How To Do the Perfect Base Makeup Like a Pro

Contents:

A flawless base is the most essential canvas for creating looks brimming with glamour and sophistication. Achieving this perfect complexion involves a careful balance of skincare and makeup prep, bringing you step by step to a polished, radiant finish.

As your personal stylist, I’ve got a simple 3 step routine for you – Prep. Cover. Set, an easy way to ensure you get a natural looking, flawless base.

Understanding Your Skin

Before diving into makeup application, it's crucial to know your skin type, skin tone and undertone, and prep your skin.

What’s your Skin Type

Your skin type can be categorized as Normal, Dry, Oily, or Combination. Here’s a quick guide if you aren’t sure of your skin type.

Normal Balanced skin that feels neither too dry nor too oily.
Dry Feels tight and may have flakiness or rough texture, needing extra hydration.
Oily Shiny skin that may feel greasy and is prone to breakouts. Mattifying products with oil control benefits are your go-to products.
Combination Oily in the T-zone (forehead, nose, chin) with drier areas on the cheeks. Your skin needs a combination of hydrating and mattifying products.
Sensitive Easily irritated skin that may react to certain products, with redness or itchiness. Makeup with skin-loving ingredients is best suited for you.

1 .MAKEUP PREP: IT ALL STARTS WITH SKIN

Start with Clean Skin: Every masterpiece begins with a clean slate. Begin by using a gentle cleanser to refresh your complexion and provide a smooth surface for makeup application. Opt for a nourishing formula that balances your skin's natural oils, leaving it feeling refreshed.

Treat and Hydrate: Once your skin is clean, hydration becomes the cornerstone of achieving a glowing complexion. A well-moisturized face ensures that makeup glides on smoothly, enhancing its staying power. Select a serum and moisturizer suited to your skin type to effectively hydrate and prep your skin, making it ready for flawless makeup application.

Skin Type Cleanse Treat Moisturize
Dry Lakmé Dew Drama Facewash Lakmé Dew Drama Serum Lakmé Dew Drama Creme
Oily Lakmé Lumi Smooth AHA Facewash Lakmé Lumi Smooth AHA Serum Lakmé Lumi Smooth AHA Cream
Combination Lakmé Glycolic Illuminate Facewash Lakmé Glycolic Illuminate Serum Lakmé Glycolic Illuminate Creme
Normal Lakmé Perfect Radiance Facewash or Lakmé Vit C Brilliance Facewash Lakmé Vit C Pro Brilliance Serum Lakmé Perfect Radiance Light Crème

Apply Primer: Think of primer as an invisible shield with a blurring effect that fills in pores and fine lines, creating a smooth canvas. It acts as a barrier between your skincare and makeup, offering a silky base for seamless foundation application. Primer helps to smooth out the skin's texture, minimize the appearance of pores, and improve the longevity of your makeup. Apply a small amount of primer all over your face, focusing on areas where your makeup tends to fade or where you have larger pores.

The easiest way to find your primer is by speaking to our makeup and skincare expert LUMI

Skin Goal
Hydrated Smooth & Blur Shine Free Even Toned Even Toned
Dewy, hydrated skin that is strong & healthy Calm, comfortable, fewer visible pores, and/ or less red Smooth, hydrated, oil controlled skin Even-toned, balanced healthy skin Even-toned, balanced healthy skin
Dry Let's add moisture Lakme 9to5 Double Duty Primer + Moisturizer Lakmé Unreal Blurfect Primer Lakmé Unreal Blurfect Primer Lakmé Vit C Superglow Primer Lakmé Glitterati Glow Primer
Normal/ Balanced I was born lucky Lakmé Skin Dew Primer Lakmé Unreal Blurfect Primer Lakmé Unreal Blurfect Primer Lakmé Vit C Superglow Primer Lakmé Glitterati Glow Primer
Oily I'm always blotting Lakmé Undercover Gel Primer Lakmé Undercover Gel Primer Lakmé Sun Expert Priming Sunscreen Lakmé Vit C Superglow Primer Lakmé Glitterati Glow Primer
Skin Type Combination I've got it all Lakmé Skin Dew Primer Lakmé Unreal Blurfect Primer Lakmé Sun Expert Priming Sunscreen Lakmé Vit C Superglow Primer Lakmé Glitterati Glow Primer

Dispense the Primer

Squeeze a pea-sized amount of primer onto your fingertips for your entire face.

