Has the way people apply foundation evolved over the years? Am I stuck in a rut?

[IzzyLeng]

Or are TikTok people a bit crazy?

When I was learning to do makeup as a teen we were told to buff our foundation. So put some on and brush round and round in circles…..well fingers back in the day. I still do this though now with a nice brush.

I keep seeing influencers just painting their foundation on like you would paint a wall. Bit brush stroke stripes of product until the entire face is covered. The other thing is there seems to be no concept of matching foundation to your actual face colour now. Seems to be pick a shade to make you look like you’ve got a nice golden tan and whack it on. There is no buffing.

My first thought was they must go through a lot of foundation! I mean they look good, do I need to be doing this? 😁

They look good on video

That was my concern. In real life maybe not so much. I use a good setting spray but I’d be worried it might slip down my face 😄

I find it odd when they squirt make up/cream directly on their face and it starts dripping down.

I guess putting it on the back of my hand first must make me sound ancient.

Tiktok is about making eye-catching videos not showing actual realistic processes

I think a lot of people fake tan their body but not their face (apparently fake tan on the face can cause break outs). When they’re matching foundation they’re matching to their neck/chest rather than face.

Actors have always done stage make-up differently to everyday make-up and I always think when I see make-up on Tik Tok that whilst it might look good when you have a ring light, it's going to look very different out and about it the real world. I'm not sure if I'm just noticing it on people who apply it badly, but the contouring that leaves some parts of the face brown and others quite white (and does look reasonable online) looks absolutely ridiculous outside in natural light.

I use a brush and I do buff it on, so go in circles and also bring it down my neck, but I have a very good colour match with my foundation. For contour I use a brush too, and don’t go mad with it. Blush is a liquid and I just use my fingers for that as I feel I have more control that way.

I was a make up consultant for 15 years for Clinique and then Chanel. We were always taught to match foundation to someone’s skin tone, and to blend so you couldn’t tell whether they had it on or not, their skin was just supposed to look “better”. Now it seems like there’s a trend for obvious make up. I suppose it goes along with the whole increase in lip filler and obvious huge eyebrows etc. It’s like some people want people to know they’ve got make up on. They’re picking a foundation based on the colour they want to be, rather than what they are. And that’s okay I guess but it’s very different to what I was told to do!! I’m sticking with what I know.

Perhaps they also use fake tan on their bodies? Gold tan foundation on pale skin would otherwise look strange.

Squirting it directly onto your face does save wasting product tho so that’s an idea I’ve copied. But I don’t use so much it drips down like some of them do.

professional make up artists don’t use that technique

Im old i can remember when make up sponges were fancy 😂 now they are all literally painting it on like a wall, i suspect as a pp said it looks good on the Internet, and they need engagement don't they ?

I have progressed to a foundation brush which I like, but ive recently changed to baked foundation which i like more, it doesn't seem to sink.in as much.

I also try and match, but i am much older than make up influencers so their techniques would look daft on me.

Make up on social media is more like a display of art. The videos are made by people to get views. They're not to educate people on how to do make up.

There is a make up artist who seems very famous and does real skin looks. She puts a little bit on her hand and buffs the brush until it’s really diffuse then buffs in - colour matches too so you are left with a barely there look. I do this. Vastly better than squirting on directly. I think you are more modern than you know. Drips of mismatched foundation painted over the top are horrific!

I still use my fingers or sometimes a sponge/beauty blender thing. I’ve tried lots of brushes but they just irritate my skin. Very sensitive skin unfortunately.
I’ve watched dd18 apply make up here and it’s a thing of wonder really. I’m definitely old!

My Dd is in her 20s and her make up is like art on her face it is mesmerising 😀

I’ve seen young women out & about with make-up layered on, contour, highlight on various areas of the face. I think it looks good on camera, but it’s quite strange in daylight. Getting shots, video is clearly more important. My ideal is to blend with my hands so foundation is seamless. But that’s the look I’m trying to achieve. My skin but better.

No, actual high end make up artists and beauty editors and the like do not do this.
It’s a thing that’s evolved on social media for views and likes which is why it’s so extreme.
Keep doing what you’re doing.

When they do that isn't it more like stage makeup, looks good from a distance but dreadful close up.

TBH I think most of the contouring looks awful irl.

I guess if that's the look you want, go for it, but I want no one to know I'm wearing foundation!

Yes I definitely want a natural, my skin but less blotchy look so will carry on doing what I’m doing.

the fake tan on their bodies point makes sense. I was in Sephora the other day and the assistant asked if I wanted the foundation matched to my face or neck. Which I thought was odd (especially as I think mine are exactly the same) but guess some people match to the neck if tanned.

Agreed. Looks ok on camera. Looks very odd in real life.

People end up with orange and brown striped faces with white highlighter patches under their eyes.

Meanwhile I, who had all the fancy brushes and sponges as a teen in the 2010s have regressed to fingers 😂 it looks better and less visible to just press it in!

I guess what ever works 😀

I am fascinated by these videos but don't copy them. I just squeeze the foundation onto my fingers and rub it onto my face. Sometimes I use a blending sponge. I've never had a foundation brush and don't really understand a brush for liquid! I'm sure there are loads of methods and it probably depends on the foundation itself and personal preference.

My dd is 23 and fake tans her body and then matches her foundation to that colour, not to her face. When she comes downstairs without make up on her little face looks like a completely white circle and the rest of her is tanned 😂