Before you even begin to apply your foundation, prepping your skin is one of the biggest tricks to hiding signs of aging without appearing cakey. Nick Stenson, Celebrity Stylist for L’ORÉAL/Matrix and UltaBeauty’s Senior Vice President for Store & Service Operations explains, “Starting with clean, moisturized skin will provide a canvas that is ready for cosmetics. Youthful skin is supple and glowing, but avoid adding that glow with shimmer or glitter that can age skin or draw attention to imperfections. Instead, use a primer to achieve a glow that softens imperfects.” Primers work to fill in fine lines and wrinkles, allowing for a smooth surface for your foundation to sit on top of. This will create an airbrushed finish as it evens your skin texture, preparing your face for more product.
After you have primed your skin, how you apply your foundation is just as important as the quality of the product itself. “Applying foundation with a brush allows you to avoid heavy cakey-ness that can settle into wrinkles and fine lines. By using a stippling or gentle tapping motion, you will achieve a smooth, thin layer that you can build on in targeted areas for more coverage,” says Stenson. Instead of rubbing in the foundation with your fingers or packing it on with a beauty blender, a dense brush will allow you to blend out to the coverage you want without going overboard.
Once your foundation has been applied, a setting spray will lock everything in place, ensuring that the product won’t settle into the lines of your face. Setting your foundation with a spray instead of a powder will also provide your skin with added moisture, offering a youthful, hydrated glow. A well moisturized complexion is one of the best ways to enhance your appearance, plumping your skin and leaving you looking healthy and dewy.
A well developed foundation routine is vital for minimizing signs of aging and enhancing your natural features, but above all you must keep your skin hydrated and primed for the product to look its best on your complexion. Finding a moisturizing primer to smooth your canvas will allow for flawless application of your foundation, and fine lines and wrinkles won’t stand a chance against a well set face.