5 Foundation Hacks for a Smooth Base

Let’s talk about that annoying moment when you’ve done your full skincare routine, your skin feels great, you start applying foundation…and either immediately or an hour later, it’s pilling, clinging, or sitting on your face like a layer of something that you just want to wash off.

A smooth, seamless base doesn’t just come down to the foundation you use. It’s all about what you do before, during, and after. These are the five foundation hacks I swear by - the kind of things I’ve learnt the hard way, both on my own face and backstage.

If you’ve been struggling with patchiness, uneven wear, or makeup that just doesn’t sit right, try these tweaks and see how different your foundation looks. You don’t need a new product…sometimes you just need a better process.

1. Don’t apply foundation straight after your skincare
Look I totally get how it goes…you’re in a rush and you really don’t care and think to yourself that it can’t make that much of a difference…right? Well…wrong. If you’re layering moisturiser, SPF, primer, then jumping right into foundation, your base never has a chance. Let your skincare settle for 5-10 minutes. If you’re in a hurry, blot the skin lightly with a tissue after your last skincare step. You’ll stop that slippery feeling and help your foundation grip better.

2. Your primer doesn’t have to match your skin type - it has to match your foundation
Here’s where people go wrong…using a water-based foundation with a silicone-based primer. They don’t sit well with each other. If your foundation balls up or sits weirdly, this is probably why. Match textures - water with water, silicone with silicone. Or go primer-free and just use a gripping SPF or setting spray underneath. Sometimes less is more.

3. The Setting Spray Trick That Changes Everything
Don’t just spray your face…spray your beauty blender. Dampening your sponge with a setting spray instead of water helps your foundation melt into the skin and gives a smoother, longer-lasting finish. It’s such a simple hack but makes a huge difference. Another tip is that once you’ve applied powder, lightly mist your face with the same setting spray to remove that chalky or overly matte finish. It brings the skin back to life and makes it look more lived in.

4. Foundation always looks better when it’s pressed in
Pressing your foundation in with a damp sponge melts it into the skin. It gives that second-skin look without moving the product around too much. And it’s so important if you have texture, fine lines, or large pores.

5. Stop setting your whole face
I know it feels safe and that’s usually why we do it, but setting powder all over can flatten your face and age the skin, especially into your 40s. Set only where you need it. Like under the eyes, around the nose, maybe the chin. That’s it. Let the rest of your base breathe.