Get the Most Out of Your Foundation

Foundation is easily one of the most expensive things in any girl’s makeup bag. Even drug store foundations can cost a pretty penny, especially when you’re shopping on a college budget.  

For something that can cost upwards of 10 dollars it’s important to do whatever you can to get your money’s worth out of that little bottle of makeup.  There are some simple tips for how to use your foundation that can make sure that you get the biggest bang for your buck. 

If you’re a fan of liquid foundation then you may be losing product every time you apply it without even knowing it.  The tools used to apply liquid foundation (like brushes and sponges) can absorb the foundation so that only a fraction of it is actually being applied to your face! 

Luckily, there are easy ways to help avoid this.  If you apply your foundation with a sponge, an easy way to stop it from ‘eating’ your foundation is to get the sponge wet (be sure to wring it out!) and thenuse it to apply your foundation. Wetting the sponge will keep it from absorbing some of the liquid foundation and robbing you of that product.  

If you prefer using a brush to apply your foundation you will run into a similar problem. The bristles of the brush absorb and hold on to a large amount of product much like a sponge. To avoid this you can try using the same brush to apply your daily moisturizer before you apply your foundation. 

A another way to make your foundation last longer, no matter what kind you use, is to simply try and use less of it.  Rather than applying a layer of foundation over your entire face, try to apply it only where it is absolutely necessary. 

Use it to even out red or discolored areas of your complexion, blending it into non-problem areas. This is why it is so important to find a foundation that matches your skin tone well.  When it comes to covering blemishes and acne, piling on more foundation isn’t the solution. If, after you’ve tried to even out your complexion with your foundation, there are still spots or blemishes that stubbornly show through, turn to a concealer to cover those individual areas.

Only applying your foundation where it’s absolutely needed and using concealer to cover up blemishes or other individual problem areas will not only save you product and make your foundation last longer but also keep your makeup looking light and natural. 

A fourth way to get the most out of your foundation is to take really good care of your skin. Making sure your skin clean and keeping it healthy is the best way to not only make it so that you need less of your foundation but also help the foundation you do wear go on more smoothly.