This usually means your skincare products underneath are clashing. Always leave enough time for your serums and moisturisers to dry between layers. Applying hydrating serums to damp skin can also help. If foundation separation is your issue, try to use products with similar textures.
"Sometimes, especially if you have a more oily complexion, a foundation can also oxidize in color when it reacts to your skin, making it look streaky and unnatural. Let your makeup set for a minute before moving onto other products to ensure it doesn't get darker."
Sometimes, the reason for cakey makeup is way too much product or not the right products, and other times, it has more to do with your actual skin, like skin that's too dry or too oily, or skin that hasn't been prepped properly.
Lines deepen on dehydrated skin, increasing the chance that foundation will settle in them. Find a hydrating serum and moisturiser to help counteract this. Additionally, a smoothing primer is your BFF! The primer will fill in lines and prevent your foundation from doing the same.
Having horizontal and diagonal cracks of any size will indicate that you have more than just the “normal” settling. As well, having horizontal, diagonal, or vertical cracks that are larger than 1/16 inch is an indication that you should call in an expert to see if your home needs a foundation repair.
Sponges work best, for instance, with lightweight liquid formulas or stick foundations. Creamy, thick foundations would be better served with a brush (so you can buff out the edges for a more natural finish).
Hydration Is Key
Hydrated and nourished skin is the first step towards achieving a flawless foundation look. Even if you know how to apply foundation like a pro, dry and dehydrated skin will stop you from achieving the results you were hoping for.
This usually means your skincare products underneath are clashing. Always leave enough time for your serums and moisturisers to dry between layers. Applying hydrating serums to damp skin can also help. If foundation separation is your issue, try to use products with similar textures.
Your Skin Type Matters
Or, top off your liquid foundation with a dusting of powder foundation for a full-coverage, oil-free look. Just don't pack them both on, “A common mistake people make is using powder foundation on top of a liquid foundation,” Major says. This can result in a cakey finish.
Primer helps to prepare the skin, it fills fine lines and wrinkles and creates a clean palette for your makeup, and provides a better base level, overall making your makeup last as long as possible. The primer you choose should be lightweight and oil-free.
Dehydrated skin and dry patches play a big part in part in making your face dull and your foundation splotchy. To fake some hydration, mix a few drops of Avon's Nutra Effects Miracle Glow Oil into your foundation before you apply it.
The right foundation shade should match your skin's undertone. While your skin tone is how light or dark your skin is, the 'undertone' refers to the colours under the surface of your skin and can be warm, cool, or neutral. While your skin tone may change with the seasons, your undertone should remain consistent.
The number one cause of cakey makeup is layering on too much product. When you really cake on the product, it'll be all too obvious that that's what you did, so make sure that you're sheering it out. And try to use your hand as a palette and then start to manipulate the product on your face.
Using too much product. According to experts, this is the most common cause of cakey foundation. When you apply too much product you risk overlaying it, making your skin look patchy, textured and opaque.
So, do you use concealer before or after foundation? The proper way to apply the two products is to first smooth on a foundation and then apply your concealer. Foundation will create that even canvas we talked about earlier, and then concealer can be used to spot correct any outstanding areas that need extra coverage.
Always Swipe Downward
When applying foundation, Littman says to always brush in downward strokes. "If you go upward on the face, it will fill in your pores and make them stand out," she says. This is a simple tip: If you're applying foundation in strokes, always stroke down.