Foundation That Makes Your Skin Look Its Best
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Foundation That Makes Your Skin Look Its Best

Makeup artist Yacine Diallo shares her expert foundation tips to look younger, featuring a SPP video on the skin-amplifying benefits of new Even Better Refresh.

Have you ever applied a foundation, then looked in the mirror, and thought that it actually made your skin look worse instead of better? “When you start to see the signs of aging, like fine lines, or have an uneven skin texture, and maybe your skin gets a little drier—all of this makes it trickier to wear a full-coverage foundation,” says New York City makeup artist, Yacine Diallo. That’s because full-coverage foundations can sometimes settle into creases, making wrinkles and pores look more pronounced. And the drier your skin is, the harder it is to maintain a fresh radiant glow. Another culprit: Wearing the wrong shade can make full-coverage foundation look more like a mask than real skin. Here’s everything you need to know to avoid the pitfalls of a foundation backfire, and how to make your skin look radiant, plump, and poreless.

Pretty Easy: Foundation That Makes Your Skin Look Its Best | Clinique
Pretty Easy: Foundation That Makes Your Skin Look Its Best | Clinique
    Pretty Easy: Foundation That Makes Your Skin Look Its Best | Clinique
    Pretty Easy: Foundation That Makes Your Skin Look Its Best | Clinique

1. Prep and plump up your skin.


The more hydrated and smooth your skin is, the more natural your foundation will look. The best prep: 3-Step. First, use a cleanser formulated for your skin type. Dry skin types will need a gentle moisturizing formula, like Liquid Facial Soap Extra-Mild. Next, gently whisk away dead skin cells that can cause your foundation to look flakey. Try Clarifying Lotion 1 Twice A Day Exfoliator, which has the perfect balance of skin-sloughing salicylic acid and soothing ingredients for super smooth results without irritation. Finally, moisturize with Clinique iD Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion+ with Active Cartridge Concentrate for Lines & Wrinkles, a blend of hyaluronic acid and whey protein helps to re-plump skin and smooth lines.

2. Use a hydrating, skin-smoothing foundation.


“Matte or powder foundations can settle into lines and large pores, and give a dull and dry appearance to the skin,” cautions Yacine. A better option: Even Better Refresh Hydrating and Repairing Makeup, a 24-hour, full coverage foundation that weightlessly hydrates (read: softens, smooths, and plumps) so it won’t settle into fine lines. It also contains salicylic acid and peptides to help keep skin smooth.

3. Get shade matched.


Not sure if you have the right shade? Take this quiz to find your perfect match, or stop by any Clinique counter for a complimentary shade-matching consultation. Bonus: You can also get a free 10-day sample of Even Better Refresh in your shade to road test.

4. Apply from the inside out.


“I start in the middle of the face because this is usually where you need the most coverage—around the nose, the corner of the eyes, and the cheeks,” says Yacine. Use a foundation brush or your fingers to apply, gently stippling (light tapping motions) it to blend seamlessly into your skin. Start with a light layer, then add more as needed. 

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All About Clean™ Liquid Facial Soap

1 fl oz / 30ml Combination Oily to Oily - Travel
6.7 fl. oz. / 200 ml Very Dry to Dry
6.7 fl. oz. / 200 ml Dry Combination
6.7 fl. oz. / 200 ml Combination Oily to Oily
13.5 fl. oz. / 400 ml Dry to Dry Combination
13.5 fl. oz. / 400 ml Combination Oily to Oily

Clarifying Lotion 1

6.7 fl. oz./200 ml
13.5 fl. oz./400 ml