I usually place several splotches/dots of product all over my face (one or two on each cheek, forehead, down the nose, chin) and then use a Real Techniques Expert Face brush to spread, blend,
and buff the product. I usually use the brush first to spread and create more splotches, then blend everything together,
and finally buff in areas where I need to do more blending.
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Now that I’ve made a switch from the heavier cream formula of Tarte Amazonian Clay, which applied best with fingertips, to the more fluid formula of Lancôme Teint Idole, I also picked up a brush from Walmar made by Royal & Langnickel. It works beautifully! After getting the proper amount on the brush, I dab it on my cheeks, chin, etc., then spread and blend it out until it’s just right.
Nancy,
How are you liking the Lancome?
It is amazing how this foundation and then that one works with this and not that!
Primer first, applied with fingers.
Then I dampen Beauty Blender sponge. I pour / pump a little foundation in my left hand, sometimes mixing colors or adding liquid luminator.
Then I use my finger tips on my right hand to spread big dabs under my eyes, nose, chin, center of forehead. Then I use BB to stipple / blend all the big blotches towards the edges of face. I might apply more in the center of the face if I have foundation remaining in my left hand.
Sometimes I use a flat top brush (like a Sigma F80). But cleaning the brush is harder than cleaning a BB sponge, so I have mostly converted to BB every day.
I do a very similar technique to you, and i’m guessing most people Christine!
I’ll shade up the foundation, then dot small dots all over my face, building up slowly/starting out with less at first. (it’s way easier to add more than to take away!)
then i’ll take one of my three favourite foundation brushes (ELF foundation blurring brush, WnW Flat top face brush, or Real Techniques expert face brush) and i’ll start to almost stipple/pat the foundation into my skin. I’ll buff around the edges of my face (like the jaw and forehead) where I don’t need so much coverage. But for where I have my scarring and redness, i’ll tap/stipple the product into my skin.
I usually add more foundation to the hollows of my cheeks where my scarring is. And stipple that out to build up coverage.
Then I’ll take a tissue, split it in half, then press that into my skin to soak up any excess foundation/moisture.
Then I’m done!! My mantra for foundation is “less is more” because I prefer a thinner layer, overall, of foundation to just even out my skin. THEN go in with a high coverage concealer and cover up any sins!
It really depends on the texture of the formula itself. I first dot around the centre of the face then spread, blend and buff. If the formula is quite thin and liquidy, I’ll either use my fingers or a Real Techniques sponge. Thicker? I’ll use either my expert, buffing or sculpting brush to spread and buff into he skin.
I’ve always used a Beauty Blender or brushes, until lately. When I use EL Double Wear, it loves being applied with the Chikuhodo CH-GSN-2 Powder Brush. Lovely, buffed finish even though that brush is supposedly for powder.
Recently, I’ve been using MJ’s Re(marc)able foundation, and it’s a different level of coverage and consistency than I have ever used. I get the application and finish I want by using the blenders I was born with — my fingers. I don’t need anything else.
I prefer to use a sponge to apply my foundation because it’s really quick and the result is always beautiful. If I have a little extra time I reach for a flat top kabuki brush (like the ELF Powder Brush) to give me a little more coverage
Depends on the foundation! For foundations that dry quickly like MAC Pro Longwear Nourishing Waterproof I use my Real Techniques Stippling brush. With BB Cream I prefer to use my fingers. For most others I use a blender. I prefer the blender from Ulta. I never cared for the original beauty blender. I prefer the one from Ulta or one from Earth Therapeutics!
More precisely, I put a few drops on my face and tap it into the skin until blended. If using my fingers, I blend in using circular motion. I put foundation only in areas that need coverage.
I use the exact same technique as Christine – splodges of foundation around my face (2 on forehead, 3 on each cheek, 1 on my chin and 1 on my nose) and then I use the Shiseido foundation brush, which is my total fave of all my foundation brushes, to stipple and then blend/buff. I finish off by pressing my palms onto my face…that seems to even everything out and sort of “bind” it into my skin.
I start by mixing two foundations and a drop of oil on the back of my hand, then I use a finger to pick up half, deposit that in a swath on one cheek, do the same with the other half on the other cheek, then use a damp Beauty Blender to quickly tap the swaths out and around toward my nose, jawline, then undereye area. Whatever is leftover on the sponge when I complete those area goes on my forehead.
First I squirt it out on the back of my hand, then use my Urban Decay Optical Blurring Brush to dip into the product on my hand, spread around my face, and blend. I usually do the right side of my face first, then the left. After both sides are covered and mostly blended, I go in and buff and/or stipple any areas that need extra attention.
I dot foundation all over my face and then use a beautyblender to distribute and work in. Rarely I use a RT buffing brush.
I put two pumps on the back of my hand, then use my finger to dot it all over my face. Then I use my beauty blender to blend it all over my face.
I dot it on my face and blend with the RT sponge or an air puff/BB cushion.
I will surely apply primer first. Usually, I will match very primer I have with a new foundation to find the best combo.
I prefer using two fingers to apply liquid foundation and BB cream. Seldom use a brush, never sponge or any other applicator. Becuase almost all liquid foundation that I have are gel formula.
