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Key Takeaways
- The three most common ways to apply foundation are using your fingers, a brush, or a makeup sponge—each with its own pros and cons.
- Prepping your skin with moisturizer—and possibly primer—is important if you want your foundation to look flawless.
- Make sure to blend your foundation downward and outward to prevent a line of demarcation at your jaw.
Foundation is the biggest make-or-break item in your makeup routine. It can go one of two ways: beautiful, glowing skin or a cakey, chalky catastrophe that looks like, well, foundation. (And you don't want your foundation to look like foundation.)
Applying the perfect makeup base takes finesse, and finding the right formula is only half the challenge. The tools you use make a big difference in your outcome, as do the motions you go through when applying it. We break down the best way to apply foundation and share expert tips for each method.
- Cara Lovello, bridal and celebrity makeup artist based in New York City
Choosing the Best Way to Apply Foundation
When applying foundation, most people choose one of three methods: using a sponge, a brush, and applying directly with your fingers. "While personal preference certainly plays a role in what tool you reach for, you do need a strategy," says makeup artist Cara Lovello. Each application process has pros and cons, and while beauty editors and experts have strong opinions about how to apply foundation, a case can be made for each method.
Timing-wise, your fingers are the quickest way to apply foundation and are best for a natural look. However, it's also the most finicky method. Using a brush allows you to achieve a full-coverage look but can leave streaks from the brush bristles. Finally, a sponge is the ultimate way to achieve a flawless foundation application, providing a blended look, but there's a lot of product waste.
Sometimes, a little mixing and matching can go a long way. It's worth exploring different tool combos with different foundation formulas to determine what works best for you.
How to Prepare Your Face for Foundation
No matter what foundation method you choose, there are a few steps you should take to prepare your face like you'd prepare a canvas for painting.
Step 1: Clean Hands and Face
Start with completely clean hands. The last thing you want is a breakout courtesy of dirty fingers. Also, before applying makeup, wash your face thoroughly and apply a light layer of moisturizer. Wait at least 15 minutes for your skincare to sink in before applying makeup. (This step provides a good base canvas for your foundation.)
Washing your hands is important not only before and after applying your foundation but also during (or in between) application steps. Clean hands avoid spreading bacteria onto your skin and prevent cross-contamination with products.
Step 2: Add a Primer (Optional)
Whether or not you use a primer before foundation is a personal preference. You may choose to do so to help the foundation last longer, but you can also skip it if you don't want to use as many products.
Step 3: Apply Foundation to Hand
Apply your liquid foundation directly to the back of your hand—this will help warm up the product, which will allow it to spread more evenly. (This step is helpful no matter which application method you choose.)
Step 4: Add Small Dots of Foundation to Face
Using one finger, add small dots of foundation to your face before blending it. Remember, less is more. It's easy to add more foundation if you want more coverage rather than trying to remove extra foundation. Start in the middle of your face and work your way outward.
How to Apply Foundation With Your Fingers
If we're being honest, our fingers are probably the most used beauty tool in our arsenal. This isn't necessarily a bad thing. According to Lovello, applying your foundation with your fingers is the best way to achieve a natural, "no makeup" makeup finish.
You'll find that the product will absorb super fast, and you'll get a more controlled application. It's also the quickest way to get makeup on your face, but since your hands aren't able to buff or distribute foundation as well as a sponge or brush, you have to take extra care in blending. Here's how.
Step 1: Tap Foundation in With Ring Finger
With your ring finger (which naturally uses the least amount of pressure), spread the product gently around your skin, starting in your T-zone and blending outward. Keep in mind that foundation shouldn't be applied like a moisturizer—always tap and never rub to avoid uneven distribution.
Rather than layering on a concealer in addition to the foundation, use your foundation to cover any blemishes or breakout spots. Be sure to use non-comedogenic and oil-free products to avoid clogging your pores.
Step 2: Blend Foundation Downward
For a flawless and blended look, spread the foundation below your jawline into the neck. Consider lightly applying foundation to the ear area, especially if you tend to have red lobes.
