Five Tips For Flawless Foundation

We're all looking for that perfect, flawless base when we put on our foundation in the morning, but are you doing it in the best way? Aside from the obvious like making sure you have the correct shade of foundation for your skintone, there are some easy ways to achieve a smooth, even coverage that hides imperfections without being mask-like.
Experiment | In terms of both products and tools, you need to experiment and find what works best for you. When you try a new foundation, remember the formula will be different, so try it a few ways to find the best method of applying it. Some of my base products are best applied with my BeautyBlender; for others, I favour my Real Techniques Expert Face Brush, whilst others work best with (clean!) fingers. Sometimes a combination of all three gives that airbrushed effect I'm looking for. It's all about trial and error here to find a method that suits you. The same goes for the foundation itself; look for something designed for your skintype, with the level of coverage you prefer. There's no one-size-fits-all solution here!
Keep it clean! | Yes, you do need to wash your make-up tools. Yes, really. I know it's boring. Do it anyway. Honestly, I find it makes such a difference to how my make-up applies - quite aside from the fact that better skin = better make-up, and not introducing unnecessary bacteria from dirty tools onto your skin, will give you better skin. I wash my Beauty Blender before every use (this is easy as I use it damp!) and try to wash my brushes at least once a week, although I aim to wash those used for liquid or cream products after every use.
Natural light | The light where I apply my make-up is truly dreadful but I always, always take a smaller mirror to a window and check my base in natural light; more often than not, I'll find brushstrokes or harsh lines that need blending out, that are simply invisible in the artificial light of my bedroom, but glaringly obvious once I'm in daylight. This is an easy way to make your base look more natural and flawless - always check in daylight!
Consider your base | Sometimes, for whatever reason, products just don't mix well; a certain primer can be brilliant under one foundation, and frankly awful under the next. If you find a foundation doesn't sit well on your skin, try it with different products underneath - that means moisturisers as well as primers. If you have dry skin, a good moisturiser will help prevent product clinging to any dry patches; for oily-skinned girls, a good primer can make the difference between two and ten hours wear.
Less Is More! | Applying too much product is a surefire way to end up with your make-up looking cakey and sliding around your face. Sure, we all want a decent coverage, but the best way is definitely to start with a little product and add more as and where you need it; it's way easier to pop a bit more on, than take it off again! Especially when trialling a new product, start with a small amount and add more if you need. All the setting powder in the world won't keep your base in place if you've used twice as much product as you need - you can consider that a bonus tip - always set liquid base products with a powder to prolong their wear!
I hope you've found these tips helpful, and I'd love to hear if you have any more wisdom to add! What's the best thing you've found for creating that flawless base?

xo