Tuesday, October 14, 2008

How to correctly apply foundation





How important is foundation?


Foundation is probably the most essential cosmetic because it is one of the necessary steps of basic skincare. For healthy skin, you have to protect it. That is where foundation comes in. Foundation protects your skin from the environment-the sun, wind and pollutants-things we face everyday no matter where we live.
The problem with foundation is that we make common mistakes while applying it. We get the wrong color; it looks "cakey" and sometimes accentuates the flaws we were trying to cover.



Liquid Foundation


How to apply foundation for the best results? We need to learn how to pick the perfect color and apply it correctly.The key to flawless coverage is not to look like you are wearing a mask. It is NOT possible to pick up a bottle of foundation at a store, hold it up to your face and get the correct color, seriously it will never happen! Honestly, you will need to sit down with a makeup consultant and test the color. It is best to test foundation color with natural sunlight. The worst lighting is florescent. No one looks good in florescent lighting, not even me haha. Never, never, never test for foundation on your hand or wrist. For ivory/beige women you will need to check your foundation on your neck and jawline. Sometimes the neck is a little different color than the face, usually a little darker and more yellow undertone. Because you will blend your foundation at your jaw line, you will want it to match where it stops at the neck. For bronze women, you will want to match your foundation on your cheek and jaw line. Sometimes there is an unevenness of color and this will help even out your skin tone.
How to apply
There are mainly three tools you should use for applying your foundation: sponge, brush, and fingers.
Sponge: A sponge is great to give you a light, sheer layer of foundation. It makes the foundation very easy to blend, a necessity for foundation and keeps your fingers clean too! I bounce back and forth between this one and the brush. The downside, a lot of foundation can get absorbed in the sponge so it tends to waste product. You will need to clean your sponge after every use or do what I do, buy a bag full of inexpensive sponges at a department store and trash them after every use.
Brush: I love the brush. The foundation looks perfect when using a brush, I can't really explain why, it just does. Use a foundation brush for a couple of days and it will be hard to go back to what you were using before. The one problem, you have to clean it every time you use it or you will ruin the brush. If you have to reapply your foundation during the day, a brush is the only way to go!
Fingers: Fingers are great because everyone has them, you always know where they are, and they are inexpensive. I personally, don't like the feel of foundation on my fingers so it's not my favorite. But if you don't have issues like me, they work great. Can be hard to blend with so just be careful! also make sure they are clean as you dont want to rub dirt into your pores!
I never have understood how women can not set their foundation. Its just rediculous not to do so! So here are three easy ways to set your foundation, no matter what your preference is.
Loose powder: not my favorite as it tends to be messy so be careful. Loose powder does not set into fine lines as easily as pressed powder does. It will set the foundation with a little more coverage but not be as heavy as a pressed powder. Perfect choice if you tend to verge on the oily side!
Pressed powder: Very convenient and that's why I love it. It is great for touch ups throughout the day because it does give more coverage then a loose powder does. You do need to be careful because too much can make you look...well like your wearing a powder mask. Not exactly flawless.
Blot: As long as you don't have oily skin and not incredibly humid in your area, this will work great for you. You can purchase blotting tissues to keep handy or a facial tissue will work great too. Press to your face and blot softly with the tissue. It will take off the excess make up but will not mess up your makeup, having said that this is my least favourite as it tends to take more make-up off than i would like.



Mineral Foundation



Mineral foundation is ideal for concealing blemishes, brown or red spots, scars, small pimples and even Rosacea. The mineral foundations are made from gentle ingredients that wont damage your skin, cause infection or irritation. They dont contain dyes, harsh chemicals, fillers or oils. Mineral foundation works great for mature skin because it refracts light which minimizes the appearance of wrinkles, fine lines, discolorations and imperfections.Mineral foundations come in three forms “ loose mineral foundation, pressed mineral foundation and liquid form. Loose mineral foundation is the purest form of foundation available and is appropriate for every skin type, including those with very oily or sensitive skin. Mineral foundations are ideal for acne sufferers as they provide complete coverage, help to heal and calm inflammation. The natural pigments that every mineral product contains blend easily on the skin and provide superior coverage due to the lack of cheap fillers. They are also appropriate for those with dry skin because the minerals trap moisture in the skin and keep your skin hydrated all the time.The application of mineral makeup is the same as applying any traditional makeup but the main difference is that a very small amount of mineral foundation for example goes a very long way. Thats why you should never apply too much of a product at once.A mineral foundation must be applied with a brush or with a makeup sponge. I personally dont recommend you to apply it with your fingers. The brush you are going to use when applying mineral foundation should have high density of hair, it should be short, firm and soft. Avoid using synthetic bristles because they can be too hard on your skin. The right brush will ensure that the minerals are distributed evenly and your face wont look like a mask.

