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Foundation is both one of the most simple and complex practices when it comes to makeup. One wrong move (a mismatched shade, incorrect finish, improper application or too much product) and the whole face can come crashing down (hypothetically, but still…). In order to nail the perfect base, it’s all in the tools you arm yourself with. Estée Lauder Double Wear Stay-In-Place Foundation is the number one selling foundation in Australia because it hits all the right markers: huge shade selection (61 to be exact), 24 hour wear and personalised levels of coverage, whether that’s full or more sheer. Here, we explain everything there is to know about using Double Wear – from skin preparation to tools – to create the perfect (and personalised) base every single time. Nothing but good skin days ahead.
Skin Preparation 101
Ask any makeup artist and they’ll tell you that good foundation always starts with proper skin prep. For foundation to sit evenly, you want to create a base that’s equally smooth and hydrated. Long term, ensure you’re exfoliating your skin a few times a week to nix bumps, flakes and uneven texture. Including hyaluronic acid will help too – it’s a molecule that draws water into the skin, leaving it plump and hydrated. Estée Lauder’s Advanced Night Repair Sychronized Recovery Complex II is a cult-loved option packed full of hyaluronic. If you find your skin can look, dull, lined or tight, try using it every night before bed.
As for day to day, you want clean, moisturised skin. Choose a gentle option that works with your skin type (light lotions for shine, thicker creams for dryness). If you have a special event, add in a sheet mask first for added glow and general dewy-ness. Try to avoid layering skincare excessively before foundation application, because too many oily/watery textures can cause pilling (where makeup and skincare balls up – not ideal).
Primer?
Primer is a contested topic in beauty and one that’s open to interpretation. You might find your foundation wears just fine without it, in which case carry on. But, if you struggle with fading, excessive shine and unevenness, consider it a perfect foundation insurance policy. The Estée Lauder Smoothing Universal Perfecting Primer is a brilliant starting point: it’s light and will fill in open pores, deeper lines and smooth out texture. Start in the centre of the face and work outwards.
Choosing Your Formula
Estée Lauder Double Wear is a great all-rounder when it comes to foundation. As far as long wear goes, it doesn’t really get any better than this. For 24 hours, it resists heat, humidity, stressful meetings, marathon Zoom conference calls, impromptu swims (not kidding), you name it… it will not budge. At its core, it’s a high coverage product, but certain tweaks (as discussed below) mean you can tailor the finish to suit your skin (and mood).
With 61 shades in total, finding your perfect match is a cinch, too. Estée Lauder’s National Education Manager Nica Marcello suggests first gauging your skin tone. This indicates whether your skin is light, medium, dark and so on. Your skin tone will change year round, for example it might be deeper in summer or lighter in winter. For this reason, you might find it beneficial to change your foundation with the seasons. Next up, you need to understand your skin’s undertone. This aspect, unlike skin tone, won’t change. Use Nica’s guide below to help clarify yours:
Cool: Hints of bluish-red or pink in the complexion.
Neutral: Has no obvious overtones of pink or yellow, but rather the skin’s natural colour is more apparent.
Warm: Skin appears yellow, peachy or golden.
The Estée Lauder website makes it easy to line up an accurate colour match as every shade is categorised by both skin tone, and undertone.
Application
To apply, you have a few options. Let’s weight them up:
- A brush: Great for precision, keeping your hands clean and a polished finish. Be sure to sanitise between uses.
- A damp sponge (or beauty blender): Delivers a second-skin finish and ace for getting into tricky-to-reach spots (like the nose). Again, keep it clean and squeeze excess water before use.
- Fingers: Easy to control how much you apply, and the warmth can help to push product into the skin. Just be sure not to brush any white surfaces straight after.
A lot of this will come down to personal preference (and might require some trial and error). You might also opt to switch it up depending on coverage preference. For example, a damp beauty blender might be great for a day-to-day, dewy finish but special occasions (and fuller coverage) call for a brush. What’s great about Double Wear is you can tweak your tools and application to suit your desired outcome – you can achieve a beautiful, natural glow or polished, full coverage with one product.
To elaborate, we called on Nica to share some tips on personalising your base: “For a dewy finish, try mixing a few drops of Advanced Night Repair into foundation before blending. I actually love applying a few extra drops of ANR onto the the tops of cheekbones for an extra glow too.” As for more of a matte look, Nica recommends using a mattifying primer as well as setting foundation with a mattifying powder.
Whatever you choose, always start in the centre of the face, work outwards and really press the product into the skin for a soft, diffused, natural-look.
Finishing Touches
You might want to finish with the above, or you might want to spend a little extra time finessing your canvas. Concealer is a great addition to hide any blemishes, redness, discolouration or under-eye circles that might still exist. Use your finger, a sponge or a small, fluffy brush to apply a tiny amount of Estée Lauder Double Wear Radiant Concealer and blend. It’s creamy but pigmented, making it effective for all over the face. It contains chia, camelina and kukui nut oils so it won’t dry out or flake throughout the day. If you’re so inclined, the generously-sized flocked applicator makes it ace for contouring, too. One last check, blend and set! You’re done!
Et voila! Perfect skin all the time!
SHOP THE EDIT
Estée Lauder Double Wear Stay-In-Place Makeup, $59. SHOP NOW
Estée Lauder Double Wear Radiant Concealer, $44. SHOP NOW
Estée Lauder Smoothing Universal Perfecting Primer, $52. shop now
Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair Synchronized Recovery Complex II, $195. SHOP NOW
