As much as we love the flawless appearance we get from putting on foundation, the phrase “too much of a good thing” certainly applies here when we end up with cakey-looking skin by the time half of the day goes by. And when we live in a tropical island like Singapore, with its high heat and humidity, the goal to have our makeup look as good as it did when we first applied it at the start of the day remains a fantasy as we deal with trying to save our foundation from melting off of our faces.
How To Prevent Cakey Foundation
Fortunately, living in the constant sweltering heat of this little red dot forces us to be savvy with our makeup application, providing us with valuable skills to up our make-up game. Take the application of foundation, for instance. Being under the sweltering heat of the sun can cause our foundation to melt into the pores of our skin, exaggerating their appearance. Couple that with a thick layer of foundation, this just sets our skin up for full-on cake city.
To prevent this from occurring, here are some foundation application tips to help your makeup stay looking good throughout the day:
The First Defence: Primer
Starting off with a smooth base is essential when you want to prevent your foundation from caking by the end of the day. This can be achieved by applying a primer onto your skin, preferably one that is silicone-based. Besides helping your foundation last longer throughout the day, a primer serves to fill in the pores and lines on your skin, thus helping to smooth out your skin’s texture. With a smoother surface to work with, your foundation will glide onto your skin easily. Plus, having a layer of primer as a barrier between your skin and foundation will prevent the latter from settling into the pores of your skin, thus reducing the risk of acne and blemishes occurring. When choosing a primer, ensure it is suitable for your skin type. If you have dry skin, find a primer with hydrating ingredients such as hyaluronic acid and coconut oil. For oily skin, look for an oil-free, mattifying primer.
Build The Layers Bit By Bit
It is easy to go overboard when applying foundation, especially if you are a beginner in the world of makeup. The first instinct some people have is to apply a layer of foundation thick enough from the get-go that it already creates a flawless canvas on every inch of their face. While this technique might work fine for lightweight base products such as tinted moisturisers, foundations — especially those with heavier formulations — work better on the skin when the layers are gradually built upon each other. This technique will also allow you to gauge how much coverage you will need, thus preventing you from applying more than you should. Simply start off by putting on a thin layer of foundation and work it into your skin so everything gels together seamlessly. If you feel like your skin needs more coverage, go ahead with a second layer. Keep building up your foundation until you achieve the coverage you are satisfied with.
Skip The Brush
While makeup brushes are extremely handy in helping you achieve a flawless base, they can make foundation appear too apparent on the skin as they do not allow the foundation to melt seamlessly into the skin. To achieve a seamless, “my-skin-but-better” application, go with either a damp makeup sponge or simply apply the foundation with your fingers. The latter is the better option as the heat from your fingers will allow the foundation to melt into your skin, thus creating a more natural-looking base. If you are not keen on using your fingers, a damp makeup sponge will do the trick too. The moisture from the sponge will help you achieve a dewy finish, making this an especially good technique if you have dry skin. Using a damp makeup sponge will work on powder foundations too to prevent your skin from looking too, well, powdery.
Just A Light Dusting of Powder
If you have used a liquid foundation, setting it with a finishing powder is important to help your makeup stay in place, especially if you have oily skin. Just be careful not to apply too much as it can cause your makeup to end up looking cakey and simply unflattering on your skin. Plus, too much powder on the skin can also cause your face to look flat and dull, two things you definitely want to avoid. To prevent this from happening, choose a finishing powder that is finely-milled and lightly dust it with a big, fluffy brush on just the areas of your face that tend to get oily. If you have applied concealer on specific areas, use a small brush to pat a bit of powder on those areas for a more precise application. If you have dry skin and are worried that powder will make your skin look even drier, opt for a powder with light-reflective particles that will provide you with a slight glow.