After that I will do concealer and powder. Power can be clear setting powder or pressed powder foundation depending on the liquid foundation/BB. (After all my makeup is down I will apply setting powder with purple pearl again)
I apply my two favorite foundations differently. The Chosungah 22 I apply with the cushion sponge applicator and I find that works really well for this particular foundation. My newly purchased Cle de Peau Radiant Fluid Foundation looks best when applied with a brush and it also does not eat up so much of the foundation. I pump two pumps of the Cle de Peau onto the back of my hand and then I dab it around my face. I use the Artis Oval 8 brush to blend from the center of my face out towards the periphery. In areas where I need additional coverage I use the Artis brush to stipple additional foundation over those areas. I follow with the remainder of my face makeup and then use a setting spray on my BB to make sure everything is really blended. I also have peach fuzz on my face and using the setting spray with a BB adheres the fuzz to my skin.
It depends on the foundation. Primer first. Most go on fine with a beauty blender-type sponge. Others really need a soft, dense brush (bareMinerals bareSkin; Tarte Foundcealer). Others work best with fingers. I also dot the product around my face and then blend with the direction of peach fuzz (hair) growth.
For loose powder foundations. I like a flat-topped Kabuki brush. I tap a little product into the jar lid, swirl the brush in, tap off the excess, and buff it on in circular motions, also never going against the grain of my peach fuzz.
Almost the same as Christine, except I pick up the foundation on the brush not my fingers. I hate getting my fingers full of make up and it works just as well this way.
It depends on the foundation for me but I have three different methods- hands, BeautyBlender, and brush (specifically the Zoeva 110 Face Shape or 102 Silk Finish). I usually go for my hands with more low-coverage bases like the NARS Tinted Moisturizer, and go for either a brush or BB depending on my mood for higher coverage foundations.
I use the sponge that comes with the MAC powder foundation. I have recently ordered the Marc Jacobs liquid foundation and the brush they suggest so this will be a change for me in a really long time. I hope I like it!
I dab on foundation around my face and use Bobbi Brown’s face blender to distribute the foundation evenly around my face, ensuring full coverage and then buff it into the skin. I wait to see if it oxidizes or needs any touching up. I usually do my eyebrows with Charlotte Tilbury’s Legendary Brows and then come back to check on my foundation.
Ooopps! I meant to say that I use BB’s Full Coverage Face brush for foundation. I love this brush!
If I’m wearing Laura Geller baked foundation I wet my Mally brush and swirl around my face and neck. If I’m mixing my Becca highlighting liquid and Tarte Rainforrest of the Sea foundation I swirl together in my palm then place spots all over my face and neck and use a large brush to blend.
I dot foundation around my face and use my fingers to smooth it all out and then a foundation brush to blend it all in.
My go-to foundation is Mac Face & Body and I’ve found that my hands produce the best results. I pour my foundation into my hands, then lately pat all over the face. Then working in circular motions I buff/blend it into my skin. If necessary, I’ll add a bit more and then use a brush to stipple on the foundation onto areas that I want more cover.
It’s totally depends on the formula! I do something similar as you with the same brush for most. I have a few the work better with a Beauty Blender. I actually prefer some with fingers.
I have oily skin with redness. I spray my whole face with UD De-Slick, then dot a pump and a half of MAC Studio Fix all over my face, dot a small amount of Algenist green color corrector on my cheeks and then blend out with a beauty blender or dense face brush. I let it sit while I do my eyebrows, then powder my cheeks, chin and forehead with a little setting powder before I move on to the rest.
I apply pea-sized dots of both Tarte Amazonian Clay Foundation and Kat Von D Lock-It foundation onto my finger, mix them (to get the right shade– I don’t care for the KVD finish on its own, either), and dot the foundation on my face. Then I go in to blend with either a damp Beauty Blender or the Urban Decay Optical Blurring brush! I really like having a go-to sponge and a go-to brush because even though the sponge gives the most natural finish, sometimes I just need to apply quickly and the brush is faster. I found the UD brush for $15 at Nordstrom Rack and I love it, definitely looks pretty darn close to the results I get with my Beauty Blender! I’d honestly pay full price for it at Sephora if I had to, definitely recommend it (they still have lots at my Nordstrom Rack too, last I checked).
I also use the KVD foundation as a concealer, since it’s so pigmented.
Essentially, exactly the way you do it, Christine 🙂 I even use the Real Techniques expert face brush!
Sometimes, with my NARS Sheer Glow I use the RT sponge and love the finish I get, BUT! I cannot stand having to clean it after each time I use it :), so the brush it is.
I either wear spf if in the morning under my foundation let it sink in for a few seconds (meantime I fill in my eyebrows or do something else) then apply a single dot/pump of foundation with a simple small sponge. I put the foundation in my nose and spread it with the sponge to both sides of my face including hairline and whatever neck part will be showing according to shirt or blouse I’ll wear protect with spf also/foundation. All very lightly to just even out redness, some freckles on my nose, general color. A very natural look I like. Then follow up with a tanning powder if daytime. For evening I apply Cera Ve moisturizer under my foundation same thing very lightly and Asher setting powder. All natural, smooth and soft canvas I have great clear skin thank God! Or my parents for that. 🙂
I start with primer (lately I’ve been using the Becca First Light Priming Filter) then go in with my Make Up For Ever Water Blend foundation. I personally prefer a very natural look to my foundation, so I only dot it on the center of my chin, the apples of my cheeks and the center of my forehead and blend it in with my fingertips. Then I set it with a sweep of translucent powder.
I personally don’t like to apply foundation to my entire face. I have tried several foundation brushes, but find I use a lot more product with brushes (and much more product ends up on my face than I prefer). However the two foundation brushes I own from Sigma are fantastic. Some days I will use a damp beauty sponge if I need extra help with blending.