Consistently in the top 10 most searched beauty-related questions on Google, how to apply foundation. This suggests many of us are still looking for ways to make our base look better. So, here are the latest trends, and the summer-essentials to try at Life Pharmacy, by editor Trudi Brewer.
Seamless coverage
You don't want your face to look darker than your neck – so when finding your colour match, test different shades around your jawline. Don't go darker than your natural skin tone – leave the warming up to bronzers rather than your foundation. Dust your bronzer over your neck (pay attention to the white spot under your chin) to even everything out for a more seamless blend. Don't be afraid to mix and match too. After all your natural tone isn't all one shade, so blending two colours together to get the perfect shade will give you a more natural finish.
New Estee Lauder Double Wear Sheer Long-Wear Makeup SPF20, $76.
Double Wear foundation has a cult status. It’s still a go-to foundation (even being 24 years old) famous for staying true to shade and not budging for hours. Now, this newbie fills a gap for Lauder, for offering the same longevity, in a weightless, oil-free, semi-matte formulation that is almost undetectable once on the skin. It’s loaded with antioxidants and an SPF 20 to help protect skin against UV rays and pollution. Beyond all that it offers diversity in the shade ranges. For cool (C), Neutral (N) and warm (W) undertones With colours that span from ivory nude to a rich caramel.
That summer glow
Sheering out your foundation with a moisturiser is the best way to get decent coverage and that lit-from-within glow. Blend two parts foundation to one part moisturiser on the back of your hand to get the right consistency before you apply it. Or, you can also mix your base with an illuminating primer instead of a moisturiser to get that extra glow.
New Revlon Skinlights Face Glow Illuminator Sunburst Bronze, in Sunburst Bronze, $28.
We were devastated when this liquid radiance-maker vanished from shelves during the '90s. Responsible for kick-starting the glow-giving makeup trend, now it's back; it's better than ever. When used as a primer, the glow-giving pigments in a liquid formula will wipe out the look of dullness or mixed with foundation; it gives a sheer, instant luminosity. There are two shades, Sunrise Lustre (a pale creamy pink) and Sunburst Bronze, pictured here. Skinlights Prismatic Bronzers are also available.
An almost invisble application
Begin applying the foundation at the centre of the face and work outwards, thinning it out towards the jawline so it blends seamlessly into the neck and hairline. Doing it this way means the areas where you need more coverage (around the nose and under the eyes) for flawless coverage.
New Shiseido Synchro Skin Self Refreshing Skin Tint, $69.
Think of this newbie as skincare with benefits. A whopping 70 per cent of the formula are skincare ingredients designed to boost skin hydration all day, along with an ActiveForce™ Technology, which resists heat, humidity, oil and motion, to prevent your makeup from shifting, or pooling into fine lines during the day. In addition, there are eight flexible shades to flatter every skin tone.
Buffed in base
If you want your makeup to look like it’s melted into the skin rather than sitting on top, use brushes. Use a dabbing motion with a flat foundation brush to lay down your base, rather than wiping it on and off in the same movement. Then use a fluffy brush to buff away any lines and give the skin that translucent coverage.
Elizabeth Arden Dual-End Contoured Foundation Brush, $62.
A fave, this flat foundation brush at one end helps lay down your base, and concealer, while the contour buffing brush at the other end helps you blend the two into the contours of your face.
Compatible products
Does your foundation pill or roll-off into little balls? Check its compatibility with the makeup you use? Remember, oil and water repel each other, so if you're using a highlighting oil with a water-based foundation, it's going to break up and bubble.
Nude by Nature Nude By Nature Soft Focus Illuminator, $29.
This fab find comes with impeccable clean credentials as far as cosmetics go. Apply this glow-giver to the high points of the face to get a subtle shimmer or add a little to your moisturiser or foundation for an all over luminous glow; this is the perfect addition to any summer beauty routine.
We debunk this viral myth.