Distribute the Primer

Gently dab the primer across your face using your fingertips, a makeup sponge, or a brush. Focus on areas where you want to smooth out texture, blur imperfections, or extend the wear of your makeup. These areas commonly include the T-zone, cheeks, chin, and forehead.

Blend Thoroughly

Use gentle, outward strokes to blend the primer evenly into your skin. Make sure to cover your entire face, including the jawline and hairline, for a seamless finish.

Allow Time to Set

Give the primer 1-2 minutes to set on your skin before applying any makeup on top. This allows it to create a smooth canvas and ensures your makeup adheres properly.

2. COVER: ACING THAT FLAWLESS BASE

Once skin is prepped, it is important to address specific skin concerns with color correction and conceal pigmentation before applying foundation.

Color Correction: Apply Lakmé Unreal Cover Correctors sparingly and blend well to ensure smooth, even coverage that forms the perfect base. Follow this quick guide to help you find the right color corrector for your skin concerns:

Concern Corrector Color that neutralizes concern Purpose Application Tips
Under-Eye Discoloration/ Dark Circles/ Dark Spots/ Acne Spots/ Sunspots Peach or Orange Neutralizes dark circles and any bluish discoloration or blemishes Apply sparingly with a brush or sponge; blend well for even coverage.
Redness/Blemishes/ Rosacea Green Counteracts redness from blemishes or inflamed skin Dab gently over affected areas on T-zone, cheeks and cupid’s bow to even out skin tone
Dullness/ Tan Purple Brightens up sallow or dull complexions Use lightly over areas on forehead, cheeks and chin that need brightening; blend thoroughly to amplify base radiance

First Image

The key to getting the coverage right lies in conceal, correct and contour. For this, getting the right coverage in the right shade and finish for your skin tone, undertone and type is crucial.

Conceal: A touch of concealer works wonders in brightening the eyes and camouflaging imperfections like spots and blemishes. To ensure a natural look, choose a shade that is one shade lighter than your foundation. A quick test on the inner wrist or directly on the under-eye area can help confirm the perfect shade match.

Dab the creamy Lakmé Unreal Cover Creme Concealer for a dewy finish, the Lakmé Unreal Cover Pen Concealer for a matte finish, and the Lakmé Vit C Superglow Concealer for a glowing finish, blending it gently into the skin for a naturally flawless finish that doesn't settle into fine lines.

Correct: Finding the Right Shade of Foundation

Finding the best foundation shade for you is essential for achieving a flawless base. When testing shades, apply them along your jawline in natural light; the ideal shade should blend seamlessly into your skin, complementing your complexion without leaving a noticeable line or mask-like effect. This approach guarantees a smooth, natural appearance that enhances your overall look.

The most important thing to take into consideration while choosing your right foundation shade is understanding your skin tone and undertone.

Let me help you understand what’s your Skin Tone and Undertone

Your skin tone can be categorized as light, medium, tan or deep, and each has its own range of shades.
Skin tones
Light Very light to light skin that burns easily and tans slowly
Medium Beige to olive skin that tans easily with moderate burning
Tan Deep olive or caramel skin that rarely burns and tans well
Deep Richly pigmented skin that rarely burns, appearing medium to dark brown

Similarly, your undertone—cool, warm, neutral or olive—affects how makeup products will appear on your skin.

