How to Apply Foundation like a Pro

BellaSugarSource: How to Apply Foundation Like a Pro

Getting a flawless makeup look means you have to master the basics first. MAC senior makeup artist Romero Jennings shares the essential steps to perfecting your complexion so you have the ideal base for creating any makeup look. Click through to see his step-by-step guide.

• Prep Your Skin: "It's so important to prep your skin before you put on foundation," Jennings says. Start off with clean skin by washing your face or using a face wipe to perfect your canvas.
• Moisturize: You want to have healthy, glowing skin before you even apply your foundation. So once your skin is clean, add a little hydration with a touch of moisturizer and eye cream. "Eye cream is really important and to start at a young age," Jennings says. "If you don't want to use it during the daytime, because you feel like your skin is oily, then use it at night."
• Prime: Once your skin is hydrated, the next step is to apply a primer. "Primers really help everything stay in place," Jennings says.
• Mattify: And if you have oily skin, Jennings recommends using MAC's Skin Refined Zone ($20) to take down shine. "It controls oil in the T zone, smoothes the skin out, and it also dries matte," he explains. "This will last, especially if you're going out in the evening, and you can use it later over your makeup for any touch-ups."

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• Blend Your Foundation and Moisturizer: Next, blend your foundation with your moisturizer to create a smooth, glides-on-easily product. Jennings used Matchmaster SPF 15 Foundation ($33) with Studio Moisture Fix ($31) in a palette with a brush. If you don't have a palette, then you can use the back of your hand and a brush, or even just your fingers. "What I love about mixing them together is that this formula is great to use by itself," Jennings explains. "You're almost making a tinted moisturizer out of it."
• Tap on With a Brush: "It's really important to just stipple, or to tap," Jennings says about applying your foundation. "A lot of people tend to wipe when they use brushes. But the technique is really about pressing or tapping because you have more control, and the result doesn't look as caked on." He recommends using a small contouring brush like the MAC 109 Brush ($35), which is ideal to use for the tapping technique over a standard foundation brush.
• Under-Eye Area: Once you've gone over your skin with a wash of foundation, it's time to go back and touch up with concealer. Jennings first starts on the eyes. "Everyone has a little bit of redness in the outer corner of the eye from tearing," Jennings explains. That's why he recommends tapping concealer on the outer corner and toward the inner corner. He then blends the concealer to cover the under-eye area. "The area people will always complain about looking thick [makeup-wise] is the center right under the eye, so that's why I apply it with this technique."
• Perfect and Conceal: Other common areas that need a touch of concealer include on the sides of and under the nose, around the mouth, and on any blemishes or pimples. Jennings uses the stippling technique for concealer, too. To cover a raised pimple, Jennings likes to use a skinny brush to tap concealer right on top of the blemish. Next, he'll go back with his regular foundation brush and tap over the area to help blend it out.
• Set With Powder: Once you have a flawless look, set everything with powder. This step helps minimize shine, but most of all, it will keep your perfected look in place.
• Perfect Complexion: Now that you've perfected your complexion, all you need for a natural look is a touch of blush, mascara, and a little lip balm.