Can’t figure out why your foundation is looking patchy, separates or gets cakey?
🧡I’ve got you Girl. Here’s the 9 reasons & solutions on how this happens & how to fix them 🧡
1. Not Prepping Your Skin Prior to Foundation Application.
If you have oily or combination skin, you need to ensure you’re using skin care which combats oil whilst still providing hydration. When oil breaks through the skin surface, it can cause your foundation to separate.
If you have dry skin make sure your skin care is emolliating, providing ultimate moisturization, preventing dehydration & texture from resulting dry patches. Foundation will look cakey & uneven if applied to textured skin.
2. Not Using a Primer or Using the Wrong Primer for Your Skin Type.
Most primers are silicone-based. Primers create a barrier between your skin & your foundation. Advantages are, if you’re oily it helps to stop your skin’s natural oils breaking through, causing your foundation to separate. If you have a dry complexion, a primer helps keep the moisture/hydration in your skin.
Water-based primers are better for acne prone/sensitive & excessively oily skin.Remember if you’re using a water-based primer use a water-based foundation. If using a silicone-based primer use a silicone-based foundation. Applying mismatching foundation & primer is another reason for patchiness & separation. I have a whole blog on choosing the correct primer for your skin type. Just follow the link: Steps for Perfect Foundation: Why Primer is your new BFF » Maria Cunningham🥰
3. Allow Your Moisturizer & Primer to Set.
Allow your moisturizer to absorb into your skin before applying your primer. Let your primer sit on the skin a couple of minutes before applying foundation. This results in a flawless finish & prevents separation of products.
4. Choosing the Wrong Formula Foundation for Your Skin Type.
Most foundations are silicone-based. Just like silicone-based primers they keep moisture in the skin & prevent oil breaking through. They have the added advantage of providing a soft filter for the skin, filling in fine lines & diminishing the look of pores.
As with primers if your skin is acne prone or excessively oily, a water-based foundation is going to give you the best results.
If your skin is very dry an oil-based foundation is your best bet for a more flawless finish.
5. Choosing the Wrong Foundation Finish.
My philosophy is skin should always look like skin, never like a thick layer of foundation. Foundation finishes come in matte, satin & dewy. If you have dry skin a dewy finish is what you’re after. It’ll give a healthy, younger glow to the skin.
If you have oily skin go for a matte foundation. You’ll get more longevity & won’t look greasy at the end of the day.
Combination skin? go for a satin finish foundation.
6. Piling on Too Much Foundation.
Make sure if you prefer full coverage you use a medium to full coverage foundation. Using a light-medium coverage & building it up to try & achieve a full coverage result, means adding many layers, resulting in a thicker, heavier layer, over the day or evening it is more likely to separate, thus decreasing foundation longevity.
7. Use the Right Tools to Apply Your Specific Foundation.
The correct tool for application depends on the viscosity of your foundation. For thinner viscosity foundations you are best to use a brush or your fingers. If you attempt to apply a thinner foundation with a beauty blender, even when damp, it will tend to soak up a lot of the product & lead to a patchy application.
Matte foundations tend to be formulated with powders in them to help soak up excess oil production from your skin, therefore making them thicker. You can apply these with a damp sponge. They will stay on the surface of the sponge & apply well. Using a stippling action will provide a smooth & even coverage.
Clean fingers are fine for all applications, the warmth in your fingertips helps to emulsify the product, making it look flawless, long as you blend, blend, blend.
8. Not Setting Your Foundation Correctly.
If you’ve used liquid or cream foundation you need to set these wet products with a strategically placed powder. My go to is to tap a powder brush into my setting powder, tap off the excess & place the brush where I need it most. Usually depending on the day this will be my T-zone, then I lightly dust under my eyes to set concealer & swipe what’s left onto the rest of my face. A spritz of setting spray & I’m done.
9. Emergency Touch Up Kit. 🚑
You can do everything right & if you have an oily complexion, you can still end up with some breakthrough shine. It’s always a good idea to take a touch up powder with you for those just in case moments. Remember only apply the thinnest layer to reset your foundation. You don’t want to add to much powder it will just make everything look cakey.
Dry skin Girls need a moisturizing spritz spray in their bag. Jurlique’s Rosewater Balancing Mist is perfect for bringing hydration back to the skin & makeup. 
