FOUNDATION 101

The ultimate guide to selecting and applying your ideal foundation.

  1. SELECT COVERAGE

    Before you select a foundation, decide how much coverage you want. If you want a natural “barely there look,” choose light coverage. If you want to subtly even your skintone, select a medium coverage. And if want to cover blemishes or uneven pigmentation, look for full coverage.

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  2. SELECT FINISH

    Next, choose your finish. Natural will give you a finish closest to you’re the appearance of your natural skin. Matte will eliminate any shine. Luminous will give you a subtle glow for a dewy look.

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  3. CHOOSE YOUR SHADE

    Trying to figure out what shade of foundation you should wear can be really frustrating. Using a shade finding tool takes the guess work out of finding the perfect match. Maybelline’s Foundation Finder can help you find your perfect foundation in minutes. All you need to do is answer a short quiz or upload a selfie.

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  4. PREP THE SKIN

    Beginning with clean moisturized skin is the key to getting an even foundation application. After skin is prepped, apply your favorite primer to help extend the wear of your foundation.

  5. APPLY FOUNDATION

    Next, apply the foundation. How you apply your foundation is really up to you and what you are most comfortable with--you can use a makeup brush, damp makeup sponge or your fingers. Start by dabbing a few drops of foundation to your forehead, cheeks and chin (Don’t overdo this step because using too much foundation can cause a cakiness and cracking). Then, tap or brush to blend the foundation outwards towards the hairline and jaw. Make sure to blend below the jaw into the neck to ensure the application looks seamless and natural.

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  6. CONCEAL AND SET

    Finally, apply concealer where needed and set the look. Gently sweep finishing powder where needed (usually under the eyes and at the T-Zone) or spritz a finishing spray all over for an all-day locked in look.

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