(Or, avoid potential muddiness by following Carmindy's suggestion to use highlighter alone to shape your face.) Contouring runs the most danger of looking obvious and fake, so be precise (and sparing) in your application. To add depth and narrow your cheeks, apply contour in those shadows and use your buffing brush to to blend the edges and really work it into the skin (make sure it's not too dark, and completely matte-glittery contour is less convincing!). However, I've seen pros wield this brush alone to apply and buff in foundation-practice (and great lighting) makes perfect. My abilities with a flat brush extend only to using it to apply liquid foundation before then working it in with a buffing brush. Michelle suggests using brushes instead of sponges, since sponges can waste a lot of product and are usually better suited for removing excess product rather than applying it.įlat foundation brushes: Require a skilled hand to 'paint' on product, otherwise you'll be left with streaks or lines. It should look and feel seamless, as if it’s melted in instead of just sitting on top.īrushes and clean fingers (free!) can be your best friends in creating a flawless face. This means applying your foundation-whether it's a liquid, cream, gel or powder-and then making small circular motions with your tool of choice to gently push the product into your skin. To keep things natural (i.e., your skin looking like skin), it needs to be buffed in. Obviously the purpose of foundation is to make your skin look magically radiant and even-toned-not like it's coated in an opaque, all-one-colour mask.

Light warm stippling foundation brush