We’ve all been there: you catch your reflection in the mirror at work, halfway through the day and you’re met with the dreaded ‘cake face’. Now we know that expecting an Instagram-esque complexion isn’t all that realistic, but a cakey, dry and flaky complexion is totally avoidable. Keep scrolling for tips on how to avoid it!
Prep the skin properly
All great art requires a great canvas! Without prepping the skin, foundation will cling on to any dead skin cells and rough patches and all texture will be accentuated. To prep the skin properly, you’ll need to cleanse, exfoliate with a chemical exfoliant to resurface the skin and use a lightweight moisturizer that won’t interfere with your foundation’s performance. Lightweight formulas are key here, such as hyaluronic acid-based serums or moisturizer’s with a gel-like consistency.
Hydrate the skin
This one ties in with the last, but hydration really is key when it comes to avoiding a foundation that looks cakey, flaky and… crusty (lovely) by the time your lunch break comes around. If the skin isn’t hydrated, it will suck any water content from your foundation (hello, patchiness), fine lines will be exaggerated and if your skin is prone to oiliness, it will over produce said oil and cause your foundation to start separating. And if oiliness is a key concern as it tends to cause your foundation to separate and pill together on the skin, creating a barrier between your skin and foundation with a primer appropriate for your skin type is a good idea.
Don’t overload the skin with foundation
This one seems all too obvious, right? Well, overloading the skin with product can be tempting when we’re aiming for an Insta-flawless complexion. Instead of applying one thick layer of foundation, apply it in thin layers and build up to your desired coverage. And if anything that you’d rather be covered is showing through such as redness, pigmentation or pimples, step away from the foundation bottle and tactfully apply a high coverage concealer in those areas instead.
Use the proper brushes
The brushes that you use to apply your foundation are just as important as the quality of the foundation itself. Foundation brushes are specifically designed to blend out your makeup for flawless, smooth-looking skin. To avoid streaking, make sure you’re using a brush with a domed or flat top to create an even base. By joining our LiveGlam Brush Club, you’ll receive 3-8 Morphe brushes delivered straight to your door every month for just $19.99 (trust us, your foundation will look impeccable every single day)!
Opt for the blot
If every time things started to look a little shiny we took out our powder puffs, we would end up with the cakiest of complexions, so we recommend opting for the blotting papers, instead. They rid you of any unwanted sebum and shine, but without adding any unneeded product onto the skin!
Do you struggle with a cakey looking complexion or do you have it mastered? Let us know!
Jess Hall