Celebrity makeup artist, global educator and Chadstone’s official Beauty Insider Ross Andrewartha shares with esprit his top tips for achieving a flawless base for your client, every single time.

1. Up your skincare game

Look for a base that gives your client’s skin a boost as they’re wearing it. Choose foundations that contain serums – they’ll give your customer a whole host of skincare benefits. They’re also great for nourishing the skin throughout the day. An oil-free, non-comedogenic formula enriched with a hydrating serum that will bless your client’s skin with a supermodel-esque radiance. Even better, we’re talking about a seriously luxe-looking, pore-blurring finish that sits so naturally on the skin, so it still looks like, well, skin.

2. Try before you buy

Ensure you choose a shade so on point that it melts into your client’s complexion like a second skin. Test it out in different lights before committing. I always recommend trying on foundations at midday so you get the best natural daylight for a true colour match.  Choose a shade that mimics the colour of the skin across the entire body.

Top tip: test-run a foundation on your client’s jawline or chest, never the hand.

3. Choose the right formula

Everyone’s got their personal preference, but if you want to achieve that glowy, lit-from-within finish (which let’s be honest, is most of us), you’re better off sticking to liquids and mousses for the ultimate blendability. Liquid foundation is the easiest to use and blend, and it’s usually great for most skin types. You can use brushes, but I always suggest applying foundation with your fingers and massaging it into your client’s face like skincare – this helps boost the circulation so you get a natural glow.

4. Switch-up seasonal shades

A foundation wardrobe is the key to a seamless, undetectable base. If it’s a repeat customer, make sure you have two shades either side of their complexion so you can mix and match throughout the year when their skin colour changes with the seasons. Liquids are very forgiving, even if you do get the colour off by half a shade.

5. SPF is a must

Whether you love it in foundation or separately, SPF is an absolute daily must. I always recommend 50+ if possible. A moisturiser with SPF might give you a better finish than a foundation base containing built-in SPF.

6. Keep it versatile

In fact, mixing in different products can give you multiple finishes from just one bottle. If you like the finish of a foundation, try mixing it with a liquid highlighter or a moisturiser to thin it out for slightly lighter coverage. Foundations can also be layered – start by using a liquid formula first for an even finish and then top up with a stick or a powder for fuller coverage, this way you can get your desired finish.

7. Lock it in

Not a powder person? Meet my secret weapon for keeping foundation in check – a setting mist. Using a hydrating setting mist really helps you to achieve a skin realism effect for the skin, which really does finish the look. If you find your client’s skin already has that shine, you could use a setting spray that will help lock in foundation into the night.

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