If your foundation tends to break apart around the nose, chin or forehead, celebrity makeup artist Nicole Faulkner, known as Lipstick Nick, shares her go-to technique for keeping it smooth all day.
Apply foundation normally
Start with your usual base and blend using a damp sponge. A well-pressed foundation helps prevent early separation.
Identify oily areas
Makeup typically breaks apart where larger pores and excess oil show up — around the nostrils, forehead and chin. Focus only on those spots.
Pick a matte concealer
Use a matte, skin-tone concealer like e.l.f.’s 16HR Camo Concealer. Matte formulas help resist oil, gripping better on textured zones.
Stipple with a brush
Use a small eyeshadow brush to press the concealer into the areas where separation happens — like around the nose, forehead and chin. Stippling fills in pores rather than dragging product around.
Build in thin layers
Apply light layers until you reach the coverage you like. Thin, controlled application stays smoother and resists separating throughout the day.
Set with powder
Lock everything in by pressing a setting powder, like e.l.f.’s Halo Glow, over those areas with a puff. Pressing — not sweeping — creates a tighter seal that helps makeup stay in place.