HOW TO APPLY MINERAL FOUNDATION:


Step One
cleanse your face A foundation should always be applied to a cleansed and toned skin. Use a mild cleanser appropriate for your skin and cleanse your face thoroughly to remove all the impurities and oils that have accumulated during the night.
Step Two Moisturize you faceA mineral foundation as well as traditional foundation should always be applied to a well moisturized skin. Apply a
moisturizer appropriate for your skin type and let it soak in, otherwise the minerals may appear flakey. It will improve your skin quality and act as a protective layer to help trap the moisture in the skin and stop it from evaporation. A good moisturizer will plump and comfort your skin and make the foundation easier to blend smoothly.
Step Three Apply mineral foundationApplication of Loose Mineral Foundation.Use a brush and swirl to pick up the minerals. Press the head of your brush against the holes of the sifter. Tap off the excess
powder. There should be a light dusting of powder on the brush head. With gentle, circular motions brush onto your face. Start the application of the mineral foundation at the centre of your face nose, chin and forehead. Buffing with the brush will bring out the qualities of the minerals and will ensure an even application.
Application of Pressed Mineral FoundationA pressed mineral foundation should be applied with enclosed sponge. Although some of my colleagues wet the sponge before applying the foundation I dont do so. Wipe the sponge onto the pressed minerals and distribute evenly onto the face. If you have applied too much product continue distributing it over your face until all lines disappear completely.
Application of Liquid Mineral Foundation.You can apply liquid mineral foundation with a sponge or with your fingertips. A sponge will provide more control and a smoother application but you will use more product. Put a little foundation on a makeup sponge and start applying in the center of the face. Use a small amount of the foundation and apply it in thin layers. Blend well and make sure the color matches your natural skin tone. Start blending at your forehead and slowly spread all over your face. Make sure everything blends together and look the same. Ensure that there are no patches.
Step Four Set the mineral foundationAlthough most of the women using mineral foundation dont need to use a
face powder to set and fix the foundation you can do it. Apply loose mineral powder to hold the foundation in place for a longer period of time.
Tips:
Never use harsh, synthetic brush to apply mineral or traditional foundation.
Make sure your moisturizer has penetrated your skin prior to applying mineral foundation.
To achieve a flawless finish apply the mineral foundation in several thin layers until you reach the desired coverage.
An application of mineral foundation provides all day coverage that wont fade or crease.
Mineral foundation is easily removed with a
makeup remover or cleanser.
Mineral foundation is especially helpful for those with acne
-prone skin and hyper sensitive skin.
If your skin is very oily and has
enlarged pores choose the pressed mineral foundation instead of a loose foundation.
Mineral foundation has a sun protective filters and thats why its not essential to use a sunscreen
. You can wear mineral makeup after chemical peel, microdermabrasion or laser resurfacing with no risk it, wont irritate your skin.
Mineral foundation blends flawlessly and easily.
Mineral foundations dont support bacteria like the traditional
liquid foundations
With regular use of mineral makeup you can improve the health and condition of your skin.
Mineral foundation wont clog your pores and will allow your skin to breathe normally.
Mineral foundation easily covers redness and discolorations.
Mineral foundation has excellent staying power.
Mineral makeup is versatile and easy to apply because it helps to calm and soothe irritated skin.




So there you have it the know-it-all guide to foundation...hope it helped ya ladies!



*hugs and kisses*



Michaela

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