The Best Tools To Apply Your Foundation

There are many ways to apply your foundation but the most popular ones are sponges, brushes or your hands. This is a look at all of them so that you can decide for yourself which one works best for you.

Foundation Sponges:

There are two main types that have become so popular, the little triangular make up sponges you can buy quite cheaply in packs and the egg shaped sponge called The Beauty Blender created by the Latina makeup artist, Rea Ann Silva.

It became really famous because it give a gorgeous, smooth finish, especially around the eyes and I know some artists that swear by them for corrective makeup. It is also used by celebrities like Kim Kardashian West, Heidi Klum and many more.

Advantages:

Beauty Blenders give a gorgeous, smooth finish, especially around the eyes and are great for corrective makeup.

The little sponges are cheap to buy so you can just bin it if it gets too dirty and you can always travel with a fresh one.

You can buy a beauty blend holder to make it easier to travel with, see pic above.

Disadvantages:

Beauty Blenders can be expensive to replace.

All sponges can be very difficult to store once used.

They are very difficult to clean so they are a breeding ground for bacteria and you end up binning them, so although they are relatively cheap this is very wasteful.

They absorb a lot of your foundation so this can end up costing you more money in the long run.

How to use:

Pin your hair back from your face. 

Sometimes, I put a paper towel around the rim of my top at the front to avoid getting any on my top.

Make sure your hands are really clean.

Sponges must be dampened first for the best results and to stop them absorbing too much of your foundation. 

Put 2 pumps of your liquid foundation onto the back of your sanitized hand and apply some to the four areas of your face, your cheeks, forehead and chin. 

Blend it out, patting extra on those areas that need more coverage.

Applying Foundation with your Hands:

Our hands are our cheapest tools.

which usually give a very sheer finish but healthy glow. 

Advantages:

Gives a beautiful, skin-like, sheer, finish.

They use less product so saves money in the long run.

Free and easy to wash.

Disadvantages:

When you use your hands, you can end up taking a lot of the moisture out of the foundation which is not good especially if you have dry skin.

Oil and bacteria from your hands clog your pores, causing breakouts.

How to use:

Clean your hands thoroughly and disinfect them before touching your foundation.

 Apply 2 pumps of foundation onto the back of your hand.

Apply to four areas of your face, cheeks, forehead and chin.

Use the tips of your fingers to gently spread out and blend the foundation

Pat on extra on the area where you need more foundation e.g. cheeks.

You can blend the foundation in really well with the heat of your hands and pat it on the areas that need more coverage.

Foundation Brushes:

Finally, we have foundation brushes. 

The flat paddle brush used to be very popular, then we had the craze of the (Toothbrush Shape) Oval Makeup Brushes invented by Matthew Waitesmith, they are more ergonomically designed for applying makeup.

They have thick, soft bristles which give great coverage without using too much foundation but the most popular recently is still the buffing or stippling brush as it gives a lovely seamless finish to your makeup and easy to blend out your makeup.

Advantages:

If properly cared for, they last a long time, so in the long run you save money.

More hygienic (presuming you keep your brush clean) 

Concentrated placement so they can give you a full coverage finish.

Polished, professional finish.

Less mess, clean hands.

Disadvantages:

You must learn a new skill – getting used to a brush takes a little while to build up your confidence. 

Like sponges, it can be a challenge keeping your makeup bag clean when you travel with a foundation brush covered in foundation.

Brushes must be washed at least once a week and ideally sprayed after each use to with brush cleaner like ‘Beauty So Clean’, you don’t need much so it is very reasonable and very effective. It cleans and kills 99% of bacteria.

Just spray your brush, wipe off the foundation on a paper towel and leave flat to dry.

How to use:

Apply 2 pumps of foundation to the top of your brush and dab a little on your forehead, chin and then both cheeks and blend out quickly before it dries.

My Personal Opinion/Preference:

I’ll be honest, I started off many years ago using my hands to apply my foundation and I’m sure my makeup was still blended fine but since training as a professional makeup artist, I learned how to use brushes for all areas of make-up and still prefer them for hygiene reasons and that professional finish they give.

One artist I know explained it’s like painting with your fingers or a brush – neither are wrong it just comes down to personal preference.

My favourite brush is the one by Blank Canvas Cosmetics, the F20 buffing brush, I have it for over 4 years, its still soft, small enough to fit the contours of my face but big enough for a fast application. Mine is pink, but there is a new one out in a gorgeous rose gold colour.

Conclusion:

Those are your basic choices. Neither is better necessarily; it comes down to your skin, the type of makeup you apply and your personal preferences.

Choose one tool and get good at using it, learn to perfect your foundation application and most of all keep your applicators clean.

Hope this helps, I’d love to hear from you and if you find a particular way to apply your makeup or a new tool or tips, please do share.

Next, ‘How to find the right liquid foundation’ click here.

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