“What has this to do with applying foundation?” you ask. Sloughing off the top layer of dead skin ensures your skin is smooth, without any rough or dry patches, which makes it easier for foundation to go on smoothly and look natural. Try the Dr. Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Universal Daily Peel, $251 that helps to refine pores, smooth fine lines, brighten and even out skin tone while exfoliating dead skin. It even comes in a gentler formula (Alpha Beta Ultra Gentle Peel) for those who have sensitive skin.

Applying foundation to a clean and moisturised canvas ensures it glides on easily and doesn’t separate, crease or cling to any dry skin. Using a moisturiser like the Charlotte Tilbury Refillable Magic Cream SPF, $152 that is rich in nourishing oils, hyaluronic acid, vitamins C and E as well as shea butter and aloe vera will hydrate and moisturise skin so it’s smooth and allows your foundation to blend easily so it doesn’t look streaky or patchy. Bonus points if you have the time to give your face a quick massage before applying foundation.

Applied after your last step of skincare and right before your foundation, primers form a layer between your skin and foundation smoothing out texture and refining pores so that your foundation blends seamlessly. The Dior Backstage Face and Body Primer, $65 works well for most skin types and helps to blur imperfections, plump skin, add radiance, provide 24-hour hydration and give skin a natural matte finish so your foundation looks great all day.

If you’re using a gel, water-based moisturiser with an oil-based hydrating primer under a water based foundation, you’re likely to experience pilling—which is when you get little balls of product each time to you blend. Just as oil and water separate, the same principle applies to your makeup. Which is why it’s best to check the labels and ensure all your products are compatible before you start doing your makeup.

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To get a truly flawless finish, it’s best to start with less. You can always add more foundation where you need extra coverage. This way you won’t have to deal with excess product that could crease, split or look streaky. Dispense one pump of foundation on the back of your hand or on a mixing palette like the Lookfantastic Makeup Mixing Palette, $17 and lifting it from there with a brush apply it to your face starting at the centre and blending outward and downward for a seamless finish.

Using the right brushes with the right foundation will give you coverage and finish you’re looking for without looking streaky or patchy. Cream and liquid foundations are best applied with synthetic fibre brushes, while powder formulations work best with natural hair brushes. Similarly, different brush shapes will give you different finishes. If you’re looking for a full coverage finish, use a dense domed or flat brush, and for a medium or sheer coverage, a duo-fibre brush will work best. The Zoeva The Essential Brush Set, $151 has a variety of brushes that will allow you achieve the level of coverage you’re looking for.

Given the heat and humidity in Singapore, you definitely want to set your makeup with a powder. However, applying too much could emphasise dry patches, make your foundation look cakey or cause your foundation to crack where you have expression lines. Instead, using a small fluffy brush, apply powder only where needed, for example, the T-zone where most people tend to get shiny. If you have extremely oily skin, use a large fluffy brush, swirl it in the powder, dust off the excess and lightly swipe it over your entire face. The Huda Beauty Easy Bake Loose Powder, $56 is ideal for setting makeup without it settling into lines.

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