Foundation Tips, Tricks and Hacks You Should Know.

All about that base? Me too, girl. A solid foundation makes everything better - not just in makeup, but in a house, relationship and more. Yes, it's that serious. Foundation is a gamechanger when applied correctly. When you've put it on just right, your skin looks flawless. And well, who wouldn't want that? #IWokeUpLikeThis goals, anyone? 

Here are my top tips and tricks for helping your skin look flawless with the help of foundation:

Choose your degree of coverage according to your desired finish.

There are three general types of coverage: sheer, medium, and full. Opt for a BB or CC cream if you're looking for sheer coverage. If you're looking to cover some blemishes or redness, you may want to reach for a little more coverage. Wearing a full face of makeup? Full, opaque coverage is going to be your best friend. 

Choose your type of foundation by the weather.

Foundations come in three basic forms - liquid, cream and powder. You can and should change types based on the weather or season. Cream foundation is ideal for winter weather because it can help ward off dry skin that the colder temperatures tend to bring. Powder foundation is good for the summer when you are more prone to sweat. 

I typically opt for a liquid formula year-round because of its buildability and how natural it looks. Liquid formulas mimic the texture of actual skin, in addition to being the most forgiving and sheer. My absolute favorite is Laura Mercier's Flawless Fusion Ultra-Longwear Foundation. This oil-free foundation is formulated stays in place for 15 hours of high-performance, comfortable wear that’s water-resistant.

Find your perfect shade by testing in daylight.

Keeping in mind that the shade of your skin changes during the seasons, test the shades that you think match the best along your jawline. Next, head to a window or find natural light and see which shade disappears without blending. Natural daylight will show you what your makeup looks like in real life. 

Prep your skin. 

The perfect canvas begins with clean and moisturized skin. Start by exfoliating your skin to smooth it out and then putting a layer of moisturizer on while your skin is still damp. Wait five minutes for your moisturizer to sink in before applying foundation. 

Reach for color correctors before foundation.

Use color correctors under your eyes, around your nose and eyes. Apply them lightly by patting them on with clean fingertips. Your skin's natural warmth will help the product blend into your complexion.

Apply foundation with a makeup sponge or a brush. 

While some swear by using their fingers to apply foundation, it's often not the best way to apply an even layer of the formula to your skin. One of my favorite hacks is using an egg-shaped makeup sponge to give my skin a much more natural finish. Take a clean, damp, egg-shaped makeup sponge or Beautyblender and use it to dot foundation on your cheeks, chin, forehead and neck. From there, diffuse the product outwards in circular motions all over your face and ears and down your chin and neck to blur hard lines and pick up excess product. 

Similarly, you can use a brush with a domed head to buff the foundation into your skin using light, circular motions. Both options will use less product and help you build coverage. 

Apply foundation with downwards strokes. 

This will help you avoid highlighting peach fuzz. Because your hair grows downward, it's more noticeable when you're applying the product in an upwards motion. 

Put foundation on your eyelids to reduce redness.

Applying product directly to your eyelids instantly hides any redness and also leaves a great canvas for your eyeshadow. 

Always set your foundation.

Doing so is the key to making foundation last all day. Using a fluffy makeup brush or powder puff, lightly dust a loose translucent powder over your T-zone to seal the foundation in. Another great option is a setting spray like NYX Professional Makeup Setting Spray. 

Mix a shimmery eyeshadow and liquid foundation as a makeshift highlighter.

A loose mineral eyeshadow in a light shade works as a stunning highlighter when you mix it with a dab of liquid foundation. This is an especially great tip for when you're traveling and need to save space! 

Rethink your touchups. 

Freshen up your look with a spritz of toner instead of reapplying mid-day. This will help leave your skin feeling fresher and more hydrated. Opt for blotting papers for shine control throughout the day instead of setting powder. This will help prevent that caked on look we all hate so much. 

Ready to get started? Bookmark this page and keep it in mind the next time you're feeling foundation fresh and ready to conquer the world with a flawless face!