How-to: from foundation to flawless

With so many cosmetics available to us, often it’s hard to know which products we should be using in order to put our best face forward. When trying to achieve complexion perfection, one has to wonder – is it all in the base? Or is it the finishing touches that make us look fantastically flawless?
The truth is there are a number of steps you need to take in order to rock a seemingly flawless face. From how you prep your skin to how you set your finishing touches, each step is as important as the next – and we’ve got the tips and tricks you need to showcase your best face ever.
Prep
Preparing your skin for make-up is the most crucial step in achieving a flawless face. You have to picture your skin as a blank canvas – that is, smooth, soft, evenly toned and line-free. To ensure your skin is all of these things and therefore the perfect base for your make-up, get the help of a hard-working primer. The smoother the primer, the better your make-up will sit and the more flawless your face will look. We love L’Oreal Base Magique Transforming Smoothing Primer because it works as velvety base for your make-up, while simultaneously hydrating your skin and minimising fine lines, wrinkles and an uneven complexion. Plus, soft powders in the formula work to absorb sebum and gently mattify the skin, so you’re left with your smoothest face base ever.
Need a bit of an extra boost in the anti-ageing department? Before you apply your primer, use a skin refining treatment like Lancôme Génifique Youth Activating Concentrate. It actively helps to improve the condition of your skin each time you use it, minimising fine lines and wrinkles and helping you to look younger and your skin to look more refined.
Apply
Once your skin is prepped and ready, it’s time to deal with any imperfections that may be plaguing your complexion. Think blemishes and dark under-eye circles. We love COVERGIRL Simply Ageless Concealer, as it blends over lines and blemishes with ease, evening out skin tone and improving skin texture at the same time. The radiant formula also works to brighten the under-eye area, banishing dark marks without caking.
Next is your foundation. For perfect application, ensure you have a foundation that is perfectly matched to your skin tone and skin concerns (for example, opt for an oil-free formulation if you suffer from combination skin, or a long-lasting formulation if you’re constantly on the go) and that you’re armed with a foundation brush. We love Lancôme Teint Idole Ultra 24H Foundation for its skin smoothing formulation that applies like a dream and leaves a flawless-looking result that won’t budge! For the best result possible, apply the foundation to the back of your hand and sweep it over your skin in circular motions using your foundation brush.
Enhance
To ensure your handiwork definitely doesn’t budge, set your foundation in place with a translucent powder that will work to ‘lock’ all of your make-up in place. We love Alexami Mineral Setting Powder for the gentle velvet finishing touch it gives your skin.
Next, choose a bronzing powder that will look natural on your skin while still sculpting your cheeks. A bronzer that can build intensity slowly will guarantee that you look naturally sculpted, with subtle definition. We love Clinique Almost Bronzer SPF 15 for its naturally sun-kissed hue and buildable colour.
For a touch of radiance, opt for an illuminating powder that will make your face look as though you’re exuding an inner glow. We love Prestige Cosmetics Skin Loving Minerals Sun Baked Highlighter for its light reflecting particles that instantly illuminates dull skin and adds a brightening effect to your complexion.
To finish off your look, grab a setting spray that will help to keep you looking luscious all day long, without fear of fading foundation or blotchy bronzer. MAC Fix+ is infused with a blend of calming green tea, chamomile and cucumber, and will provide a refreshing burst of moisture, locking your flawless face into place.
What are your tips for achieveing a flawless face?
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80 Member Comments
looking for a great primer...think I will give this one a try
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I swear by some of the Mirenesse foundations which give amazing coverage.
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Drink lots of water and sleep lots. Especially the sleeping bits. On the days I don't sleep enough, I wake up looking YEARS older and just plain tired and drab. The difference is amazing and actually extremely frightening
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I usually put on concealer after my foundation but will try it the other way round
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When applying makeup, my tip is that apply makeup in the light you will be spending most time in. ie if you're going to be in an office with fluorescent light, then apply your makeup in fluorescent light. Or in the sunlight.
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I am having trouble with my foundation since using a primer,is it possible that some products are not compatible with others? I clense, tone i then apply Lancomes Visionnaire then comes the moisturiser and then a primer and finally my foundation, everything seems to soak into my pores and looks awful, help:)
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Using a good quality primer is a must for any decent make up application. I don't wear too much make up for work but if I'm heading out on the weekend I'll def wear primer and some highlighter on my cheekbones.
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I love highlighters! They can make anyone look well rested.
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must invest in a primer!
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I love L'Oreal Base Magique Transforming Smoothing Primer, my make up looks so smooth! I use MAC studio fix powder foundation on top and set with Rimmel Stay Matte Translucent Powder, still on the hunt for a good under eye concealor though...
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Some really good tips her BH!
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This article was amazing, thank you! At the moment, I just cleanse, tone, moisturise and out the foundation straight on with a powder after. I have blemishes so I need to be using a concealer as well- I just have no idea what type to buy and how to apply it. Definately going to try a primer as well :)
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i always thought it was foundation then concealer, but i guess not. thanks for the tip.
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i use the lancome serum ad can defiantly vouch for it :)
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It doesn't seem to matter how good my foundation or skin preparation is. I find the only way to get truly flawless looking skin is to have healthy skin, i.e. drink plenty of water, and cleanse and moisturise morning and night.
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Mac seems to break a lot of people out, has anyone here experienced that with their products? I have sensitive skin so I would like to hear some opinions before purchasing?
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i love mac make up rally good for my skin
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i love mac make up rally good for my skin
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drinking lot of water during the day
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oooooo this is great!
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Mabellene mineral liquid and then mary kay mineral powder works a treat, i am complimented constantly on how flawless my complexion is :)
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moisturise and prime!! they are a definite!
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I love reading make-up application tips just before I get ready to go out! It really makes me feel like im not getting ready alone, as strange as that sounds! thanks bh!
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