❀
“Just imagine living life in a world without mirrors. You’d dream about your face and imagine it as an outer reflection of what is inside you. And then, when you reached forty, someone put a mirror before you for the first time in your life. Imagine your fright! You’d see the face of a stranger. And you’d know quite clearly what you are unable to grasp: your face is not you.” – Milan Kundera
❀
Hey dolls! As promised, here is my current full coverage foundation routine.
It’s going to be a long one!
To be honest, this post is a little difficult for me as I’m showing my bare skin on my blog for the first time. Although my skin is behaving itself for the most part right now, it’s still really difficult for me and as I’ve said in the past, my skin is one of my biggest sources of anxiety and insecurity.
A little background on my skin: Usually on any given day, I have maybe one to four current breakouts, a lot of bumps, as well as uneven tone and texture. I am in NO way saying that I have severe acne so I don’t want to offend anyone who may, I’m just saying that I’ve always been very unhappy with my skin (but I know it could be a lot worse).
Personally, I love wearing a lot of makeup. Basically, I want my face to…. Not look like my face. LOL just kidding… But no, really, I like more coverage and heavier (looking) foundation than the average person. It’s just my preference. Of course, this can be catered to you! Maybe switch out the foundations, concealers, even different ways of applying these products can give a different feel or look. The best part about makeup is that you can alter it to whatever you like best and it doesn’t have to be what anyone else does or likes!
I have combination skin and this routine would be great for normal to combo/oily skin types. I’m not sure how this would be for dry skin, but if you want to give it a try… Makeup always washes off!
** Again, this is very full coverage and definitely not for those days when you don’t have much time. I love this routine for when I’ll be taking pictures for the blog, for special occasions or nights out. Almost every product I use is drugstore, and the ones that aren’t can easily be switched out for cheap alternatives!
The brushes to apply are optional, of course. But for foundation I use: Sedona Lace’s Synthetic Round Top 480. For concealer: Sedona Lace’s Synthetic Small Flat Top 872 (both of these come in sets, they are linked. But you can buy separate). And for setting powder: e.l.f’s Powder Brush.
A primer – I change them depending on my mood, but today I used Tarte’s clean slate poreless 12-hr perfecting primer. For a drugstore alternative, I love e.l.f’s Mineral Infused primer or Loreal’s Miracle Blur!
Three concealers –
- One on the heavier side, for under your foundation that will conceal blemishes and redness ; it doesn’t have to totally match your skin tone – I use Physician’s Formula Conceal Rx conealer…
- A second for over your foundation that matches your skin – Sonia Kashuk’s Hidden Agenda concealer palette..
- And a third for under your eyes & highlighting – Maybelline’s Instant Age Rewind in the Brightener shade.
Foundation – I mix two but this is really where you can customize for how heavy or light feeling you want it… These two mixed together work great together for me:
- Revlon’s Colorstay
- Covergirl’s 3-in-1 Stay Fabulous foundation.
A setting powder – my favorite is Rimmel’s Stay Matte in Transparent.
—-
To begin I apply my primer first and let it sit and soak into my skin for a minute. Next I apply my first concealer before foundation; doing this before foundation adds another level of coverage from blemishes and redness.
To apply I use the Flat Top brush from Sedona Lace. I dip the brush into a small amount on the back of my hand and dab this onto any blemishes or redness, anything you want to conceal!
Dab and blend out as much as you can. It’s okay if this concealer is a little too light for your skin color because the foundation will help to cover that. But you never want to use a concealer that’s too light over foundation because that will make those flaws stand out!
After applying the concealer. Next comes the foundation:
I pour it onto the back of my hand and mix the colors together. Then I let it sit on the back of my hand for a few seconds to warm up the product – this helps it soak into the skin better.
My absolute favorite brush for foundation is Sedona Lace’s Round Top brush. You can see how densely packed this is, it gives amazing coverage.
Now, this part is important – do NOT rub the foundation into your skin, this will wipe the concealer that you previously applied right off. You want to tab/dab/stipple the foundation on, so it rests right over the concealer.
