My Makeup Foundations Routine

Hello, and welcome to the second day of Beauty Week here at Dressed for My Day. In yesterday’s post I shared my daily morning skincare routine. Thanks to those of you who left comments. I was out of reach of my computer all day and didn’t get to respond to many of them. But I’m eager to try the vitamin C several of you suggested. I plan to try this serum, which contains vitamin C, E and Ferulic acid. The reviews are great and a few vloggers I trust recommend it highly.

Today I’m sharing my morning makeup foundations routine. I’ll be showing you the products and procedures I use to apply a dewy, smooth and natural foundation for the rest of my cosmetics. We’re talking primer, foundation and under eye concealor.

My goals

My goals for foundation include smooth application, dewy appearance, long lasting wear and adequate coverage. I like for my foundation to create a smooth finish and to look as natural as possible. But, at my age, au naturale is not an option. I need my foundation to cover imperfections in my complexion, but I want it to appear as natural as possible.

As I stated in yesterday’s post, my skin is on the dry side and I live in a very arid climate, so I like high moisturizing products. I have fair to light skin with neutral undertones, and I do have some age spots and wrinkles to deal with.

Let’s get started!

My products

Remember, I apply the following products after completing my morning skincare routine.

Primer

I’ve found that using a primer before my foundation makes a huge difference in how the foundation goes on my older skin. It also helps my foundation lasts longer.

I’ve used more expensive primers, but this one by Maybelline works wonderfully and costs a fraction of the price. I apply just a small dab over the surface of my skin.

Tip: When applying skincare products, rub them in with a gentle touch. But when applying foundational cosmetics, including the primer, foundation and concealer, apply the products – don’t rub them in – with a light hand to the surface of your skin. Skin care = rub in; foundation = put on.

Foundation

The It Cosmetics Your Skin But Better CC+ Color Correcting Full Coverage Cream is truly a full coverage cream. But you can control how much you apply. I usually use about one and a half pumps of this thick cream for my entire face and neck.

I use the Fair Light shade. It’s one of twelve available shades, and it works well for me in the winter. I may need to go up to Light Medium this summer, when I tend to get a little sun on my face. I love that this foundation contains an anti-aging serum as well as an SPF 50 sunscreen.

I apply dots of the foundation to my forehead, nose, cheeks, chin and neck. Then I use the It Cosmetics #702 CC+ Skin Perfecting brush to gently brush the foundation all over the surface of my face and neck.

I know it may seem like using a brush to apply your foundation would require you to use more product. But I actually use less when I apply with a brush than I use when I apply with my fingertips. And I achieve a thinner but more substantial and even coating of the product on my face with the brush. Trust me, I poo pooed using a brush for years, believing it was a waste of product. But I’m eating my words…and loving this brush.

When I finish brushing on my foundation, it’s not done. In fact, I wouldn’t go out of the house in this state. So don’t worry about the thickness of the product at this point. My goal here is simply to cover my entire face. Be sure to brush product to the brow line, down onto your neck (if you like), under your nose and up to and even onto your mouth.

Concealer

I like the thickness and coverage of this It Cosmetics Bye Bye Under Eye Concealer. I just use a tiny dab of product and it’s enough for both under eye areas.

I apply the concealer with my ring finger of my non-dominant hand, putting the little dabs of product just under my eyes.

Next I use this essential concealer brush to gently spread the cream into place. I end up with an upside down triangle of concealer, stretching from the full length of my under eye down to a point near the bottom of my nose.

Use the brush to get the product close to the lower lash line and into all the little crannies you can reach with your finger. You’ll want a flat, small, firm paddle head brush like this one for best results.

BeautyBlender

Up to this point I’ve been applying product. Now I make the product look beautiful and natural.

Before using, completely wet the BeautyBlender until it is soaked. Then wring it out carefully and wrap in a clean wash cloth or towel to remove as much moisture as possible.

I usually first dab gently at the under eye concealer, tapping it until it’s blended and smooth. Try to get up close to the eye.

Then I flip the blender and use the sides and the bulbous end to “bounce gently” all over my face. You don’t have to swipe with the sponge, just bounce. But be sure to bounce over the entire surface, especially in the hairline, under jaw, along the nose and mouth, over the neck. The better you bounce all over your face, the smoother and more natural your foundation will look.

You can either clean your BeautyBlender immediately after using it or wait and clean it before the next use. I use the BeautyBlender BeautyCleanser solid. It is important to use a cleanser that does not contain glycerin, which will eat away at the product.

The keys to good foundation application are:

• using good products that go on well
• using the right shades, those that best match your skin color and undertones
• applying product with the right tools
• blending, blending, blending (with the BeautyBlender)

Well, that’s simply what I do and what I use. If you have questions or even pointers, please join the conversation in the comments below. Thanks so much for spending part of your day here at Dressed for My Day.

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Blessed for My Day

Esther was a drop dead gorgeous woman. And it may appear that her beauty gave her a leg up in the king’s palace. But it was God’s grace that ultimately gained Esther favor, not only in the eyes of the king, but also in the estimation of every man and woman who knew her. That’s the beauty of God’s grace in a person’s life.

But I love that Esther didn’t rely only on her physical beauty to open doors. She used her noodle! And you know what made Esther the most beautiful of all? It wasn’t the ointments or treatments she went through in preparation to see the king. The reason we celebrate Esther’s beauty today is because she was…courageous. She rose to the occasion, stepped out with courage and faith and did what only she could do.

Want to be beautiful today? Follow Esther’s example. Say yes to the Lord’s call and bravely step into the shoes only you can wear. What is God calling you to courageously do today?

Then Mordecai told them to reply to Esther, “Do not imagine that you in the king’s palace can escape any more than all the Jews. For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place and you and your father’s house will perish. And who knows whether you have not attained royalty for such a time as this?” ~ Esther 4:13-14