Makeup Tips: Your Guide to Concealer, Foundation & Powder

Every chick on the planet (including models) have flaws on their faces.  Thankfully, makeup can cover up and even out your skin tone. It can also brighten dark under-eye circles. Here, Face2Face Africa will begin discussing ways to ensure that you always look luminous.

RELATED: Here’s Your Guide to Proper Skincare

Conceal or Not To Conceal?

Let’s face it, we all have something to “hide.”  Shades can be difficult to find since there’s often a lack of suitable shades. Sometimes I use cream foundations, which does the trick. I typically go a shade lighter. And because a single concealer doesn’t always work — depending on the undertone of your skin — I’d start off with either a red or yellow highlighter that pushes your natural skin tone to enhance your highlighting area.  Your highlighting areas are under your eyes, the top of your cheeks, the middle of your forehead, and on your chin.

Find the Right Foundation Shade! 

When selecting foundation, keep in mind you want to match your skin tone and your undertone (the underlying color beneath your skin, typically yellow, red, or blue). Foundations can help to even skin tones or add radiance; foundations come in creams, liquid, and mousse. Feel each texture to see which one you’re most comfortable with using.

Whenever I’m on set, I’m always asked, “How do I pick the right shade”?  Select two shades you feel are closest to your complexion and apply near the jawline. Wait 1 to 2 minutes to allow it to dry.  Next, find as much natural light as possible. If you can’t see where you applied it, then you found the right shade, so grab it!

For those of you that need minimum coverage, try mixing your foundation with an equal part of face lotion to create a tinted moisturizer.

Should You Use Powders?

I find woman of color aren’t sure if they’re supposed to use powders, which set your face by allowing everything that was applied to stay in place.  Just like foundations, it’s important to pick the right shades.  Don’t fall for the trick that translucent powders works on everyone; it only works if you’re very fair. If you are not fair, be careful about picking the right shades.

You don’t want to have an ashy-grayish finish on your face!

Makeup Application Tips:

• Clean fingers are the best since the warmth of your hands helps to “melt” the base on to your skin. Make sure to always clean and sanitize you hands before and after you apply makeup.
• Sponges provide more coverage and are good for blending. Try using the popular beauty blending sponge, which looks like a pink egg-shaped sponge (pictured). Every few applications, grab a fresh sponge if disposable to avoid breakouts. If you’re using the beauty blending sponge, be sure to wash with gentle soap and warm water.
• Foundation brushes give a heavier, velvety finish. When you’re using them, you are really painting it on, which gives a fresh polished look.