When we were younger, foundation application was done either with our fingers or, if we were feeling really swish, with a wedge-shaped sponge that we bought from the local chemist and ran under a tap before using, However, now it seems that there’s a whole load of ways that you can apply your foundation, so we thought we’d give you a rundown of them:
Sponge Beauty Blender
The sponge beauty blender is probably the most like the sponges that we used to use, but HOW we use them is different. Instead of using the blender to smear the foundation over our faces, people advocate using a bouncing action to apply and you’ll get medium to high coverage depending on how many layers you apply. You can use a beauty blender with most liquid forms of foundation and you’d be wise to prep the skin with a primer first.
Silicon Beauty Blender
One of the main complaints about a regular beauty blender is that the porous materials that they’re made of can soak up too much foundation. This means that you end up using twice as much and it costs you more, so some bright spark came up with a silicone version. This is a jelly-like beauty blender which doesn’t soak up ANY of the foundation, just allows you to apply it evenly, giving full coverage. We’d suggest using a mattifying fluid before using a sili-sponge to apply your make up, so you don’t end up with a face which looks like an oil slick!
Brush
Brushes became all the rage a while back and felt quite a lot like applying our foundation like paint, but once we got used to it, we grew to love it. Applying with a brush will allow you to get really precise coverage and allows you to build coverage in areas where you might feel you need a bit more. Make sure skin is well-hydrated and try to opt for a brush which has soft, natural bristles to ensure you don’t end up with irritated skin.
Kabuki Brush
Mineral powder foundation is a brilliant option if you want full coverage but don’t like the feeling of a liquid on your face. Mineral powder is light and gentle on the face, often boasting ingredients which don’t contribute to spots and blemishes, and is ideal for normal or oily skin. A kabuki brush will usually have a short, stubby handle and have shorter, stiffer bristles than other foundation brushes.
Fingers
Believe it or not, fingers are still a perfectly acceptable way to apply foundation, despite what the world may be telling you at the moment! Using a more tactile form of application is ideal if you use a BB cream or tint which is usually part foundation and part moisturiser and needs less blending. It might seem like a no-brainer but ensure your hands are super clean if this is your preferred method of application or you could end up with spots from bacteria transfer.
Last updated on 22/05/2017.