5 make-up artists share their hacks to make foundation application a breeze

Applying foundation can be a strenuous task, but these expert-approved tips will take you through the festive frenzy

Love it or hate it, you simply can’t not own one. We’re talking about foundations. Though the no-foundation make-up look has been trending on the Internet for quite some time now (FYI: the hashtag #nofoundation has over 79.3 million views on TikTok), newer foundations keep getting introduced in the market,  some of which are highly acclaimed by beauty enthusiasts because of how demand-driven their formulations are. The Prada Reveal Skin Optimizing Foundation, Maybelline’s Instant Anti Age Perfector 4-in-1 Glow, Makeup by Mario’s SurrealSkin Foundation, and M.A.C Cosmetics’ all-new Radiance Serum Foundations are just some examples. Applying foundation, however, still seems like a strenuous task, owing to the time and technique it entails. The upcoming festive season calls for going that extra mile, which could include indulging in a foundation as well. To make your foundation application fuss-free and the final look flawless, we reached out to some of the best celebrity make-up artists in India who share their go-to tips for a smooth-looking, festive-ready complexion. 

Mitesh Rajani

Mitesh Rajani, who vouches for glowy, dewy complexions, swears by Dior’s Forever Skin Glow Foundation. “During the festive season, you’re out and about, and hope to enjoy your day at parties, so you might not need a heavy coverage foundation as it could involve timely touch-ups and creasing product. A lightweight foundation such as the one I mentioned from Dior is super easy to apply and photographs extremely well too.” However, despite opting for a sheer-glow foundation, he presses on the significance of using a primer. “Using a primer is your best bet with such a formulation as it promotes longevity [of the foundation], and minimises the appearance of your pores.” For humid and hot areas like Mumbai, however, Rajani would replace the Forever Skin Glow Foundation with the Forever Foundation (which is matte) to stay put for longer hours. “All glowy and dewy foundations need to be set with powder. Matte foundations, on the other hand, are better without layering powder or very lightly layering powder.”

Sandhya Shekar

From the choice of formula to the technique of applying the foundation, Sandhya Shekar has some go-to rules. “I love using a buffing or stippling brush [to apply and blend the foundation] as opposed to a flat brush, especially if one wishes to achieve a seamless and flawless finish.” Next, she throws light on why she prefers a light- to medium-coverage foundation for busy days in the festive season. “You might end up wearing a lot of make-up, though I feel less is more. It is key for the make-up to not sit on your skin and look as though you’ve applied a layer of foundation. Using a thick layer of make-up every day during the festive season could clog the pores.” Lastly, she emphasises skin icing. “I always feel that make-up sits better on the skin when iced before.” 

Mehak Oberoi

Mehak Oberoi vouches for the benefits of skin prep before wearing foundation. “It can make a drastic difference in the final look of your make-up.” However, Oberoi’s most important foundation tip includes picking the right shade [of foundation] for yourself. “Try to cop a foundation that is the closest to your skin tone. There are ways of highlighting and contouring the face, which can be opted for instead of using a lighter shade of foundation.”

Bianca Louzado

“You’d definitely want to look all-luminous for the festive season,” says Bianca Louzado, who follows an elaborate skin prep regimen before using the foundation of her choice. On your make-up dresser, align a serum, liquid luminiser, primer, and a matte foundation, recommends the make-up artist. “I prefer the Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 serum from The Ordinary, a matte foundation by either Make Up For Ever, NARS or By Terry, the Positive Light Liquid Luminizer Highlight from Rare Beauty, and a primer from Smashbox or Yves Saint Laurent.” If you’re on the go and want to cheat your way to glowy skin, “mix an equal amount of each of the above products and dab it on with a beauty blender. This mix will provide you with a beautiful, hydrating foundation that looks dewy as well as promises long-lasting wear.”

Tanvi Marathe

We’ve seen a bunch of make-up videos on Instagram that instruct mixing an illuminator with the foundation and then applying the blend all over the face. While the trend seems to be very season-appropriate, Tanvi Marathe isn’t a fan. “I prefer to select the foundation depending on the weather, the skin type of the client and other factors. I choose to not mix the foundation with an illuminator and change its consistency. If the foundation I pick originally is an illuminating one, that will do; however, I usually opt for semi-matte or matte formulations when it comes to a foundation and then strategically place highlighter or an illuminator on areas where I wish, instead of making the whole face look glowy.” Marathe is also particular about how she applies the foundation to the skin. “Not a blender sponge or a stiff application brush, but a thick powder brush (with blending fibres) is what I use to apply the foundation. I also avoid applying too much foundation directly around the nose, under the eyes, and along the hairline.”

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