All About that Base: Concealer & Foundation Favorites

As Meghan Trainor says in her hit song, it’s “All About That Bass.” Apply that theory to a “base” for makeup, and you’re golden. A glowing makeup look starts with the skin.

Before applying any makeup, start by applying moisturizer. This will make it easier to blend makeup into your skin, leaving you with a dewy, natural finish. Applying makeup to dry skin will result in a cakey look, and we don’t want that! My favorite moisturizers are fragrance-free; my top recommendations are First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream and CeraVe PM Facial Moisturizing Lotion. Both are excellent for sensitive and acne-prone skin, and they keep your skin hydrated throughout the winter.

In my first reel on Instagram, “Get Ready With Me Part 1,” I gave fellow dabblers a little preview of what products I use and how I apply my base. With my blog being a place for more long-form details, I’m sharing all of the products and tools I used in the video below. I’ve also linked to where you can purchase each item and noted the shade that I personally use — I figure this may be helpful if you have a similar skin tone!

Dermablend Quick Fix Concealer Stick

After applying moisturizer, I use Dermablend’s concealer stick to cover up pimples and under-eye darkness. I also use it to color correct areas prone to redness (around my nose and temples). This concealer is designed to cover tattoos, scars, and skin conditions. With that impressive background in mind, you should know it works wonders on a beefy, red pimple. This concealer may be on the pricier side, but a little goes a long way. Just lightly apply dots to necessary areas, and then blend by pressing a damp makeup wedge or beauty blender into those dots.

Foam Cosmetic Wedges

If you’re on a budget, I highly recommend purchasing a pack of 32 makeup wedges at Target for $2.29. Just one beauty blender can range from $6.00 – $12.00, so you might as well get some bang for your buck. The beauty blender does have nice precision around the nose and eyes thanks to its pointy tip, but I don’t see a big enough difference to spend the extra money (save for that house instead!).

Neutrogena Healthy Skin Enhancer Sheer Face Tint with Retinol & Broad Spectrum SPF 20 Sunscreen

Now that you’ve covered blemishes and redness, all you need is 4 total pumps of this tinted moisturizer — one pump on each cheek, one pump on the chin, and another on the forehead.

This face tint is essentially a BB cream, as it’s marketed as sheer. However, it still does a decent job at covering up the unwanted when you preface it with concealer. The main reason I love Neutrogena’s Healthy Skin Enhancer is because it’s lightweight. It doesn’t feel like you have a thick layer of makeup on your face, which is extra valuable in the summer when your skin needs extra breathing room.

Ingredients include SPF 20 and retinol, which is a bonus for protecting your skin from the sun and fighting signs of aging.

IT Brushes for Ulta Airbrush Buffing Foundation Brush #110

This is the exact brush I used to buff the face tint into my skin, and I’ve had it for years. Blending in circular motions, I always make sure to blend into my neck and hairline so there are no dividing lines. Don’t forget to clean your makeup brush regularly either. A dirty brush can contribute to acne, and the tool simply won’t work as well due to build up in the bristles.

To avoid harsh irritants, use baby shampoo to clean your brushes. It’s important to keep in mind that whatever you clean your brush with is also going on your face.

CoverGirl Outlast Stay Fabulous 3-in-1 Foundation

This foundation wasn’t in my reel, but I wanted to share it as an alternative to the above face tint if you’re looking for more coverage.

CoverGirl Outlast Stay Fabulous 3-in-1 Foundation is my go-to drugstore foundation. Similar to the face tint, the product comes in a pump, keeping the product and your hands clean. With a pump, there is no need to pour onto your hand and then onto your face. Just pump it right on your face!

I kind of go in phases between using the face tint and the foundation, but I typically just use the foundation if I’m dressing up.

Maybelline SuperStay Full Coverage Powder Foundation

Alright, time to set the base and seal it in! While it’s not clear on the packaging, Maybelline SuperStay Full Coverage Powder Foundation comes with a circular, foam applicator — it’s hidden in what feels like a secret compartment on the bottom! I would describe the way I apply the powder with that foam applicator as “blotting.” I start by focusing on the areas that need the most coverage and then graze over my well-behaved quadrants to avoid getting cakey.

Using this as a finishing touch to your base will make a major difference in how your makeup stays put throughout the day.

Now your base is set, and you’re ready for part 2 — bronzer, blush, highlight, lips, and eyes. Head on over to my next post to finish the look.

Dabble Daybook is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.