We are beyond blessed to have so many makeup options available to us. But sometimes the market presents us with the paradox of choice and we can be all sorts of confused about what to use. A perfect example of this is foundation. Cream, liquid, powder — how are we supposed to know what will look best on us?
The good news is that there is no wrong answer; it really is a personal choice and you should do just what feels best for you and your skin. “The form of foundation you choose will depend on personal preference,” M.A.C. Cosmetics Senior National Artist Fatima Thomas tells InStyle. “Whether you prefer liquid, cream, or powder, there may be options across formulas that can work for your skin type and coverage needs.”
But if you don’t want to be indecisive like Goldilocks and are looking to find the perfect fit foundation-wise, the experts are here to help you out. Below, Thomas and celebrity makeup artist Sean Harris dive deep into the differences between cream, liquid, and powder foundation and give their tips on how to apply each one.
Read on to discover what they had to say.
What is cream foundation?
According to Harris, a cream foundation is a formula that is either wax- or oil-based and mixed with skin-toned pigments to give you coverage. Thomas adds that they are pliable solids that can come in stick or compact form, and because most cream foundations contain solid emollients, they have a balmy and creamy feel to them and leave a satin-to-dewy finish with buildable coverage.
Harris says the biggest benefit to a cream foundation is that it can provide fuller coverage compared to powder and liquid foundations as the pigment load is stronger. He says you’ll want to reach for this when you want coverage to last a really long time.
If this sounds like something you want, try a cream foundation like the KVD Beauty Good Apple Full-Coverage Cream Foundation Balm or the Huda Beauty #FauxFilter Skin Finish Buildable Coverage Foundation Stick.
What is liquid foundation?
Thomas says that liquid foundations are water-based blends of emollients and pigments. Because most liquid formulas contain water, she says they provide hydration to the skin. These also provide buildable coverage, which Harris says makes it a great option for any occasion. He says that liquid foundation looks the most natural compared to powder and cream, so it’s also the easiest to create that skin-like appearance for that no-makeup-makeup look.
Thomas’s personal pick, especially for dry skin, is the M.A.C. Cosmetics Studio Radiance Face and Body Sheer Foundation for its hydrating properties. You can also try something like the NARS Light Reflecting Foundation or the Fenty Beauty by Rihanna Pro Filt’r Soft Matte Longwear Liquid Foundation.
What is powder foundation?
Powder formulas don’t contain water, says Thomas. Instead, they're made of pigments, binders, and other emollients that are blended and pressed into powder. She says they offer a natural matte finish (they can give a radiant finish if they contain reflective particles) and many offer oil-controlling properties.
She adds that they offer flexible coverage and provide shine control. You can also use a powder foundation as a setting powder ontop of a cream or liquid formula. Harris recommends using a powder if want to create a matte finish.
To get that matte look, try something like the Estée Lauder Double Wear Stay-in-Place Matte Refillable Powder Foundation or the BareMinerals Original Loose Powder Mineral Foundation SPF 15.
What are the downsides of cream foundation?
Cream foundations tend to be heavy and can clog pores, which is a big concern for those who have oily skin and are prone to breakouts. While Thomas says she has found clients with oily skin who enjoy cream formulas, she says that those with normal and dry skin benefit most from this type of foundation because of its rich moisturizing effect and dewy finish. Harris adds that he likes to use it on mature skin or whenever fuller coverage is needed.
What are the downsides of liquid foundation?
The downsides to liquid foundation are minimal. Both Thomas and Harris say that liquid foundations work for all skin types. “It has a universal appeal due to its ability to glide onto the skin,” says Harris. “You can also get varying amounts of coverage depending on what brand you choose.”
What are the downsides of powder foundation?
Because powder foundation doesn’t contain any water, they have no moisturizing properties. While Thomas says that any skin type can use a powder formula if the skin is prepped and primed strategically, those with dry skin are more likely to opt out of using it because it won’t offer any hydration.
How do you apply cream foundation?
For maximum coverage, Thomas uses a damp sponge to put a cream foundation on. For the undereye areas, she’ll use her ring finger for targeted placement and blending. Harris likes to use a dense brush first and then a sponge to diffuse the product accordingly.
How do you apply liquid foundation?
Thomas says that with liquid foundation, what tool you use depends on the results you want. Sponges, for example, are great for layering on product and diffusing texture. Different brushes can also yield varying finishes depending on the size, shape, density, and fiber material. You can also use your hands if you’d like.
Harris likes to use a brush to put liquid foundation on. He recommends a dense and fluffy brush to get product into the skin seamlessly for a more natural look and to finish blending in with a sponge like the Beauty Blender.
How do you apply powder foundation?
Harris recommends using a fluffy brush to apply powder foundation and adds that the denser the brush you use, the more intense coverage you’ll have. Thomas says if you’re looking for a softer, more sheer coverage that lets your skin show through, use a soft rounded brush like the M.A.C. Cosmetics 182 Synthetic Buffer Brush. If you want more opacity, she says to use a large sponge to spread and layer.
