Foundation Fixes for Beautiful Skin

Foundation can make your skin look fabulous -- or flawed. Check out our solutions to common makeup missteps.

By: Melissa Milrad Goldstein

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A Perfect Match

Stay on Target

Get a Smooth Start

Know When to Toss

A Fresh Palette

Blending Basics

Better Bronzing

Mirror Check

Dry Skin Fix

The Cardinal Rule

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A Perfect Match

Problem: You choose your foundation color by matching it to the skin on your arm and it doesn't seem to blend into your face.

Solution: The skin on the inner part of your arm hasn't had the sun exposure your face has, so the color is not the same. Ask if you can test it directly on your face.

Stay on Target

Problem: You apply foundation all over.

Solution: Skip your eyelids and ears -- they don't need makeup.

Get a Smooth Start

Problem: Your makeup seeps into pores and lines.

Solution: Prep skin with a primer, which fills in all the nooks and gives makeup something to grip onto.

Know When to Toss

Problem: Your foundation is over a year old.

Solution: Pitch it. Oxidation causes the shade to darken and it may be harboring bacteria.

A Fresh Palette

Problem: Your skin appears mask-like.

Solution: If your makeup looks too heavy, it's best to wash it off and start again.

Blending Basics

Problem: Your makeup stops at the jawline.

Solution: Be sure to brush a little foundation on the neck area. You don't want your face to be one color and your neck another.

Better Bronzing

Problem: You use a darker foundation to look tanned.

Solution: Stick with your regular shade, and warm the tone with bronzer.

Mirror Check

Problem: Halfway through the day, you notice streaks in your foundation.

Solution: Take the time to take a quick look in the mirror and rub out errant foundation streaks before you leave the house.

Dry Skin Fix

Problem: Your skin is dry and flaky.

Solution: Mix a drop of moisturizer into your foundation.

The Cardinal Rule

Problem: No matter how hard you try, you just can't seem to achieve a perfect application.

Solution: You may have forgotten the cardinal rule of foundation -- it should enhance skin, not conceal it.

Foundation Fixes for Beautiful Skin

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