Please help with learning how to do foundation

[Dirtydancing1]

I’m looking for help to explain how to put foundation on properly, also a good one to use.
i am late 40s and have never really learned how to do makeup, I learnt in my teens just to rub a bit on with your fingers and have used the same one since.
i see people who have foundation on and it looks lovely on them makes their skin look really nice and smooth.
now I have peri menopause my skin is not the best.
if someone could explain to me in really simple terms like you would a toddler,
how do you apply foundation and what’s best to use, it’s for pale skin

Apply to clean and moisturised skin. If at possible, allow your moisturiser to settle for a few minutes first.
Apply small amounts with a foundation brush or a slightly damp make up sponge.
Blend really well and check your eyebrows, around your nose etc for any gathering.
Apply setting powder very sparingly and dust off thoroughly OR use a setting spray, which is what I changed to with peri skin. Much less drying.

You might prefer a tinted moisturiser now, rather than foundation. I find full-on foundations way too heavy now.

Thank you for your comment, are there any right ways to use a brush or sponge that turns out better.

I tend to use a triangle shaped sponge and sort of dab it on. I can't us a brush. I still sometimes use fingers to blend it properly

I was exactly the same as you (applying with fingers!) and recently booked an appointment at my local Charlotte Tilbury counter. It was great - really nice make-up artist put on an everyday look for me and talked me through how she was doing it with brushes and sponges. It cost £35 but that was redeemable against products so as long as you bought something, free!

Get a beauty blender, get it wet, use it to pat the foundation into your skin for a smoother finish. Only use fingers for under eye and spots where the warmth helps melt it in

Thank you all for the comments they are really helpful will be trying some of these out

Always use a primer first

There’s millions of demo videos on YouTube, instagram, TikTok etc. just watch a few beginners tutorials - Lisa Eldridge or Pixiwoo or Lisa Potter Dixon all good for 40s skin. I find it easier to watch and copy rather than follow written instructions. Good luck and might be a good time to look at lighter more glowy bases if you’ve been using the same foundation for years.

I put the foundation on the back of my hand , use a buffing brush and swirl it around until the foundation has disappeared into the brush. Then apply to the face using circular motions.

I’ve been watching a lot of influencers… I like Kal Casey as she’s older than me but all the products she uses are US so not always directly transferable here. I also like Oliviasaurus though she’s utterly gorgeous with a completely different skin tone from me.

At 57 I’m only cautiously venturing back into makeup. I’m contemplating a primer. I’ve bought something more like a tinted moisturiser (Chanel Water Tint) and put it on with a brush - makes a big difference imo. I only put it on small areas because I have a lot of high colour so I essentially use my own colour as a blusher and put the tint on my Tzone. I don’t like bronzer, contour or blush even on gorgeous models so I don’t use them. I do like the look of translucent powder as without it the light seems to bounce off my wrinkles and I use No 7 loose powder with a puff and then brush off any excess with a Charlotte Tilbury brush.

Ive never curled my lashes before, or used anything other than the cheapest mascara. Upgrading in those areas has made a big difference imo.

And I bought a lip liner and an Elf lip oil.

It depends on the product and consistency.

so for thicker foundations like Charlotte tilbury a beauty blender is better. For thinner ones like Victoria Beckham the drops a foundation brush is better

a beauty blender needs to be dampened first.

a cc cream can be done with fingers.

what product are you using?

Sorry I just reread you’ve been using the same foundation for about 30 years? Which one is it?

I use a flat headed brush, so put four drops of foundation on my face and then swirl it in. I finish it with a setting spray dampened beauty blender dabbed on, then a very light dusting of Charlotte Tilbury airbrush powder.