Those of us who wear foundation are always on a mission to make it look as natural as possible. We want everyone to think our skin just looks like this normally. If you have ever shied away from full coverage foundation in fear of it looking cakey or unnatural, you may have been misled. If you want opaque coverage and a flawless finish, we’re here to tell you about the benefits of using a full coverage foundation.
What is a Full Coverage Foundation?
To better understand what a full coverage foundation is, let’s take a look at the different types of coverage you can find in a foundation. There are four different levels of coverage that foundations are marketed as. They are sheer, light, medium, and full coverage. Sheer and light coverage foundations are able to lightly even out and smooth the look of your skin but will not be able to hide any imperfections or discoloration. These foundations are more comparable to a BB cream or tinted moisturizer in terms of opacity. Some people find that these foundations can often look less natural because they end up using more of the product to build up the coverage.
Full coverage foundations are for people who want intense coverage. Medium to full coverage foundations are better at concealing splotches, redness, blemishes and even scarring. If you have freckles or birthmarks that you want to cover, full to medium coverage is going to be your best option.
The Benefits
So, what are the benefits of using a full coverage foundation? First of all, it will save you money on products. As we previously mentioned, lighter coverage foundations typically take more product to build up. Therefore, you are going through bottles of this stuff a lot quicker than you would with a fuller coverage formula. Additionally, you will not need to use as much concealer with a full coverage foundation. And with these products, a little goes a long way, so you will find yourself going through a full coverage foundation a lot slower.
Full coverage foundations can also look more natural than other formulas. When applied properly (we’ll get to that later) a full coverage foundation can look better and feel more weightless than the lighter formulas. This is again, due to the overapplication. Once you’ve applied multiple layers of foundation and concealer and maybe even a tinted powder, your sheer coverage is going to look thick and cakey. One thin layer of full coverage foundation will achieve the same or better coverage but with significantly less product.
How to Use It
Because full coverage foundation can be heavy, it is important to know how to apply it properly. It can be all too easy for it to end up looking cakey if you don’t take the right steps. For the best application, you will want to start with a clean surface. Make sure you are using a good makeup remover and cleanser to ensure you are getting off any old makeup or product. Exfoliating a couple of times throughout the week will help get any dead skin off and even out the surface of your skin. Use a good lightweight moisturizer before you apply makeup so you have a smooth surface to work with.
Next you will want to use a makeup primer. A primer will extend the life of your makeup and make reapplication less necessary. Primer works by giving your foundation something to hold on to so it stays in place throughout the day.
When it comes to tools, beauty blenders are incredibly popular. While we love these for concealer, foundation is best applied with a brush. With full coverage foundation, you will want to start with a small amount as this stuff is extremely pigmented. Start around the center of your face and work the foundation out with your brush. Once you have everything blended out and looking good, follow with concealer. If you have any stubborn areas or dark undereye circles, now is the time to cover them. You will want to do this after foundation when using full coverage. Most of the time the foundation will do all the work here, so you don’t want to use concealer unnecessarily.
Once you have your foundation and concealer in place, you will set your makeup. You’ll want to use something light and colorless for a full coverage foundation. A translucent powder is perfect for setting heavier foundations and won’t make your face look too powdery. We like to finish off with a setting spray to really seal the deal.
Ready to Go!
Now that you’ve applied and set your makeup, you are ready to take on the day with your long-lasting look. If you follow these tricks, your friends will all be asking you for skincare advice (you don’t have to tell them it’s all in the makeup!) For flawless looking skin all day long, try out a full coverage foundation.