10 Reasons Your Foundation Looks Cakey, and How to Fix It
Sometimes, we all have been there: We reach for a new foundation (or sometimes even one we have used for years) without realising that our faces look horrible after we apply it (or glance at it).
“Cakey foundation is not always the fault of the foundation itself or the skin it’s being applied to, according to board-certified dermatologist Marisa Garshick, MD. However, it might be.”
To get an accurate understanding of why your foundation appears cakey, we interviewed Garshick, as well as makeup artists Lori Taylor Davis and Nick Lujan, and learned everything we could about why it looks that way.
1.You Forgot to Prep Your Skin
“It all comes down to the way in which we prepare the skin before applying makeup,” says Davis. “If the surface is dehydrated, textured, or otherwise compromised, makeup may appear different on the skin. That's why skin preparation is the key to producing a flawless-looking skin and avoiding cakey appearance.”
According to Davis, proper skin care should include at least a moisturizer and primer. “A skin care product such as a moisturizer and primer can help alter the surface of the skin to achieve the greatest possible flawless finish for foundation, as it does for any skin type,” she says.
2.You Didn't Let Your Primer Dry
Makeup artists say the same thing about pre-foundation primers as dermatologists suggest letting serums and moisturizers dry before applying sunscreen.
Be sure to allow your face care or primer to rest for a moment before applying foundation, says Lujan. “I prefer to distribute any lotion or primer from areas that did not absorb or pile up before applying foundations. This will prevent caking as well as pilling, so it is a win-win.
3.You Didn't Apply Your Moisturizer Properly
In order to avoid cakey foundation on dry skin, make sure you use a moisturizer as well as properly apply it, Lujan says.
The cream creates a more glowy and nourished look to the skin, the water-based lotion creates a more plump skin, Lujan says. “Applying a good hydrator (water-based lotion) prior to a thicker, more nourishing cream will help plump up the skin, while the cream creates a more glowy and nourished look to the skin,” she explains. This hydration and even skin texture create the perfect canvas for applying any style of foundation.
While it might sound like adding a few drops of your skin-care cream or formula to Lujan’s foundation would solve the problem, it's really easy to remedy. "Try adding a couple of drops of your skincare into your cream or liquid foundations before applying them", he says.
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4.You Need to Exfoliate
A foundation that appears cakey if left unmoisturized and priming is, in Garshick's opinion, caused by an overabundance of dead skin cells and not an insufficient exfoliation. To fix this, if your foundation is looking too cakey, you may consider exfoliating beforehand.
You don't have to follow a certain process to achieve exfoliation. You can use an acid-based exfoliant (which removes dead skin cells by loosening them) or a physical one (which uses coarse grit to pulverize them).
5.You’re Wearing the Wrong Shade
When using the wrong shade of foundation, caking can occur, according to Garshick. It simply looks unnatural, and thus caked on. You may also experience caking using a different foundation, as it just doesn't look right.
It's important to pay attention to your undertone when choosing foundation, because this will determine which foundation will work best on your complexion. Knowing which undertone you fall into will help you pick the correct foundation for you.
6.You're Using the Wrong Formula For Your Skin Type
It's also critical to consider your skin type when choosing your foundation. "A foundation that doesn't adhere to dry or irritated skin may not layer as well as it does on those with normal or supple skin," Garshick says.
Skincare routines are essential for anyone who wants to wear foundation, of course. However, Garshick believes that looking for specific foundation ingredients can also help. "Dry skin people may benefit from hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid or liquid products, for example," he says.
People who have acne-riddled skin (Think: redness, texture, and overall colouration) may benefit from colour-correcting foundations, as well as those with more mattified end looks.
7.The Formula You're Using Is Too Thick
A full-coverage foundation can be used when it is needed, but typically it is not used regularly. “A foundation that looks like skin and hydrated and slightly glowy looks good on me as an artist,” Davis says.
Terry's hyaluronic tinted moisturize, she says, gives a generous amount of coverage. A primer like Galénic Teint Lumiere, she says, provides the perfect environment for perfect skin that never looks caked, dry, or textured.
8.You're Using Too Much Product
“Cakery foundation is frequently due to applying too much product," says Lujan. "If you use a powder-finish product, applying too much may lead to an uneven application—especially if you use powder finish. Your skin may appear textured or dry as a result of too many powder finishes; likewise, they may repel each other, causing a blotched or blurry appearance and camera flashes.
9.You're Not Using the Right Formula For Your Lifestyle
To find a foundation that can withstand the wear and tear of a life of foundation-wearing, Garshick suggests that you look for “urban-decay-naked-liquid- foundation that provides long-lasting buildable coverage and is sweat-resistant,” she says, adding that it is critical to find a foundation for your lifestyle. "It is easy to apply and leaves a natural finish."
10.You Didn't Set Your Foundation
It is just as crucial to apply your foundation as it is to apply it before. That is why Lujan always recommends setting products. When it's time for a setting powder, be selective in how much you apply and where you place it.
Dip the brush into the loose powder, tap it lightly to dispense powder, and roll it over areas of texture or oiliness to apply it. Dust it off with the same brush if any extra powder remains on the face.
