While maintaining a great skincare routine and prioritizing proper nutrition are some of the best ways to keep your skin looking as ageless and glowing as possible, some fine lines are inevitable—and that’s where some miracle-working makeup tricks can come in handy. A great foundation can take years off of your face, especially when applied correctly.
To discover the most essential foundation hacks to make your skin appear younger than ever, we spoke to professional makeup artist Vivi Mintara, CEO of Eye Makeup Lab. She told us that there are two crucial rules to stand by if you want to cover up fine lines: use a thinner layer and always prime beforehand.
Apply A Thinner Layer Of Foundation
You may think that applying a thick layer of foundation is the best way to ensure all your dark spots and fine lines are properly concealed, but Mintara says it's actually better to go in the opposite direction. Less is more when it comes to this beauty product. "If you apply the makeup very heavily, it will dry up faster and will eventually crack where your wrinkles are situated," she warns. "This is because these are the places where you move your facial features the most, which is why the fine lines are there in the first place!" So, instead of laying it on thick and drawing attention to those signs of aging, stick to a thinner layer of product. This will help prevent cracks and drying that call out fine lines.
Always Use Primer
If you tend to leave primer out of your makeup routine in order to save time and energy, it's time to switch things up. Mintara says applying this skin-prepping product under your foundation is a crucial key to avoiding accentuated fine lines and wrinkles. It's especially helpful when it comes to problem areas. "Focus this on the areas that have wrinkles, and the primer will help to fill in the lines and imperfections on your skin," she suggests.
It's also important to note that after you apply your primer, you should wait a bit before you apply your makeup. "Make sure you leave it on your skin for at least 15 minutes before popping any foundation on," Mintara notes. "This allows the product to fully settle before another layer is added, which will reduce the risk of the primer being rubbed off by your foundation." Patience is a virtue! While using primer may feel like a tedious step, it will be well worth it when you see the difference it makes.
Bonus Tip: Use SPF
There's one more step Mintara suggests adding to your skincare routine if you want to maintain a youthful complexion: applying sunscreen. Although this won't do much good when it comes to reducing fine lines that already exist, it's one of the best ways to prevent the development of new signs of aging.
"Put [sunscreen] on before you put moisturizer on your skin," she urges. "It will prevent sun damage from unnecessarily aging your skin." When your skin is fully protected, that means you'll have less wrinkles to worry about covering up with your foundation in the future—and that's a life-changing hack in itself!