Side note: that is Mad Men playing on my TV…… I am OBSESSED.
Again, remember to stipple this onto your face! You don’t want to remove the work you did with the concealer previously.
Because the Revlon dries so quickly, I like to apply it in sections. I will dip the brush into a little bit of the foundation on the back of my hand and then stipple it onto one side of my face, then blend it in. Next I’ll move to the next side and do the same, then my chin and nose, lastly my forehead. With whatever foundation is left over, I will apply it to my neck to make sure my face matches my body 🙂
After foundation. Next, if there is still any redness showing you can apply the second concealer:
I cover any redness that is still coming through with Sonia Kashuk’s Hidden Agenda Concealer Palette (07). I love using this palette because you can mix shades so it matches perfectly.
And then I apply Maybelline’s Brightener concealer under my eyes, and highlight where I want.
–
Next comes the setting powder!
I like to stipple this onto my skin as well so it doesn’t rub off any foundation or concealer. Make sure to get your t-zone to soak up any oils and under your eyes as well to set that brightener 🙂
–
And then I finish with the rest of my makeup!
Here is the final result… Before and after:
Quite the difference, no? 🙂
I hope you enjoyed this and that it helped you… I never leave the house without foundation and this routine has made such a huge difference for me. It’s probably the best I’ve been able to put together so far to cover just about anything. Like I said, this post was very hard for me but I get comments quite often saying how perfect my skin is and I really felt the need to show you guys that it isn’t. And that for those of you with skin issues, I 100% understand and feel for you… But makeup is magic, and although it is INSANELY important to feel beautiful in your own skin, it’s nice to have this for the days when you don’t feel so confident. Hugs to you all!
I love and appreciate all you guys, thank you for reading and please leave a comment below if you tried this out, and how it worked for you!
xoxo
❤
—
Contact Info:
I’d love to hear from you! ❤
Instagram: Themakeupaffair
Twitter! @themakeupaffair
Facebook: The Makeup Affair
Pinterest: The Makeup Affair
If you have any questions, requests or just want to talk – themakeupaffairblog@gmail.com
Feel free to contact me at any time: any skin care/makeup questions, advice, post requests or just to chat!
–
Business Inquiries & product reviews – feel free to email me: themakeupaffairblog@yahoo.com
❤
Thank you for reading! xoxo
Thanks for all the tips in this post. =) I never know what to do with different shades of concealers and this has helped.
Glad it helped hun! 🙂
What mascara do you use?
ooo thanks for this post, it’s great!!! i never stipple my foundation, but that sure makes sense why half of my concealer is all gone haha. i must start doing that
It gives a totally different finish, and it also differs when you use different brushes. The more dense the brush, the more coverage you’ll get. I’m so glad you liked it! Thanks for the comment 🙂
Thanks so much for doing this post. I know it must have been hard to put yourself out there, but I promise we still think your skin is beautiful!
Aw, thank you Colleen! You are so sweet and I’m glad you enjoyed it ❤
Great post! I’m going to try a bunch of these tips/tricks! I actually have a flat-top concealer brush like yours (but mine’s from Sigma), but I haven’t known what to do with it…so I haven’t used it at all. LOL
And I love the idea of mixing Revlon ColorStay and Cover Girl 3-in-1! I have both and there are things I love about each, so I’m going to give that a shot. Thanks for the ideas! (And btw, you are lovely both with and without makeup!!!)
Thank you so much for the kind words!
I’m pretty sure those Sigma & Sedona Lace brushes are identical, or close to it so you should get the same effect! Those flat ones are great for buffing 🙂
That was the same feeling I had about them, I love them both for different reasons and putting them together has been amazing. The lasting power is even better and the coverage is insane!
Let me know how it works for you! 🙂
Great post! And, you look lovely both ways!!
Thank you! ❤
Great routine! You look beautiful with or without makeup! ❤
I read this the second it went live BTW but was being too lazy to comment on my phone ;P
You look beautiful and absolutely adorable without makeup but seductive and sexy with it on! 😉 lol The look in your eyes changes. Thanks for the awesome post!
