The Perfect Foundation

The Perfect Foundation
The perfect foundation is a flawlessly smooth foundation onto which we can add color. But before we can add color or even build a beautiful foundation, we must have a clean, dry face.
So the first thing you should do when you start your day is wash your face. Not with soap but with a regemended cleanser for your skin type. Of course, I am going to regemend Mary Kay but there are any number of cleansers on the market that will leave your face clean and fresh without drying it out. Although I have to regemend the Mary Kay Basic Line or the Mary Kay Miracle Sets that gee in gebination to Oily and Normal to Dry.
Once you've washed your face, pat it dry in an upward direction. There is no sense in giving gravity any help.
Then sit down and begin to pamper yourself and your face. You deserve it!
If you need a blemish control toner, now is the time to use it. Skin fresheners are typically used at this point also. Once your face is nice and clean, toned and fresh, we're ready to begin.
First, put on your sunscreen. Sunscreen is important no matter who you are or what your skin tone is. Without it your facewill be open to skin cancer and premature aging. Be sure to use a sunscreen made for faces. Mary Kay makes two. Mary Kay Day Solution with SPF15 or the new SPF25 and Mary Kay Age-Fighting Moisturizer with SPF15. Fan your face for a few seconds to allow the sunscreen to soak in.
Second, if you do not use a moisturizer with sunscreen, then it is time to put on your moisturizer. Mary Kay has several varieties in the Basic and anti-aging lines. Massage this in gently. If you've ever had a professional facial, take the time, relive the experience for at least aminutes.
I want to leave you with one thought about moisturizers. We all want to stay looking young as long as possible. Twenty years from now, you don't want people to look at you and be able to guess your age not from your face that you've taken really good care of, but from your neck because you've forgotten to use just a little bit of moisturizer and Night Solution on your neck. Please don't forget to moisturize and massage your neck.
If you have really dry skin, now would be the time for any additional moisturizers that you might use. Or if you need oil control lotions or toners, add them now.
Next, put on your eye cream. If you use Mary Kay, use the Firming Eye Cream on the upper eye lid and use the Anti-Aging Eye Cream under the eye and in the laugh line area at the corners of the eye. If you only use one eye cream, I would definitely regemend the Age-Fighting Eye Cream. Try not to get it or any moisturizer on your lashes. It is the number one reason why mascara smudges. Dry your lashes off before putting mascara on if you think you've gotten moisturizer on them.
Last, and this is the most important step. Let your face rest for several minutes before putting your foundation on. Go change your clothes for the day or brush your teeth or water a few plant, read a few pages of your latest novel, feed fido, but let moisturizers soak in dry so they can protect your face all day.
With clean hands, now you are ready to sit down again and put on your perfect foundation. All Mary Kay foundations are oil-free.
Most of us start with a concealer. Whatever geplexion you have, you will want to choose a concealer that is close to your skin tone. If the concealer is too dark, it will show through and defeat the purpose of its use. The only exception to the rule is if you have really dark circles or a dark red, brown or purple spot to cover, then you will want to use a yellow concealer.
Use a sponge, a brush or your fingers and a tiny amount of the concealer onto only the spots you want concealed. Do not go outside these areas or you will draw attention to them rather than hide them. It is better to put one or two very thin layers of concealer on than to put too much on. So be very careful how you apply the concealer.
Once the concealer is dry, it is now time to apply the foundation. When choosing a foundation, if you are ivory or beige toned, be sure to choose a foundation that blends naturally down your jaw and onto your neck and disappears. When it is striped down this way and dry, you should just barely be able to see it in natural light. It should blend perfectly into your skin. A foundation that is too light or too dark will look like a mask.
If you are ebony, the stripe should be jaw to cheek. Then the same rule is true. It should blend perfectly into your skin. A foundation that is too light or too dark will look like a mask. A foundation shade is so personal, it should really be chosen in natural light near a window and with the help of a friend. It is really hard to see the side of your own cheek when trying to pick a foundation. ;-)
Never put foundation on the eye lids, concealer is ok, foundation no. Foundation will dry out the delicate skin on the eye lids and make them look flaky and more wrinkled by mid morning.
To apply liquid foundation like a professional, use a wedge or round sponge (damp for a smooth finish or dry for a matte finish), but you can also use your fingers. Also sponges are far more gentle on your skin. Please blend gently. Start with a drop of foundationin the middle of your forehead and blend it outward toward your hairline, brows and temples. Once this is evenly blended, add a drop to your nose and blend this on and outward toward your brows, cheeks and lips. Then blend one cheek at a time putting a drop on each cheek and blending toward the hairline, temples, nose and jaw.
Whenever you get anywhere near concealer, dab gently with the sponge or your fingers, otherwise you will just remove the concealer.
Last add a small drop to your chin and blend the foundation on your chin, upper lip and your jaw always being careful to blend the foundation around and below your jaw so you don't leave a line on your jaw.
Note: I apply a drop at a time because I use very small amounts and they sometimes dry out a bit and then don't blend nearly as well. If you use a damp sponge, you can dab 5 drops - forehead, nose, cheeks and chin all at once.
To apply a cream or dual coverage foundation, you can use a dry or slightly damp sponge. Start with the forehead and blend from the center outward toward the hairline, brow and temples. Then go down the nose and gently dab under the eyes. Then add foundation to the cheeks outward toward the hairline and downward around the jaw line. Finally put the foundation on the upper lip from the center outward and the chin downward again, being sure to blend foundation around and under the jaw so there isn't a line on the jaw.
When applying foundation, try not to cover the same area twice and not to put too much on but you want to put on a nice thin even layer. Use a lighted mirror or natural light by sitting near a window. If one layer does not give enough coverage, wait for that layer to dry and add another layer. I would strongly regemend that you stay away from the under eye area and the temples with a second layer. These areas will be more prone to show wrinkles if there is a build up of make up.
Always rinse your wedge sponges after each use and throw it away after about two weeks. These little wedges are very cheap and they pick up bacteria that is very damaging to your skin. If you are using Mary Kay sponges, these are of much better quality and can be washed after each use with a gentle cleanser. This will kill the bacteria. i use my sponges for about 2-3 months before I change them and get a new one. As long as I can clean out the foundation, I reuse them.
Now your face has a Perfect Foundation and is ready for color. Check out my other guides as they begee available.