Hannah Morrill, Allure magazine
This is the thing about foundations: It's kind of like shapewear. At its worst, it's uncomfortable, it makes you sweat, and people can tell you're wearing it. But at its best, you look flawless, all the right places are expertly concealed-and nobody knows exactly why.
And just like Spanx, the kind of coverage you need depends on the look you're going for. Just keep in mind that the goal is to use as little foundation as possible, Determine the best texture and shade for your skin tone, follow a few key application tricks, and everything you wear on top will glide on perfectly.
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A satiny, silicone-based primer, like Revlon PhotoReady Perfecting Primer on NYX Shine Killer, preps the skin for makeup by absorbing excess oil and filling in fine lines. "You'll also use less foundation, which is always the goal," says makeup artist Molly R. Stern.
Choose a rubbery sponge with rounded edges, which creates a velvety, nonstreaky finish. The BeautyBlender is a classic; Laura Mercier 4-Pack Sponge is also good. Dampen it first so it doesn't soak up too much formula.
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The stiff, nonporous fibers of synthetic brushes are ideal for applying creamy foundation. To keep it from looking too heavy, use a circular potion, allowing just the tips of the bristles to touch your face. THe less you lift the brush, the fewer streaks you'll have to fix. Try Sonia Kashuk Large Foundation Brush.
A brush with natural bristles (squirrel, goat) is best for blending powder foundation. The bristles are softer, thicker, and more flexible than synthetic brushes and leave behind a weightless layer, not a chalky film. We like Shu Uemura Natural Goat 18 brush.
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Wash your brushes once a week with a gentle cleanser. For cleaning natural bristles, Goodwin uses a solution of one part baby shampoo to four parts water, and for synthetic, she likes Dr. Bronner's Magic Soap. After rinsing, let the brush dry with the bristles hanging off the edge of a counter.
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