Thank you so much! That would be confidence after the makeup lol I noticed the change too, it’s funny how a little bit of makeup can totally change your mood. 🙂
I’ve never used a brush to put liquid foundation on..? It really works and doesn’t clot up?
As long as you wash your brushes once a week, they’ll be fine 🙂
I have acne scaring. I wear foundation everyday cause I hate my skin. I found a new foundation. I wear the revlon color stay. It’s pretty good. I have really bad dark circles. Can you recommend any concealers that cover them. I also want to know of any primers or foundations. I have combination oily skin. I get extremely oily in my t zone. The only power that works good is Loreal true match.
I totally understand always feeling the need to wear foundation. I haven’t found anything drugstore that has really worked enough for me to recommend them to you for these problems so I hope you don’t mind high end suggestions. Mac’s prolong wear concealer covers just about anything, dark circles and scarring. As for a primer, I love Tarte’s poreless primer, it’s in the purple tube.
This is gorgeous. You do an amazing job and I appreciate the tips! I understand your feelings on makeup. My hubby says I don’t need it but I feel pretty when I get dolled up so I love makeup. We are just accenting what’s already there, right? 😉 LOL. I do have a question though. How do you do your eyebrows? 😊
Exactly! haha we don’t do it for them or anyone else.
I tweeze them. I don’t trust anyone to wax them so I just keep them maintained by tweezing.
I wish you could come do my makeup! My skin looks exactly like your “before” picture, but I have never gotten coverage like your “after”. Hopefully your tutorial will change that!
I’d recommend trying a different way of applying it! Some brushes give better coverage than others. ❤️
I applaud you for baring your skin. Great job and great tutorial. I am off to try it now.
Much love from South Africa.
Thank you! xoxo.
the intro/conclusion to this post are so beautifully written and your photos and descriptions are sooo detailed and helpful, better even than many video tutorials. i’m saving this to try for when my skin is having a bad day!
Thank you! I am so glad you liked this and I hope you will find it helpful!!!
I love your routine I have the same problems with bumps tht pop up with no warning. And I also hv EXTREMELY oily skin. If you have any recommendations for products for oily skin please let me know if it is convenient for. I feel I have tried everything and I hvnt gotten anywhere
I know this post is kind of old, but I am hoping you can give me the name of the blush you are wearing and the color. It is so subtle and pretty!
you’re so naturally pretty, and your eyes are amazing! this tutorial really helped!!!
Thank you! So glad it was helpful! ❤️
Would this work with foundation powder or does it have to be liquid foundation?
You will typically get better coverage with a liquid or cream.
Wow this tutorial is great!!! I also like using drugstore products. My favorite is Elf. Absolutely love their products. What are your thought on the beauty blender? I use it and it really makes a difference if you stipple to give heavier coverage, but I have never been into the whole brush and foundation thing.
Thanks so much for this! i absolutely loved it!
I was looking for an easy and complete way to fix my face for Thanksgiving get-togethers and your instructions were right on. I just started using brushes and you really give great ideas on how to get the job done. I will be trying this out tomorrow morning. Thank you again for your help. I never thought about combining foundation. I hope you have a wonderful Holiday season.
Thanks for the great tips 🙂 I normally use a makeup sponge but I’ll have to try using brushes, I’m curious to see the differences! I have dark circles and redness also, but I have combination skin that’s oily on my t-zone and extremely dry everywhere else! So just a helpful hint for ladies with dry skin like myself, I have found that Maybelline Fit Me foundation in Dewy finish for normal to dry skin works amazing for dry skin!! So if you’re mixing foundations, try throwing that into the mix and it should really give you a lovely finish, with great coverage without clinging to those dreadful dry patches 🙂 also I have found that if you use a nicely pigmented cream blush or stain before you set with powder gives a nice glowy flush ❤ I live for Avon's mouse blush in Marvelous Muave it's so warm and glowy but still on the pinkish side, and creams work so much better then powders when you have dry skin 🙂 hope this helps! Thanks for the lovely routine, I can't wait to try it!