Making the most of foundation
Feb 07 '01 (Updated Feb 26 '01)
The Bottom Line It's better to apply too little than too much. Blend, blend, blend! Check for lines of demarcation in various lighting.
I believe that when it comes to applying foundation, the most important thing to remember is that LESS IS MORE. Too much foundation can make your skin look "cakey".
As to WHAT you should use to apply the foundation, some people like to use their fingers, others those white foam triangles, and others use natural sea sponges. I personally prefer natural sea sponges. I find that sea sponges are the most delicate on your skin, and don't require "rubbing" of the skin the way foam triangles may require, for blending well. Regardless of whether you use triangles or sea sponges, be sure to clean them periodically to eliminate bacteria.
If you decide to use a sea sponge, I mean the very tiny ones with minute pores. The larger sea sponges used for the bath (even cut-up) would not be appropriate as they are VERY rough. Sea sponges can be hard to find, but are often sold at upscale natural health and beauty stores, and I believe the toiletry store Crabtree and Evelyn sells them as well. Sea sponges are on the expensive side - about $2 each - but each should last you about a year or two.
Foundation looks best on smooth skin. By "smooth", I mean skin that does not have dry flakes. Foundation will only accentuate dry skin. If you have this problem, exfoliating every other day or so should help. Your foundation will then look more natural and smooth once you apply it.
When you are ready to apply your foundation, first shake the bottle to incorporate all the ingredients. Wet your chosen applicator with warm water. You don't want the sponge or triangle so wet that it causes the foundation to drip down your face when you apply it. Just make sure it's wet all the way through, then squeeze the excess.
Put a few small dabs of foundation over your face, and begin blending. The last thing you want is a line of demarcation around your eyes, hairline, jawline, neck and ears. Be sure to go over your eyelids, in the creases of your nose, and out and up towards the edges of your face and JUST into your hairline. Then hold your head up, and blend DOWN your jawline into the neck, and BACK just towards the back of your neck. If daylight is available, I believe this is the best light by which to check your makeup. You should look very natural, and you should not be able to see where your makeup ends, and your "real" skin begins.
If you DO see lines, then you either didn't blend well enough, you applied TOO MUCH makeup, or the COLOR is not right for your skintone.
For special occasions when you want your skin to look its best, wash and EXFOLIATE your skin before applying your makeup, to maximize the exfoliation benefits.
After washing/moisturizing my face, and before applying foundation, I always use a product called Clarins Beauty Flash Balm. You can see my separate review on this "miracle" product ( http://www.epinions.com/content_10770878084).
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yippee1999
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