Foundation for Beautiful Skin

If you’ve always thought that beautiful skin is reserved for those blessed with good genes, think again. With the help of the right concealer, foundation and powder, you can always have amazing-looking skin.

Start by taking a moment to look at yourself in the mirror to figure out how much makeup you actually need. The first thing you should always reach for is concealer to help lighten dark undereye circles. When you find the right one - look for a smooth, creamy formula that’s yellow-based and one shade lighter than your skintone - it can instantly make you look well rested.

How to: Always prep skin with eye cream to create a perfect canvas for concealer. Use your finger or a concealer brush to apply a generous amount of concealer under the eye, up to the lashline and at the innermost corners. Smooth and blend by gently tapping with the pads of your fingers. If you still see darkness, apply a second layer of concealer. To make concealer long-lasting, layer with a dusting of pale yellow powder, applied with a powder puff.

What to avoid: Pass on concealer that’s too light, is too pink or white, or is chalky or greasy. Never use concealer to cover blemishes. Concealer is designed to be lighter than your skin tone, so it will actually draw attention to your blemish. And skip concealer on eyelids because it’ll make eye makeup crease.

Next comes foundation, which is the easiest way to get the look of even, perfect skin. Over the years working as a makeup artist, I’ve found that yellow-toned foundation looks the most natural on all skin tones.

How to: Start by finding the formula that meets your skin’s needs and your lifestyle. Foundation formulas range from low-maintenance tinted moisturizers to moisturizing liquid cream foundations with more coverage. Test foundation by swatching it on the side of your face - not on your hand or arm – and check your reflection in natural light. Spot-apply foundation just where skin needs to be evened out, using your fingers or a sponge. You know you’ve found the right shade when it seems to disappear into your skin.

What to avoid: Pinky-beige foundation looks totally unnatural on skin. If you have to apply makeup on your neck to make it match your face, you’re using the wrong shade. I’m not a big fan of dual-phase or dual-finish foundations because they tend to look chalky and rough.

I finish off with powder to give foundation staying power and take away shine. My powder philosophy makes me a beauty renegade because I believe pale yellow-toned powder is the most flattering on all skin tones.

How to: Look for one with a silky, lighter-than-air texture. I use loose powder at home and pressed powder when I travel, since it’s more portable. Use a powder puff to apply, dusting off excess with a powder brush.

What to avoid: A big beauty myth is that translucent powder is invisible. I find that it actually makes skin look pasty and ashy. The same holds for purple, pink or green powders designed to “correct” color - they don’t look natural, so stay away from them.