Step 3: Remove Excess Foundation With Palms
Once you've spread the foundation on your face, wash your hands, then press the palms to your face. This will help the foundation set and remove extra foundation.
How to Apply Foundation With a Brush
Clean makeup brushes allow for a concentrated application, so they're great if you're going for a full-coverage finish. The downside is that the bristles like to leave little streaks and lines on your face. Choose a thin-bristled, synthetic brush to avoid this as much as possible. Thick bristles tend to streak, and natural bristles can be a bit porous, meaning they can absorb more of the product.
"I never use flat foundation brushes, only stippling or blending brushes," says Lovello. "Unlike traditional foundation brushes that have a single layer of bristles, stippling brushes have two. The top bristles help pick up the foundation, while the bottom, denser bristles tap the product onto your skin."
Avoid cream foundation with this method. Brushes work best for applying liquid foundation. Cream foundations are thicker and can leave streaks.
Step 1: Clean a Stipple Brush
Make sure you're using a clean stipple brush (or clean it) before applying the foundation. Debris from previous makeup applications can cause a caked-on look and clog pores.
Step 2: Dab Brush Along Skin
When you stipple your makeup, you're essentially applying the foundation in tiny dots so close together that they blend for a flawless finish. Grab the stippling brush and dab the brush along your skin to blend everything in.
Step 3: Use Small Circular Motions
As you blend everything in, spread the foundation using small circles, which helps create a more even application. Rather than using one-directional brush strokes, blend in various directions to avoid streaks.
Step 4: Blend Excess Foundation Downward
Blend any leftover foundation on the brush down your neck and toward your ears. Most people have a different skin tone on their face than their neck, so don't forget to bring the foundation all the way down to avoid the dreaded demarcation line.
Step 5: Use Clean Brush to Blend More
After you dab (or stipple) and brush the foundation into your skin, go back with a clean brush and lightly buff the skin to remove any visible streaks. Just avoid overdoing it by moving the product around too much; use a light hand here.
How to Apply Foundation With a Sponge
If you want the most professional, Photoshop-level finish, Lovello says that egg-shaped makeup sponges are the way to go. "A [makeup sponge] will give you an airbrushed look, and you can use the same sponge to blend all your cream products. You can also use your sponge to apply loose-setting powder and bake if you desire," Lovello explains
While some makeup sponges are firmer than others, using a bouncy sponge is best for a streak-free, seamless foundation application. Firm sponges are good for powder foundations, though. Try different sizes and shapes until you find a good fit.
Step 1: Start With a Clean Makeup Sponge
Just like brushes, you'll need to clean makeup sponges and ensure you're using a clean sponge when applying foundation. Once it's clean, soak your sponge and squeeze out any excess water until no water drips—this will cause it to double in size. "Most people aren't getting their [sponge] wet enough, and it's going to soak up too much of your foundation," says Lovello.
If you use face primer, apply some directly to your makeup sponge to prevent the sponge from absorbing too much product.
Step 2: Dab the Foundation to Blend
For this method, you can apply small dots of foundation to your face or dip the sponge into the liquid foundation you put on the back of your hand. Once you have the foundation on your sponge or face, use a dabbing motion—never smudge or swipe—to "bounce" the side of the sponge all over.
Step 3: Use Different Sides for Specific Areas
Most makeup sponges have a pointy side, a flat side, and a rounded side. Use each section for different areas. For example, use the pointed tip of the sponge to blend out the foundation around your nose and eyes. Once that's smoothed out, flip to the rounded side to blend your cheeks and forehead. The flat side is ideal for areas that need to be pressed in with extra product, like on blemishes, dark circles, or the sides of the nose.
Step 4: Blend, Blend, Blend
When blending foundation with a sponge, start with the T-zone, then work your way down and out toward your chin and hairline. To avoid a harsh line separating your face from the neck and ears, dab and blend the foundation out to the jawline and lobes.
Makeup sponges need to dry and breathe when not in use to avoid bacteria and mold growth. Store makeup sponges in a mesh bag or back in its original plastic casing (leaving the top open).
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