I cannot even begin to tell you how many times girls (even guys) have come up to me saying that they simply can't get their makeup to come out the way they see in beauty videos. They watch the videos, put on their makeup with the tutorials but something just isn't right. There are a few little things you might be doing that are costing you a good makeup day. Here are a few reasons why you're makeup might not look as good as you want it and how to fix it. 

For now, we are discussion foundation, we will get to other steps in your makeup routine later.

TECHNIQUE

Your technique for applying foundation might not be the best. This is basically how you apply your foundation. Because your foundation is sitting in your room it is getting cold and perhaps the ingredients are separating. Therefore every time you go to apply your foundation, remember to shake the bottle (if this applies) and warm up the product before you apply it to your face. I do this by putting it on the back of my hand before applying it to my face. The warmth of my hand should help to warm up the product. This will makeup the product just melt into the skin giving a smoother finish.

TOOLS

The three most common ways of applying foundation is Fingers, Brush and Sponge. I typically forgo using my fingers since they carry a lot of bacteria but it would be the best to help work the product into the skin since your fingers are warm like we previously discussed. 

Most common is probably Brushes since they are easy to use. One thing about them though, is because they are bristles, they could leaves strands of hair shedding on your face and also leave streaks. Sponges on the other hand, kind of resemble the look of pores on your skin, so using something like a damp Beauty Blender helps to mimic the look of natural skin giving you a even texture. This is my favourite method but it is all up to you. 

COLOUR

In the black community it is especially difficult to find foundation that matches our skin colour. I cannot tell you how annoying it is to see a company come out with a new line with 16 new different shades, giving you hope, only to discover there are three shades for dark skin. Cocoa, Hazelnut and Ebony, the veterans of black skin. Because we only come in three shades. Not so much. The difficulty is that most dark skin women have 2 to 3 different colours on their faces. A light colour usually around the cheeks, a darker colour on the forehead and around the mouth, and then perhaps some darker shades around the perimeter of the face. 

For lighter and olive skin tones, it is important to find your undertone and match it with your foundation. For reason, I suggest getting your hands on colour-correctors, tinted concealers meant for neutralizing discolouration the face. Like redness or dark circles or hyper-pigmentation or dark spots and such. 

FORMULA

In general, there are 5 different bases that makeup products come in: Oil, Silicone (Silica), Alcohol, Water (Aqua)and Powder. Using the wrong bases with each other is the number one reason your foundation isn't flawless. Its simple science. For example, oil doesn't mix with water. Therefore Oil based primers with Water based foundation doesn't work. Instead try this simple guide:

Oil Base + Silicone Base

Silicone Base + Powder Base

Powder Base + Water Base

Water Base + Alcohol Base

*you can probably get away with Water Base + Silicone Base.