The Secrets of Flawless Mineral Foundation

Mineral foundation is a fantastic choice for women of all ages. It’s free of irritating and potentially harmful ingredients, meaning it can help keep your skin looking fantastic for years to come.

 

Mineral foundation, however, is very different from traditional liquid or cream makeup. You need to take advantage of different tools and techniques to get the most flawless appearance. Here’s everything you need to know to rock a more natural makeup look.

 

Step One: Find the Right Brush

 

When you’re dealing with mineral makeup, your best choice is a vegan kabuki brush. Kabuki brushes include very dense, full bristles and a short handle. The handle makes it easier to use proper swirling motions to apply the mineral foundation powder. The shape and fullness of the bristles allows you to pick up the makeup evenly, then redistribute it onto your face with ease. Kabuki brushes also give you more control, so it’s a cinch to apply light layers of makeup and build up to the coverage you want.

 

Selecting a Kabuki Brush

 

When choosing a kabuki brush for your natural makeup kit, always look for vegan options. ‘Vegan’ isn’t just a food term. It can apply to any product that refuses to use animal ingredients or bi-products, including animal fur. Not only are vegan cosmetic brushes cruelty-free, they last much longer than traditional animal hair (aka ‘natural brushes) and are easier to maintain. To clean vegan cosmetic brushes, simply wash them in warm water with a natural, gentle soap. Many women opt to use their natural shampoo to wash their cosmetic brushes. Rinse, squeeze out the excess water, and let air dry lying flat or with the bristles in downward position.

 

Step Two: Preparing Your Face

 

Any time you’re applying mineral makeup, you need to start with a fresh canvas. Your skin should be completely clean and dry. If you have dry skin, now is the time to apply a natural moisturizer. Opt for light, non-greasy options, and only apply what your skin can absorb within a few minutes. Applying mineral foundation before your skin has fully absorbed the moisturizer may result in muddy looking patches and streaky spots. You don’t want your mineral foundation to stick to certain areas of your face!

 

Once your moisturizer is dry (if you use it), begin with an excellent natural makeup primer – it’ll fill in pores and fine lines to help create an airbrushed finish. Spread a thin, even layer of primer over your entire face, blending down into the neckline, as well. Give your primer time to dry. Now you’re ready to move on to your mineral foundation application.

 

Step Three: Applying Your Mineral Foundation

 

Now that your face and brush are ready, it’s time for the show to start! Open your foundation container and dump a thumbnail amount of mineral foundation powder in the lid. It’s okay if you get too much; just pour the excess back in the base of the container.

 

Take your vegan kabuki brush and dip it in the powder and gently swirl it in the powder until the bristles of the kabuki brush pick up the powder. You can push down on the bristles, into the powder as you swirl to pick up as much powder as possible into the kabuki brush bristles. You should see the powder moving deep into the density of the kabuki brush bristles. Once you have picked up the powder, gently tap the brush on the edge of the lid and allow the excess mineral foundation to fall off into the lid.

 

In general, it’s best to start at on the perimeter of your face and move inwards. Start with your jawline. Take your kabuki brush and begin brushing it across your skin in gentle, buffing circles. Move around your face constantly – you don’t want to build up too much powder in one area. Instead, aim to create a light layer across your whole face. If you don’t have enough coverage after the first layer, you can add more. Just repeat the process above until you achieve the coverage you desire.

 

Once you’ve reached the desired level of coverage, you’re done! Many women choose to seal their makeup with a natural setting powder or finishing spray, so you may want to consider these options to keep your face fresh throughout the day.