How to make your foundation look like second skin

The secret to a good base is that it should look just like your skin. When you find yourself receiving compliments like 'Oh my god, your skin looks amazing!', you know that you have a perfected your make up foundation.

Finding the foundation with the perfect formula is half the battle won. It is important it completely vanishes and seamlessly blend into your skin. Here are the tips from Vogue to achieving the second-skin effect for your base:

Prep your skin well

It’s a given that your skin should be clean and well-moisturised. But here are some tips to give your skin the glow-from-within look. When doing your skincare, start with a hydrating face mask like a sheet mask or a water based-gel and then use a jade roller to facilitate lymphatic drainage. This removes any excess puffiness and gets your skin to its optimal state. “It creates a natural flush that makes the face look more awake,” said makeup artist Kira Nasrat.

Use primer sparingly

Primer has been a much-debated make-up product- are primers really needed? When applied in the right way, it makes the make-up last all-day. But if applied excessively, it is just another unnecessary layer on your face. If you are doing heavy duty make-up, apply a mattifying primer on places that are prone to getting oily soon, like your T-zone, chin and the sides of the nose.

Use the right strokes

The trick to apply foundation only where it is necessarily, not to paint the whole face with it. Start of at the centre of your face and slowly blend it towards the cheek with outward strokes. Don’t miss out on the area around the mouth as it is prone to shadows and also to hyper pigmentation. To make the foundation look as natural as possible, avoid putting it on the bridge of the nose so that existing freckles show. Also make sure that you don’t apply to the corners near the nostrils as they are generally dry patches and can look cakey over time.

Use a buffing action

No matter what tool you use to apply your foundation- a beauty blender, a stippling brush or your fingers, make sure you are buffing the product on your face rather than slathering it on like paint. If you are using a sponge, make sure it is bouncing off your face. This technique avoids streaks on the face as well as provides complete coverage while giving a natural finish.

Strobe the high points

To give dimension to your face, make sure to use a strobing cream or a highlighter on the parts of your face where the light naturally falls on it. The cheekbones, brow bone and the Cupid’s bow are the key points. “I’m not a fan of powder highlighters because it looks a bit fake to me,” said Violette, Parisian make-up artist. “Creamy balm textures will give you dewiness as if you’re not wearing any products.”

Blot the excess product

Don’t forget this important step for a flawless finish- blot off the excess. Use a blotting paper to soak up an extra highlighter or any oily patches on your skin that appeared while putting the make-up. Then, take a translucent powder to seal the whole look. This also prevents unwanted shine on the face. Use a big, poufy brush to apply it only the places prone to getting oil, such as the under-eyes and chin area. Completely giving it a matte look will not help you achieve a second skin look.