Makeup Monday: 3 Mineral Foundation Application Techniques, Plus Concealer Tips

Now that you’ve discovered a foundation shade to match your skin tone, let’s talk about actually wearing your new makeup. Did you know that there are several ways to apply BeeyoutifulSkin’s mineral foundation? Most people who have used mineral makeup before are familiar with the classic dry buff method, but there are a couple of other techniques that will give you different results. Try them all out to find out which one works best for you!
Dry Buff Method
This is the classic approach to applying mineral foundation, and for good reason: it’s quick and simple, easy to master, and you can customize the amount of coverage you get by varying your brush pressure and amount of product used, giving a soft, glowing finish to your skin.
To begin, cleanse and moisturize your skin as usual. (This step is important to do before applying makeup; it eliminates excess oils and “daily dust”, and preps your skin to be the best canvas for makeup to adhere to.) Tap out a bit of foundation into the lid, and swirl your foundation brush around, being sure to get the makeup worked up into the bristles. Tap off any excess foundation back into the lid.
Then, using medium pressure and circular strokes, buff the foundation into your skin. I like to start at the forehead and work my way down, finishing by blending the jawline into the neck. The key here is the circular motion and consistent pressure. This will give you actual coverage, as opposed to just dusting it on like you would a traditional setting powder. Finish your foundation with a spritz of our Laveshmint Hydrating Toner, if you like.
“Air-brush” Method
This technique will give you an even, smooth finish with full coverage, requires a bit more buffing than the dry method, but the super soft, “perfect” look is well worth it. This is currently my favorite way to apply my foundation.
Again, start with a freshly cleansed and moisturized face, then mist our Laveshmint Hydrating Toner on your skin. Tap out a bit of foundation into your lid, then mist your foundation brush with the toner as well before swirling it in the makeup. What you’re going for here is not a sopping wet brush, but a fine mist that will mix with the foundation on the brush, coating the bristles lightly.
Working quickly, buff the moist foundation into your skin, being sure to buff until dry, paying close attention to blending well at the hairline and jawline. I like to add a final dash of Laveshmint Hydrating Toner once I’m done; it acts as a setting mist, and also moisturizes your skin right through the makeup. (Pro tip: carry it in your handbag in the summer to spritz on your face and neck! The cool of the peppermint oil will refresh you and keep your skin moist in dry, hot weather.)
Liquid Method
I recommend this application if you have dry skin (like me!) or simply prefer the familiarity of liquid foundation. You have complete control over how much coverage you achieve, from tinted moisturizer (lightest) to thick, rich cream (fullest) because you are mixing it yourself. If you struggle with dryness, sometimes mineral makeup can enhance that tight feeling, and leave you less-than-glowing… but by using the liquid method you moisturize and cover at the same time.
To start, cleanse and moisturize your face (yep, I’m going to say that every time; it’s that important). Then in your foundation lid, or on a saucer if you prefer, mix a dollop of your favorite moisturizer (I love our Laveshmint Moisturizer!) with just a sprinkle of foundation powder. Experiment with ratios to come up with the coverage that’s just right for you.
To apply, you can either use your fingers, a makeup sponge, or for the best coverage and professional finish, I like to use our flat brush. Be sure to blend well, especially around the hair and jaw lines; this technique is the least forgiving if you don’t blend, blend, blend! You might like to dust on a light, dry coat of foundation if you want a matte finish, or if you’re going for a more dewy look, go without. Again, you can spritz on some of our Laveshmint Toner for staying power and extra hydration.
Concealer
Lastly, let’s talk about concealer. You’ll notice we don’t offer a separate product to cover blemishes and dark circles… why is that, you ask? Well, unlike most mineral makeup, our foundation is made without fillers, thus it’s a very concentrated product, already at (or above!) the pigment levels of most mineral concealers. Truly, a little goes a long way when used as a foundation.
Our foundation powder will also perform well as a concealer with the right brush, using any of the above methods. You can use our Large Flat Brush to conceal dark under-eye circles, the Pointed Sculptor Brush works particularly well with the dry buff method and the airbrush method, or try the Large All-Over Brush with the liquid or dry buff methods. Be sure to blend the concealer-covered areas seamlessly with the rest of your foundation for even, flawless, glowing skin.
Thank you! Being a very visual learner, I got more out of the video actually seeing how to apply rather than reading the text. Even though I’ve been using this makeup for a few years, I learned better how to use it.
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I am a visual learner, too! If a picture is worth a thousand words, then a video must be worth at least a million!
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Hi. I’m trying to learn highlighting and contouring. However, I love your products and would like to use your makeup instead of the products/colors that beauty bloggers recommend. So, I was wondering if you’d be able to help at all with color recommendation. Particularly the contouring color. Thank you.
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Hi Evalina, have you seen our blog post about contouring? https://articles.beeyoutiful.com/2015/04/06/makeup-monday-contouring-101/?relatedposts_hit=1&relatedposts_origin=594&relatedposts_position=1
In that post I mention the product that I use for contouring is our Warm Bronzer. That color works well as a contour for my skin tone; however, we have several bronzers that you can choose from that would complement your skin. My general rule of thumb when choosing a contouring color is to go a few shades darker than your foundation shade.
You can see our bronzers here: http://www.beeyoutifulskin.com/mineral-makeup/mineral-makeup/blush-and-bronzers
And you can order a custom sample kit with our bronzer shades here: http://www.beeyoutifulskin.com/samples/samples/sample-kit
If you need help choosing a foundation shade, check out our post and video about matching mineral makeup, and order a sample kit to try them out for yourself!
Blog post: https://articles.beeyoutiful.com/2015/03/23/makeup-monday-giveaway-and-matchy-matchy-how-to-find-your-perfect-mineral-makeup-foundation-shade/?relatedposts_hit=1&relatedposts_origin=594&relatedposts_position=0
Foundation sample kits:
http://www.beeyoutifulskin.com/samples/samples/foundation-sample-kits
I hope that helps! If you have any more questions, feel free to drop me a line at rosanna@beeyoutiful.com 🙂
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