How to apply loose mineral foundation

One of my readers requested for a tutorial on how to apply mineral foundation. I thought that was an interesting question. After all, mineral foundation IS different from normal powder foundation and therefore requires a slightly separate set of tools and techniques. 

But wait, why use mineral makeup? It depends on your needs and preferences. MMU is great if you want a smooth, luminous finish without all the added chemicals traditional foundations have. You also don't need to use a lot of MMU to get the skin you want, which means that you only use a thin layer that lets your skin breathe.

Unlike normal powder makeup where you just pat it on to get your desired coverage, you have to sort of break down and really spread mineral makeup all over your face. That's why even if you only use a small amout of mineral powder (well, good MMU anyway), you get a lot mileage out of it. It's basically concentrated pigment, unlike traditional makeup where there are comparatively more binders, extenders, and preservatives included in the formula.

That said, I'd just like to share the tools and techniques I use in applying loose mineral foundation!

Choose your weapon

Dense brushes allow you to break down and spread the MMU efficiently. I find that a dense, round, domed brush is the best type to use with mineral foundation. I've tried flat tops and flat, round brushes, but they don't deliver the same great results as the former. 

My favorite brush is this big P120 powder brush I found in Market! Market! Since it's big, it covers more ground quickly and delivers a natural finish. I also like this Charm Essentials Vegan Brush and Ellana Baby Buki Brush.

Choose your mask

There are a lot of options out there, from low-end to high-end. Ellana Minerals make awesome mineral foundation, and so affordable, too! You can get a 6 gram jar for less than P500. I used that stuff for YEARS. However, if you're loathe to order online, you can try the Revlon ColorStay Aqua Mineral Makeup. It's available in most drugstores.

For high-end options, try the Clinique Superbalanced Powder Makeup SPF15 - great, great stuff. Read my review! I'm currently using the Bobbi Brown Skin Foundation Mineral Makeup SPF 15 and it's also a winner. Both are upwards P2,000 but I swear they're super.

How to maximize mineral foundation

1. Start with a clean, well-exfoliated face. Mineral makeup has a tendency to highlight dry, flaky skin, so make sure you have none before applying it.

2. Even out primer all over your face. MMU needs a good surface to stick to. Use your favorite primer and concentrate on your nose, cheek, and forehead, wherever you oil up the most. Here I used the Smashbox Photo Finish Luminizing Primer (testing it out lol). But I normally just use my Clinique Derma White City Block Anti-Pollution SPF40 - it's sunblock and primer in one.

3. Apply concealer on all your problem areas. Spots, eyebags, zap it with your favorite concealer first before the powder. Most MMU won't cover your blemishes - they are simply not THAT pigmented and heavy so you need to use concealer beforehand. In any case, the powder "sets" the concealer and makes it look more natural. I like the MAC Studio Sculpt Concealer. 

4. Swirl, tap, buff. Decant a bit of the mineral powder on the cap, then swirl your brush all over. Make sure the bristles are evenly coated with powder. Tap the excess. Gently buff (that is, apply in circling motions) the product all over your face. Take care not to disturb your concealer underneath so use a light hand when buffing in those areas. Blend blend blend for your life.

Just a note: one thing I like about high-end mineral foundation is that it's easier to blend them 

Just turn your jar bottom side up, shake a little, and the powder will stick to the cap.

Swirl brush all over then tap

Buff all over, concentrating on the t-zone. And voila!

And that's it. Yes, loose MMU requires a lot of work to apply perfectly, so busy ladies should just stick to normal foundation. Still, if you're after the kind of luminous effect that only MMU can provide, then you know what to do!

Hope you found this useful! Just let me know if you have any questions. ;)