Professional Tips for Perfect Foundation Application: Guest Blogger Alyson Hoag

Posted 15 April, 2010, at 09:50AM by Leslie

Thanks to our guest blogger, Alyson Hoag, creator of Authentic Beauty and recently voted “Best Makeup Artist in Atlanta” by Jezebel Magazine, for sharing her highly sought after tips and expertise on makeup application and skin care.

As a 20 year veteran of the beauty industry I have spent many years perfecting foundation technique. I have taken hundreds of classes, mentored with some of the best in the industry but what impacted my learning curve the most was practice, practice, practice. What has given me the best understanding of our craft is working on thousands of women.

Before you begin, determine what kind of lighting the face will be seen in. The way you apply makeup for a studio shoot will be different then an outdoor shoot. When working with an “everyday” woman you must take into consideration the lighting she is seen in on a daily basis. I see women who tell me they apply their makeup in bathroom lighting but work under fluorescents. Yuk! You must double check how the foundation looks in every light. For weddings, many times the bride will start off being photographed outside in natural light and then end up in a dimly lit church. I beg brides to pay for my add-on hourly rates to make this adjustment.

Next is to make sure your clients’ skin is properly prepared. If it is too dry all the moisture will be sucked out of the foundation and all you will have left (even sometimes by the time you are done applying) will be pigment. Exfoliation is critical otherwise your “canvas” will not be smooth. I am pretty sold on the Clarisonic Facial Brush and the Amala Organic Rejuvenating Facial Polish with Organic Cocoa oil. I don’t leave home without them.

The third step is determining how much coverage you need. I see way too many artists start off with too much foundation. I prefer to use products that have buildable coverage. Begin with a small amount and see if it creates enough coverage. Just don’t assume every person you work on requires a full face of foundation. Use concealer or even a full coverage foundation only in places that the skin needs extra coverage. Use discretion!

The most critical step, however, are the tools you use. The adesign Pointed Foundation brush has changed the way I apply foundation. I never liked a flat brush for applying foundation because I could not control how much product ended up on the face. With the pointed foundation brush I am able to apply the perfect amount of foundation every time! I can blend, blend, blend without the product sticking. I personally prefer the medium concealer brush for applying concealer but a lot of my artists LOVE the pointed concealer brush. For finishing I use the flat top kabuki every time. I am ALL about buffing to achieve the perfect finish. It will even out any finish and blend any lines of demarcation. If you have not discovered the adesign Facial Brushes I encourage you to do so.

Want to learn more about Alyson and Authentic Beauty? Check our her website, and don’t forget to follow them both on Facebook