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How To Fix Foundation Mistakes

Discover easy solutions to fix foundation mistakes to unlock the secret to a seamless, gorgeous, flawless looking complexion for every occasion!

6 minute read

Whether it’s choosing the right shade for your skin tone, the right formula for your skin type or best finish for the occasion, foundation can be a makeup product that is sometimes difficult to get perfect.

Unlock the secret to complexion perfection for a flawless looking finish every time with Charlotte’s tips on how to avoid or fix foundation mistakes.

Discover how to perfectly apply, shade match, work foundation into your routine and choose the best one for you…

How to Fix Foundation Mistakes

HOW TO AVOID OR FIX FOUNDATION MISTAKES

WEARING THE WRONG SHADE

Darlings, incorrect shade matching can lead to you choosing a foundation that looks orange or unflattering on your skin tone. Historically, factors like harsh, unnatural lighting when in store and trying to match your foundation shade online have made finding your perfect foundation shade tricky, leading you to choose a foundation shade that’s too light, too dark, too orange or with the wrong undertone.

Solution – Pro Shade Match Tools: Darling, whether you’re in-store or on CharlotteTilbury.com, finding your FLAWLESS shade match is easy, meaning you won’t wear the wrong shade again! In stores, trained-by-Charlotte experts will find your perfect shade, or find your ACCURATE, FLAWLESS foundation shade match online from the comfort of your own home with Charlotte’s NEW! AI-powered shade match tool! My virtual tool uses BEAUTY AI, LIGHT TECH + an EXPERT SKIN ALGORITHM! After answering a few simple questions and uploading a photograph of yourself, your accurate and perfect shade match will be revealed in just 60 seconds! Say goodbye to foundation that looks orange, dull or mismatched and discover your forever foundation match!

UNBLENDED FOUNDATION WITH HARSH LINES

When applying your foundation, it’s important to properly blend it in to avoid creating a patchy, uneven finish with harsh lines! Especially when using a medium or full coverage foundation, like Charlotte’s Beautiful Skin Foundation or Airbrush Flawless Foundation, unblended formula can appear unfinished and obvious (especially when you have the wrong shade!), with unflattering harsh lines along the jawline and hairline.

Solution 1 – Blend, blend, blend!: When you apply your foundation, it should look like it’s disappeared into your skin, so ensure you get this finish by using your hands or one of Charlotte’s expert foundation brushes to blend across your jaw line, slightly down your neck and by your hair line and ears.

Solution 2 – Start in the centre and blend outwards: Always start by applying your foundation from the centre of your face and blend outwards; this is a great way to avoid harsh lines for a seamless looking finish every time!

WEARING TOO MUCH PRODUCT

Applying makeup is a MAGIC experience, and it’s easy to get carried away! However, if you apply too much of some foundations, it could end up looking cakey, heavy, or unflattering, so it’s best to apply the right amount! The amount you apply can depend on several factors; your desired coverage and the coverage of your chosen foundation, if you have skin concerns, the occasion you’re applying makeup for and more!

Solution 1 – Choose a buildable formula: Choose a foundation that’s buildable! All of Charlotte’s foundations are buildable; from the light-coverage Light Wonder that’s easy to layer for a radiant-looking finish, medium coverage Charlotte’s Beautiful Skin Foundation that can be effortlessly built up to your desired coverage for a healthy-looking glow, and even the full coverage Airbrush Flawless Foundation is buildable; while being full coverage, the formula feels lightweight and is easy to apply and build!

Solution 2 – Start small and build: Whichever buildable foundation you choose, start by applying a small amount. You can then layer and build up for your desired coverage for a flawless looking finish!

Beautiful Skin Foundation and Magic Cream Still Life

SKIN LOOKS DRY OR FLAKY

Choosing the wrong foundation or not prepping your skin before applying your chosen foundation can sometimes make your skin appear dry or flaky. This may especially be a common problem for those with dry skin. Additionally, when your foundation appears dry or flaky, it’ll also affect how the rest of your makeup looks as you complete your look with other complexion and cheek products.

Solution 1 – Choose a hydrating foundation: To avoid your foundation looking dry or flaky, choose a hydrating formula! NEW! Charlotte’s Beautiful Skin Foundation is enriched with HYDRATING Hyaluronic Acid and other skincare ingredients that every skin type will love!

Solution 2 – Prep + moisturise before applying: It’s important to prep and moisturise your skin before applying your foundation with hydrating skincare secrets! Charlotte never does makeup before first applying Charlotte’s Magic Serum Crystal Elixir and Charlotte’s Magic Cream moisturiser! These skincare products are enriched with ingredients like Polyglutamic Acid, Hyaluronic Acid, and moisturising oils to help hydrate your skin to create the perfect canvas for makeup!

Tilbury Tip! Choose your hydrating skincare products based on your skin type: Charlotte’s Magic Cream is great for EVERYONE but especially those with dry or normal skin. If you have oily skin, apply a small amount, or use Charlotte’s Magic Cream Light, which provides effective hydration in a lighter texture!

Solution 3 – Fix + refresh with a hydrating setting spray: If your foundation starts to look or feel dry throughout the day, a quick fix is to apply Charlotte’s Airbrush Flawless Setting Spray onto your face for a quick makeup refresh and veil of hydration!

APPLYING TOO MUCH POWDER

If your skin is on the oilier side, it can be tempting to apply powder all over your face to avoid any shine breaking through throughout the day. Many beauty-lovers also apply too much powder in a bid to make their makeup last longer. However, this can often make your foundation look cakey and mask-like.

Solution 1 – Only apply powder where you need it: Only apply powder just to the parts of your face that tend to be oiliest or that need setting, such as your t-zone and under eye area. Charlotte’s award-winning Airbrush Flawless Finish powder is finely milled and lightweight so is perfect for setting your foundation whilst still allowing your natural glow to shine through!

Solution 2 – Set with setting spray: Instead of applying too much powder, finish your makeup look by applying Airbrush Flawless Setting Spray! The lightweight, oil-free formula helps to lock in your look for up to 16 hours with no fading, creasing, or melting*! Perfect for all skin types to keep your complexion looking gorgeous and flawless all day!

When a foundation looks blotchy on your skin and won't blend seamlessly, this could be an indication that your skin isn't prepped for makeup or the formula is a bad fit for your skin type.

Solution 1 - A Supercharged Skincare Routine: Darlings, every makeup application should start with skincare! When your canvas is beautifully prepped with hydrating, research-powered skincare, foundation is more likely to glide seamlessly onto the skin and blend out to create a gorgeous, skin-like finish that doesn't look cakey or blotchy. I always say you can't have a beautiful painting without a beautiful canvas, and I created Charlotte's Magic Cream as a magical, glowing skincare ritual for before makeup!

Solution 2 - Choose the Right Foundation Formula for You: Using a foundation formula that suits your skin will help skin to look flawless! Discover the perfect foundation formula for your skin type in my foundation guide and find the perfect foundation match for dry, normal, combination and oily skin!

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Author Details

Charlotte Tilbury

Founder, President, Chairman and Chief Creative Officer of Charlotte Tilbury Beauty

With over 30 years experience, Charlotte Tilbury MBE is the world's number 1 makeup artist and British beauty entrepreneur. Charlotte established Charlotte Tilbury Beauty in 2013, which is now a record-breaking beauty brand that has won over 400 awards.