No matter how much I blended in my foundation, or how little I put on, the end product always ended up looking cakey. Especially as a brown girl with hyperpigmentation spots, scars, and texture, I kept struggling with having that natural base makeup. It took me forever to figure out how to get a natural, skin-like finish with my foundation without needing to use many tools or other products. However, I finally figured out an easy, full-proof foundation application to get a beautiful skin-like finish every time. So in this blog post, I will explain how to apply foundation for the most skin-like finish on brown skin.
You Need the Right Undertone
Before we get started on how to apply foundation, it is important to have a foundation that matches our skin color and skin tone. Historical South Asian beauty standards made us think that “fair was lovely” for generations. As a result, I still see my fellow brown girls trying to be a few shades lighter sometimes. If you truly want to look like a golden glowy goddess with beautiful skin, your best bet is to embrace your natural tones.
Pick a foundation that is the right shade for the most seamless application. Then, you want to make sure it is the right undertone. As South Asians, we tend to have a warmer undertone which can also be olive or neutral. I typically look for “golden undertones” in my foundations. Try asking a store associate for some help in this department as it can be hard getting the right match. Always test out foundation shades in natural light to get the best impression of the color.
Prep the Skin
Once we have the right foundation color and undertone, we can move on to learning how to apply foundation. We want to make sure that our skin is properly prepped for the makeup. Although I won’t recommend any additional steps such as primer, we want to prep our skin by doing our usual skincare routine. This means starting with clean skin that has been moisturized. Hydrated skin is the best skin for makeup application. If you are applying makeup during the day, remember to add sunscreen as well.
Start with Less Foundation
Once your skin is prepped and ready for makeup, we can start applying the foundation. I like to start with half a pump of foundation because we can always add more later. Add a half-pump of foundation to the back of your hand.
Then, taking your middle finger, dot a small amount of product on your cheeks and any darker spots you want to cover. Try to avoid the center of your face as much as possible, and focus the product on the perimeter. It won’t feel like there’s much product on the skin, but that is what we want. Once you are happy with the amount of foundation on the skin, use a damp sponge to gently blend the foundation.
Focus the blending on the perimeter of the face, and just add the residual product towards the center. If done correctly, the foundation should seamlessly blend in with your skin and give a bit of coverage. Some darker spots might still show through.
Add Thin Layers
Once the initial layer is done, you can repeat the previous step wherever you want more coverage. In general, the less product we apply to the center of the face, the more natural the foundation will look. Often, when people are learning how to apply foundation, they are taught to create an even layer all over their face. Although this is great for cameras and photography, it won’t look natural in person.
If there are particular dark spots you want to cover, add a thin dot of foundation to the area and let the product sit for about a minute. This will allow the product to give more coverage in just that area without applying more foundation elsewhere. After about a minute, just blend the edges to create a seamless layer on the skin.
Keep Blending
Keep blending between layers of foundation to get the most natural, skin-like foundation application. If you followed the steps correctly, you should be happy with the foundation result.
It is important to note that when wearing foundation, it will always look just a bit different than if you had only skincare on. However, we can do our best to minimize the difference in appearance between the two. As mentioned, avoid excess product on the center of the face. Since this is where the most light catches, the less product there, the more natural it will look. In addition, it will create depth to the skin color, as natural skin is, rather than giving your skin just one flat color from the foundation.
Final Thoughts
Learning how to apply foundation for a natural finish is all about using less product and continuously blending. It is also about being strategic on where you place the foundation, and how much you apply to certain areas. I hope you found this blog post helpful in learning how to apply foundation. Let me know your favorite foundation tricks in the comments below!
With love,
Aditi <3
Aditi Rani – Figuring Out Life in Your Twenties
*Disclaimer: This is not professional advice. Some links are affiliate. By clicking and/or purchasing, I may receive a commission. It does not alter the price or change your buyer experience.