Applying Mineral Makeup

It seems that for every type of mineral makeup there is also a
different technique to apply it Now, each company may have
slight differences in their makeup that when it is applied a
certain way will make it look or adhere better However, there
are some very basic guidelines to applying mineral makeup that
will work with almost any brand you buy Of course, it’s always
preferable that you develop your own personal style- your own
touch You know how you like your makeup to look, so practice,
practice, practice until you get your application method how you
like it After all, it is your face
Applying Foundation/ Finishing Powder
Foundation is admittedly the hardest to apply You see some
brands that say “swirl, tap, buff” and other brands that say
“don’t!” What are you supposed to do?
The general rule of thumb is that if a mineral makeup contains
bismuth oxychloride, you’ll likely have to buff it in, and buff
it in well, for the makeup to look its best Generally a kabuki
brush is used with this technique
What’s A Kabuki?
Good question! It’s a very densely packed brush It gives very
heavy coverage because so much more makeup is left on the
bristles after you tap It’s a good option for people who want a
more opaque look or need heavier coverage Usually with a kabuki
you must buff the minerals into your skin, or else you’ll look
streaky, emphasize your pores, etc
Buffing techniques, usually with a kabuki, are known to irritate
sensitive skin Even women without sensitive skin have problems
with irritation Remember, it’s “swirl, tap, buff”
Fluffy Brushes
Using a fluffy face brush is the other popular way to apply
mineral makeup Better quality makeup is more pigmented, so
using a kabuki is out of the question for most women But a nice
fluffy brush is just the ticket since a little makeup goes a
long way Whether you choose synthetic or animal hair brushes is
up to you Both can be equally good, depending on the quality
The same basic rules apply as with the kabuki- swirl your brush
in the makeup, tap off the excess and the brush in a downward
motion over your face No need to buff If you’d like more
coverage, just repeat the steps again
“Swirl, tap, brush” Almost the same words, but incredibly
different effects
Applying Foundation Wet
Wet? Yup There are some gals who prefer the finish when mineral
makeup is applied wet There are a couple of ways to do it
With A Brush- Mix your foundation and some
water/moisturizer/lotion, etc until a creamy consistency Then
dip your brush in it and apply in a downward motion It will dry
to a soft powder
With A Puff/Sponge- You can either dampen your puff or sponge
and dip it into your foundation and apply in a downward motion
or mix the foundation with water/moisturizer/lotion and apply
with a sponge It will dry to a soft powder
Finally, you can apply your foundation dry, then mist with a
hydrosol or something similar and either use a brush or a sponge
to smooth the moisture into the powder Be sure to use a
downward motion Some gals even like to layer their makeup this
way Powder, mist, smooth Powder, mist, smooth
Why The Downward Motion?
Good question Your pores and facial fuzz lay that way
naturally When you smooth your makeup that direction it makes a
more “natural” look
Other Facial Applications
For your other color cosmetics applied to face, here are the
general outlines
Concealor- Using a taklon concealor brush or an all-over
eyeshadow brush, dip it into the concealor or foundation you’re
using, tap off most of the excess and apply directly to the area
you want to conceal Blend very, very well If you’re using an
all over concealor, complexion enhancer, finishing powder, etc
use a fluffy face brush and swirl, tap and brush lightly in a
downward motion
Blush- Swirl, tap, brush in a slight curve from the apple of
your cheek to your hairline A nice fluffy blush brush works
best
Eyeshadow/ Eyeliner Application
This is the really fun stuff You can apply mineral makeup wet
or dry Applying it wet is called “foiling” and makes the colors
more bold and can even change them slightly in some cases
For regular application, simply dip your brush into the color,
tap off the excess and apply like you normally would
For foiling, mix some minerals with water, hydrosol, eye primer,
etc until a creamy consistency Then apply as you normally
would When dry you can buff with a dry brush to blend (but this
may cause some of the mica to come away)
The foiling method works very well for eye lining Colors that
might be too bold to wear on your eye make great liner colors
Foiling them will help them last longer and show up better
And that’s it! These basic tips should help you apply mineral
make up like a pro Play around with it, develop your own style
and technique, and most of allHave Fun!

Tags | animal, application, bristles, brush, hair, kabuki, makeup, method, mineral, pores, sensitive, style, thumb