Pulling rabbits out of hats is adorable and all, only we adopt an everyday kind of magic. You know, the manner certain beauty products tin can turn us from slumber-deprived zombies into polished superwomen. 1 such particular? A cracking foundation. And while it doesn't perhaps trigger the aforementioned excitement every bit say, the perfect nude lipstick, it tin transform your complexion—that is, when it doesn't go all cakey (meaning it appears thick, patchy, and mask-like). If yous're someone who feels similar your makeup looks cakey no matter what products you use, nosotros become it. But not to worry! The good news is that fugitive—and even fixing—cakey foundation isn't as difficult as it seems.

All y'all need are the right application techniques and makeup hacks to get that coveted Instagram filter-like finish. Now, because we know that's much easier said than washed, we asked makeup artists for their proficient tips and tricks, equally well as the products they swear by. Here, observe everything you demand for a flawless, cake-free makeup await.

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First, make sure you moisturize before applying foundation.

"Every time y'all cleanse your confront, yous're removing some of the natural oils and hydrators that keep your peel looking polish," says ​Dr. Rachel Nazarian​ of Schweiger Dermatology Grouping in NYC.

"Employ a rich moisturizer later on cleansing—and before you apply makeup—to ensure that the skin bulwark is intact and healthy, which will allow your makeup to sit down more than evenly on your skin," she says. While the drier months are an easier reminder to moisturize more oftentimes, information technology'southward a habit that should be a part of your year-round routine to maintain residual in your pare'south pH levels. That in turn helps your peel stay supple, youthful, and forbid problems (similar acne) before they beginning.

"Give your moisturizer a few minutes to sink in earlier applying makeup so your foundation doesn't pill," adds Mai Quynh, a celebrity makeup artist whose clients include Scarlett Johansson and Tessa Thompson.

To keep your foundation from looking patchy, prep skin with primer.

Charlotte Tilbury Brightening Youth Glow Primer

Charlotte Tilbury Brightening Youth Glow Primer
Credit: Nordstrom

Applying a layer of product underneath your foundation may sound counterintuitive to creating a cake-costless finish, but a lightweight primer can help smoothen skin. (Plus, information technology only takes a little bit of primer to go a long way.)

"Think of information technology like this: When you give your walls a fresh glaze of paint, you first employ a paint primer to even out the surface and make your colour last as long equally possible," says celebrity makeup artist Min Min Ma. "The aforementioned goes for primer on your skin."

While moisturizer softens your skin, primer gives your makeup something to cling to so it lasts throughout the 24-hour interval instead of sliding effectually your confront. The most innovative primers have bonus effects, too: "Charlotte Tilbury BrighteningYouth Glow Primer is one of my favorites to colour-correct and give a luminous glow," says Ma.

Cull the right foundation formula for your pare type.

Y'all want your foundation to work with your skin—not confronting it—then information technology's essential to start determine which formulation will work best for your pare blazon. If you lot accept an oily complexion, a non-comedogenic (read: it won't clog pores) and oil-free foundation volition do the trick. If you take dry skin, a creamy compact foundation will ensure that your skin stays moisturized. If your complexion is somewhere in the middle (a.g.a combination skin), look for one that offers buildable coverage.

When in doubt, "any skin type can't go wrong with a sheer, liquid formula, which mimics the texture of actual skin," says makeup artist Mary Irwin. "A lightweight, liquid foundation volition exist less likely to block over a heavy coverage stick or pulverization, especially if you're a dazzler novice." Just utilize it advisedly, adding thin layers until you lot reach your desired level of coverage.

Brand sure you lot've picked the perfect foundation shade, as well.

I of the biggest reasons foundation looks cakey? The color is as well light or too nighttime—and then it'southward even more than obvious that y'all're wearing it. To pick the perfect shade of foundation, expect for one that literally disappears into your skin.

"Exam out the colour on your jawline and make sure you're looking at it in natural light to encounter all the nuances of the shade and how information technology'll await in person," says Quynh. "Sometimes, specially if you have a more oily complexion, a foundation tin can also oxidize in colour when it reacts to your skin, making it look streaky and unnatural. Let your makeup set for a infinitesimal earlier moving onto other products to ensure it doesn't get darker."

Use foundation with a makeup brush—or your fingers.

#55 Deluxe Blender Brush

TRISH MCEVOY #55 Palatial Blender Castor
Credit: Nordstrom

To decide the all-time brush for your foundation application, consider your peel'due south texture. "For instance, someone with skin that has some hyperpigmentation or acne might prefer a flatter castor, like the Trish McEvoy Brush 55 Deluxe Blender, to even out the texture," says Irwin. "Information technology features densely packed brush hairs that provide fuller coverage." On the other hand, if your texture is more even, you might want a fluffier brush, like the Information technology Cosmetics Heavenly Luxe Complexion Perfection Brush #seven, which grabs less paint.

But the all-time tool of all might exist at your fingertips—literally. "For a truly flawless foundation expect, i of my favorite hacks is to press the foundation into the skin with my hands after brushing it on," she says. "The natural, subtle heat from the hands aid melt the makeup into the skin."

Equally important? Don't forget to clean your brushes at least in one case a calendar week with lukewarm h2o and soap to avoid buildup and leaner, or else you'll get an uneven deposit of foundation on your peel.

To avoid cakey makeup, remember that less is more.

When it comes to natural-looking foundation, follow this dominion: "But apply makeup where you lot need it," says Irwin.

To avoid a heavy-handed foundation application, start with a pocket-sized amount and build equally desired. "Focus on the middle of your face, which is usually where redness and discoloration lives for near people," Irwin says. "To troubleshoot certain areas, dab a pocket-size amount of concealer (information technology's more than concentrated in pigment) instead of piling on foundation so you lot prevent caking."

If y'all're foundation looks cakey after you lot've applied information technology, alloy, and blend and blend.

The one thing every single makeup artist agrees on? That blending is the most important footstep to avoiding cakey makeup.

"Start from the centre of your face and blend outwards to eolith less product to the edges of your face, which keeps the whole effect softer," says Irwin. You should also make sure to blend into your neck and jawline—areas that tend to be lighter than your face.

Set your foundation with a translucent powder or facial spray.

"​If you have combination or oily peel, apply a sheer dusting of translucent pulverization to fix your look," says Ma. "Make sure to focus on the T-zone and nether middle areas, which tend to wait the most worn-down and cakey throughout the day."

For dryer skin (or if you just want to revive your look), a facial spray will help create the illusion that you're not wearing makeup at all, says Quynh.

And when people start complimenting your skin, ​not​ your makeup, know y'all've reached block-costless, foundation nirvana.

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preview for Beauty 911: How to Fix Cakey Foundation

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