I was once an inexperienced yet passionate makeup newbie. I would order all kinds of makeup with the little babysitting money I had in order to test out different textures, finishes, and formulas. One of the very first products I ever delved into was foundation—namely cream and mousse foundations. I found these to be super simple and approachable. I would deposit some onto the back of my hand before picking it up and dabbing it onto my skin with my fingers anywhere I needed a little coverage. Like I said, it was simple. The same went for powder foundation. I would use one of the few brushes I had (or the sponge that came included in the compact) and swipe it over my T-zone, blending out toward the perimeter of my face.
Liquid foundation, however, was a little bit harder to deal with. Blame it on my lack of beauty knowledge, but I honestly couldn't make it work for my skin. No matter if I applied it with my fingers or a brush, it would look visible and streaky on my skin. Nowadays, I know this isn't an experience that's unique to me. In fact, after taking an informal poll of family and friends, it seems that liquid foundation is the most finicky of all foundation textures. Keep scrolling to see makeup artist Matin's tutorial for applying liquid foundation.
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Click Play to Watch MUA Matin's Liquid Foundation Tutorial
Meet the Expert
How to Apply Foundation with a Sponge
When it comes to foundation application, Matin says his favorite tool to reach for is a classic Beautyblender. This makes sense considering a Beautyblender was designed to provide an easy, airbrushed finish. When using this application technique, make sure you wet your sponge first. This is key to achieving even coverage and minimizing product absorption. Simply run it under the sink for a few seconds until the sponge is saturated and plump. Then, dip it into the liquid foundation you put on the back of your hand and use a dabbing motion to apply it.
"I'm going to use the Beautyblender, and I'm going to take a little bit of foundation on my hand," Matin begins. "And really work the foundation into the blender. So you don't see it on the surface, it's actually gone inside the sponge."
Working the foundation into our model's skin, Matin reminds us that foundation isn't meant to work as a mark across your entire face. Rather, you should apply strategically to even out skin tone and illuminate. "Foundation is there to just even the skin out. Work it to wherever your neckline starts. And I'm working very lightly just to even her out. And if you're tan on the body but pale on the face, don't hesitate to bring the foundation down onto the neck."
How to Apply Foundation with Your Fingers
Let's be honest with ourselves: We use our fingers more than any other beauty tool in our arsenal. Whether it's swiping on a cream blush, patting a lipstick onto our pout, or, yes, applying liquid foundation. According to Khachaturian, this isn't necessarily a bad thing. "I'm not mad at applying foundation by hand! In fact, it warms up the product and gives it a more natural finish," he says. "I almost always work off the back of my hand no matter how I apply foundation to heat it up a bit. If this is your only means of applying foundation, I suggest giving yourself a few extra minutes to make sure you really blend and smooth all the edges out."
Before you apply foundation with your hands, make sure your fingers are clean. In fact, wash your hands in between every makeup step. This will avoid color transfer while also keep germs and any other impurities your hands encounter off of your face. Once your hands are dry, apply a bit of foundation onto the back of one hand. Dip your fingers in and spread the product gently around your skin, starting in your T-zone and blending out. We like MAC's Studio Fix Foundation for this technique. It's fluid enough to blend fairly easily yet has enough coverage so you're fingers won't sheer it out too much.
How to Apply Foundation with a Brush
When using a brush, it's important to choose one with synthetic bristles. Natural bristles can be a bit porous, meaning they can absorb some of the product. Synthetic bristles will keep the liquid foundation on your skin, exactly where it's supposed to be. "The brush needs to be thin-bristled. If you use thick bristles, it can streak," Matin adds.
As for the type of brush, Khachaturian surprisingly doesn't recommend using a traditional foundation brush: "When applying liquid foundation with a brush, I actually prefer to use a synthetic fluffy brush, like a blush brush. It sounds crazy, I know, but you get a super-smooth, almost airbrushed result!" As such, he always reached for the MAC 129S Brush ($35). "It doesn't shed and gives flawlessly blended results!"
MAC
129S Synthetic Powder/Blush Brush
$35.00
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Like Khachaturian mentioned before, this MAC brush is technically a powder and/or blush brush, but the sculpted shape and dense synthetic bristles make it a favorite for applying liquid foundation. Who would have thought?
As for which foundation we suggest pairing with this MAC brush, it's Revlon's ColorStay Foundation. Why, you ask? Well, it's smooth and blendable while also offering protective skin benefits from SPF 20 and hydrating hyaluronic acid. The brush's synthetic bristles will spread it evenly across the skin without absorbing any of those good-for-skin ingredients.
The Final Takeaway
No matter what application method you choose, you should start with a primer to even-out the texture of your skin (your forehead, for example, is typically more oily than the cheeks, so foundation will look different on different areas of the face if you don't use a primer). Keep in mind that foundation shouldn't be applied like moisturizer. You want foundation to look like skin, so just use foundation where you need it rather than rubbing it all over.
The same rule of thumb is true for powder, which you should use to set the look. If you have oily skin, you can use powder all over. If you're dryer on the cheeks and around your nose, just powder your forehead and chin. Once you've set your look, Matin recommends breathing some tone and life back into your skin with bronzer or blush.