my Beauty Blender, Real Techniques Expert Face Brush, or Real Techniques Complexion Sponge.
I use Lancôme Renergie foundation, which comes with a pump. I only have to use one pump of foundation, which I “dot” all over my face, then I spread and blend it with a damp disposable sponge wedge.
Fingers…
Depend on the foundation type.
Liquid foundation I use it he illamaqua Skin Base in white and Tarte Amazonion clay in Fair Sand. I dot both with my fingers as well where the shades need to go (on someone else I use a brush 😉 ) and use beauty Sponge to blend it together. (hourglass shaped one)
Cream foundations I do the same applying with my finger or a concealer brush sections of colour. I used a flat top or round kabuki brush (usually Sigmas) and buff it out. It I see any texture I go cover it with a damp beauty Sponge to smooth it out now that the product has warmed on the skin.
Minral Foundation I use my old Crown flate top kabuki (big and dense!) to layer the product up in 3-5 thin layer where needed with my MAC Fix+.
BB/CC creams I apply by hand work the final texture in with my palms.
For a more polished or full-covered look, I prefer to use a foundation brush like the Real Techniques Buffing Brush. I pour/squeeze some foundation on the back of my (clean) hand, pick it up with the brush, and get to work. I am going to try the new It Brushes for Ulta Airbrush Foundation Blurring Brush. See how it chalks up to my old RT (which is shedding like crazy).
For a sheer look or when I’m in a rush, I’ll often just use my fingers or the Real Techniques Beauty Sponge. The sponge is actually probably my favorite- it’s fast and blends beautifully.
For me, the hardest foundation to apply is a thick mousse texture (like my Tarte Amazonian Clay 12hr). It kind of clumps up in the brush bristles, fingers do not spread it out evenly and nor does a beauty sponge… brush is best but I feel like it takes a ton of product to get the job done! I never use powder foundations (except to set my makeup or give extra coverage over a liquid), so I have no special application techniques or tools for that.
MAC’s 190 brush with liquid foundations or MACs kabuki brush with powder foundations. I’ve tried every stippling, synthetic and natural face/foundation brush out there and I guess I’ve just gotten very adept with the MAC 190 because nothing else works as well or looks as good for me.
I use a combo of fingers and my SK flat top brush.
I use the back of my hand as a palette to mix my foundation. I then use my Tarte Airbrush Finish Bamboo Foundation Brush to stiple or my MAC foundation brush to blend. It really depends on my mood.
I’ve been favoring fluid foundation given the weather we’re having, and my Bestope Flat Kabuki Brush is perfect for that.
If I need a heavier foundation, like Revlon ColorStay, I use Real Techniques Expert Face Brush. I need to mix Ivory & Buff, which I do in an old cream foundation jar (I can also save some for a few more applications), and use a paddle brush to place foundation on my skin. Then, I use my RT EFB to blend it in, and go over it with either a clean EFB, or RT Buffing Brush.
With stick foundation, it really depends how much coverage I want/need; sometimes I’ll use a brush, other times a cosmetic wedge.
Ultimately, it reallt depends what specific foundation I’m using, how much coverage I’m looking for, what primer/SPF I’m wearing under, etc… I also like to experiment with different brushes; a lot of people like to play with different foundations, but I like to use what I have, and try different application methods-it ends up being a lot cheaper, LOL!
I use cream foundation, so I literally just put it on with my hands like it’s moisturizer. Then I blend it with a large fluffy brush, add a little finishing powder and that’s it.
I like very sheer coverage and a really natural look so this works for me.
I use a cheap disposable wedge sponge. Possibly I’m doing it wrong, but I didn’t experience a life-changing epiphany when I tried a damp beauty blender or a foundation brush, so I went back to the option that’s cheap and doesn’t require regular cleaning.
I use a large foundation brush (I think it’s a MAC 189), dampen it, and then pick up the foundation with the brush to apply and blend in sections. Works well for me but I wear a fairly sheer foundation so I don’t need tons of blending.
For liquid foundation I prefer using a damp Beauty Blender.
I put some foundation on the back of my hand and with my ring finger I apply little dots on small parts of my face, stippling with the sponge as I go along. I finish with blending (= rolling the sponge all over my face). Gives a lovely finish 🙂
To apply powder foundation I use the Real Techniques Expert Face Brush or the Sigma F82.
I use finger tips to dab the foundation all over the face too, and use Real Techniques Buffing Brush, my all time favorite foundation brush.
I have used MAC studio fix for so many years – it comes with a sponge and that is what I use.
For me is Real Techniques too but the Buffing brush.
I use the Real Techniques stippling brush after dotting foundation all over my face.
I love the new air mist sprays .Sephora, Pur Minerals, and Dior sell them- sprays on easily and then I just have a little blending to do on the edges. I love the ease of this and the clean results I get.
My skin was very temperamental and liked to flake even though I’m oily, but has stopped flaking since I started using a Clarisonic (fingers crossed it stays that way!), so I usually get the best possible finish with a sponge. I’ll dot the liquid foundation all over my face with my finger and then blend it all out with a RT Miracle Complexion sponge, then set with powder. If I want it to last all day, I use a colorless silica/rice powder, but if not, I’ll use MAC MSF Natural.
For powder foundation, I spray my whole face with Fix+ and then will buff it all over with either RT Expert Face or Buffing.
I love using my Beauty Blender for foundation. It just gives such a wonderful finish!
I use my fingertips and brushes. I use flocked sponges to blend everything out and apply finishing powder.
After some experimenting, I found that the Real Technique Expert Face Brush is better for applying thinner consistency foundation and the Real Technique Stippling Brush is better for thicker ones. I pump a pea size foundation on my finger and gently dip the tip of the brush onto the foundation. Work in circular motion, area by area of the face, reworking areas which need more coverage. Whatever foundation that’s left on the finger and brush is applied on to the neck.
sigma flat top kabuki or my beauty blender!
Fingers … always with all formulas except powders. Works the best for me.
I use different application methods depending on which foundation or beauty balm I’m using.
MUFE Liquid Lift – Sephora brush #53 works amazingly well with this formula! I was so surprised! I also use a Beauty Blender 50% of the time.
MUFE Face & Body – UD’s Optical Blurring Brush
UD Naked Skin – My fingers work best.
Any beauty balm – My fingers… so I can tell myself it’s merely a moisturizer and try to stop myself from doing my full makeup routine. :-/
I have Chanel’s brush #16 but find it leaves lines that I have to blend out so I don’t use it. Same with an Estee Lauder brush I purchased about a year ago. Maybe I just don’t know how to properly work with a flat foundation brush. I’ve read/watched tutorials on how to use them to no avail.
99% of the time fingers.
Fingers for BB cream, and the sponge that came in the compact for my powder foundation! 😀
I like a lot of control in my coverage, going over redness and some scarring a bit more and sheering out the rest, and I’ve found a smaller, fluffy brush is more quick and precise for this purpose. I’ve been using the e.l.f. Studio Flawless Concealer Brush – it’s larger than your “typical” concealer brush, with a round brush head, yet smaller than a foundation brush. I’ve not come across anything else quite like it, to be honest!
I put some foundation on the back of my hand and then use a MAC 130 brush to apply and buff it in. For thicker foundations, like MAC Pro Longwear, I’ll moisten the brush a little.
The best way to apply foundation is with a brush. When I use liquid foundation / tinted moisturizer I prefere Real Techniques Expert Face brush. A big fluffy blush for powder products. I have the beauty blender, too, but haven’t used it since purchasing the RT brush.
new bare minerals serum foundation with it’s special brush, or fit me foundation with a damp real techniques beauty blender.