Picture this: You splurge on an Instagram-famous foundation and apply it without a second thought, only to notice that your face looks ashy, cakey, and mask-like. NGL, we’ve all experienced a cakey foundation that feels heavy and gives you a greyish look in photos, exacerbates the look of pores and fine lines, and is an absolute nightmare to wear.
While we’d immediately think to blame our foundation formula, it can actually be caused by a range of other factors, all of which we can fix – yayy! If you are tired of spending hours on your glamm only to have it crease or grease up later, we’re listing down seven reasons why your foundation looks cakey and how to fix it.
8 Makeup Mistakes That Might Be Making Your Foundation Look Cakey
You Didn’t Prep Your Skin
Skin prep is key to nailing a base that looks skin-like. Applying foundation on skin that’s dehydrated and textured can make it look patchy and cakey. It’s best to slather on a moisturiser and a primer before applying your foundation. This helps in creating a silky-smooth canvas for the foundation.
You Didn’t Let Your Primer Sink In
Just like dermats recommend we let our serums and moisturisers dry before applying sunscreen. The same goes for primers. Wait for five mins and let your primer dry before you proceed with applying foundation. This will prevent both caking as well as piling.
You Didn’t Moisturise Properly
Another major culprit behind the cakey foundation is not applying your moisturiser properly. If the foundation fails to sink into the skin and sits atop your skin, it might ruin your foundation application. It’s best to start with a water-based lotion to plump up your complexion, followed by a glow-inducing cream. Alternatively, mixing a few drops of your skincare product with the foundation will also do the trick.
Your Skin Needs Exfoliation
Even after you prep your skin with primer and moisturiser, if your foundation still looks plastered – it’s time to add exfoliation to your skin prep routine. You can opt for a chemical exfoliator that sloughs off dead skin cells, and set the rest of the makeup products up for success.
You’re Using The Wrong Formula For Your Skin Type
Just like you choose a foundation based on your skin tone, it’s equally important to consider your particular skin type. For folks with dry skin, foundations formulated will hydrating ingredients such as hyaluronic acid work best. Similarly, colour-correcting foundations are great for those with heavily-irritated skin.cx
The Formula You’re Using Is Too Thick
There’s a time and place for a full-coverage foundation. And it’s not every day. For days when you want to go for a my-skin-but-better vibe, we suggest using a glow-giving primer and then slathering on a tinted moisturiser. It’s sure to give you a glow so bright that your lit factor gives the Sun a run for its money.
You Didn’t Set Your Foundation
If you make sure your foundation stays looking its best, it’s best to set it with a setting powder. When applying the powder, be mindful of the placement and how much product you use. Load your brush with loose powder and give it a good tap. Then, sweep it over areas that tend to get oily first.
You’re Applying Too Much Product
This is the most common cause behind a cakey foundation. Avoid applying too many layers even when you’re using a powder foundation. Too many layers of liquid foundation can lead to uneven application and a blotchy appearance. Likewise, too much powder foundation can make the skin look dry and textured.
Save this story if you want your foundation to look like your second skin.
Featured Image: Instagram