Skin Undertones
Cool Pink, red, or bluish hues; veins appear blue, and silver jewelry looks better on you
Warm Yellow, golden, or peach hues; veins appear green, and gold jewelry brightens up your face
Neutral A balance of warm and cool hues, with veins that may look both blue and green.
Olive A mix of neutral and greenish tones, giving a subtle earthy or green tint, especially under natural light.

Finding your foundation match can be confusing, but our beauty expert is here to help.

Choose your finish and coverage

Once you've found your perfect shade, it's time to choose the finish and coverage that best aligns with your style and skin type. Whether you prefer a dewy finish for a fresh, luminous glow or a matte finish for a polished, long-lasting look, consider how natural or glam you want to appear. For natural, everyday looks consider a sheer/ light coverage foundation, for a glam look, a medium to full coverage foundation look is more suitable. Here’s a quick guide to choose your foundation basis the right finish and coverage:

Finish Best For Benefits Coverage Recommended Products
Dewy Finish Dry or Normal skin Provides a radiant, fresh glow with a slight sheen; reflects light for natural luminosity Sheer/ Light Lakmé Glitterati Luminous Skin Tint
Matte Finish Oily or combination skin Controls shine; offers a polished, smooth appearance; great for longer wear and a velvety texture
Sheer/ Light
Medium to Full
Lakmé Xtraordina-Airy Mattreal Mousse Foundation
Lakmé 9to5 Powerplay Mousse Foundation
Lakmé Facelift Foundation Stick
Glowing Finish Sensitive Gives an ethereal, glow as if coming from within Medium Lakmé Vitamin C Superglow Skin Perfecting Tint

Now that you've selected your perfect foundation match and finish, use the Lakmé Absolute Makeup Master Tools - Dual Ended Foundation & Powder Brush to blend it outwards from the center of your face, ensuring an even complexion with buildable coverage

Contour And Highlight: Complete your flawless base with contour and highlighter to add depth and dimension. Start by selecting the right shades. Go with a cooler shade of the Lakmé Facelift MultiSlayer Contour Stick to sculpt areas like the hollows of your cheeks and temples. This will create natural-looking shadows that enhance your facial structure.

For highlighting, pick a shade that complements your skin tone from the Lakmé Facelift MultiSlayer Highlighter Stick on the high points of your face, such as the cheekbones and brow bones, to add a luminous touch. Use the Lakmé DefineU app or refer to our ultimate face definition by face shape guide to swipe, blend, and slay.

If you prefer a warmer look without contouring, a bronzer can be a great alternative. Choose a warm-toned bronzer from Lakmé Absolute Facelift Palette that matches your undertone and apply it lightly to mimic a sun-kissed glow.

Refined Look: Embrace contouring to sculpt and define your features. This adds depth and creates a sophisticated look perfect for evening events. Use the Lakmé DefineU App to create a snatched look best suited to the shape of your face.

3. SET

To perfect your flawless base, the final step is setting your makeup to ensure it lasts beautifully throughout the day. For those seeking a fresh, luminous glow, Lakmé VitC Superglow Skin Perfecting Makeup Fixer is your best friend; it locks in moisture and enhances that radiant, dewy finish you've crafted.

If your aim is a more polished look with a velvety texture, opt for Lakmé Showstopper Collection Rouge Bloom Setting Powder to mattify and maintain a shine-free complexion. Both methods not only secure your makeup but also elevate the overall look, with each application adding a luxurious touch to your routine.

FAQs

Q:1 How to stop cakey foundation ?

Take your time to blend each product seamlessly into your skin. This ensures that no hard lines are visible, and your base doesn’t appear cakey. Using the correct coverage is also essential.

Q:2 How do you fix makeup base ?  

Use a setting powder to set your foundation and concealer. This helps lock in your makeup, reducing shine and increasing longevity throughout the day.

Q:3 How do you blend foundation smoothly ?

Now that you’ve learned to create the right look for brunch, let’s look at how you can create a look for a day by the beach.