Foundation creases on the forehead are a common problem for many people first starting out with makeup. However, with a few simple steps, it’s easy to fix.
The best way to stop a foundation from creasing on the forehead is to first clean your forehead and then prep your forehead skin with a makeup oil or moisturizer. Apply a silicone-based foundation to the skin after the moisturizer has settled and then set your makeup with a translucent powder or makeup spray.
In this post, I connected with a few talented professionals in the beauty world on this topic and asked them to share their best tips for stopping foundation from creasing on the forehead.
Method 1: Foreheads with Combination and Oily Skin Type
Jill Glaser, Founder of Makeup First School, shares a method for getting rid of foundation creases on the forehead that works well for people with combination skin types.
Here’s What You Need To Do:
- Exfoliate – First, make sure that the forehead skin is exfoliated and clean. Use a splash of cold water to close pores and tighten the skin.
- Apply Makeup Oil – Use a small amount of light makeup oil to hydrate your forehead. The oil helps to moisturize and soften your dry skin patches for makeup application. Be sure to let the oil work into the skin.
- Apply a Moisturizer – Use a small amount of a light moisturizer. The moisturizer can help you hydrate your dry skin patches. Note that the oil applied in step 2 acts as a barrier to lock in the hydrating ingredients of your moisturizer. This is the reason why both an oil and a moisturizer are needed. Be sure to let the moisturizer work into the skin.
- Apply a Silicone-Based Liquid Foundation – Silicone-based foundations have great fluid qualities and can help keep the skin smooth. They are also less likely to crease. If you want to find out more, check out my guide on silicone-based foundations. As for applying the foundation, be sure to start and finish with a light application. You can apply the foundation with a brush, your fingers, or a latex-free, damp sponge.
- Lightly Apply a Translucent Setting Powder – Apply a small amount of setting powder using a pressing and rolling motion with a sponge. This helps to fill in small fine lines that may still become visible after the foundation is applied.
- Lightly Spray The Skin with a Makeup Setting Spray (optional) – To ensure that your makeup stays in place throughout the day. Hold a bottle of settling spray about 8 inches away from your face, then close your eyes and gently mist it all over your face.
Foreheads with Oily Skin
If you have a forehead that is very oily, Jill suggests that you follow the steps above and replace makeup oil and moisturizer with a matte gel. Add the matte gel directly to the skin after exfoliation and ensure to add in small amounts on the skin where excessive oil is produced. The matte gel helps to absorb oil throughout the day and acts as a barrier between your skin and your foundation. This allows your foundation to last longer and perform the way it’s intended.
Method 2: Foreheads with Dry Skin Type
Jillayne Helmholdt, a professional makeup artist and founder of GR Beauty Game, shares a detailed process for eliminating foundation creases on the forehead. This method works best for people with dry foreheads.
Here’s What You Need To Do:
- Use a Facial Moisturizer – Apply a face moisturizer at least half an hour to an hour before makeup application. If you skip this step and apply makeup to dry skin, it often will not sit properly and it can exaggerate problem areas like wrinkles or creases.
- Apply foundation – Use a light foundation with a matte finish. Too much makeup is usually the cause of crease issues. So, you want products that are light and light applications of those products. Some people are able to get rid of creases just by switching from a thick, heavy foundation to a lighter option. You want to apply less foundation in the areas where creasing can occur.
- Apply Setting powder – Choose a powder that is fine and translucent (without any colors) and apply a small amount of setting powder using a pressing and rolling motion with a sponge. Pressing and rolling helps to make sure the powder works its way into the creases and lines of the face.
- Use a Settling Spray (Optional) – To ensure that your makeup stays in place throughout the day. Hold a bottle of settling spray about 8 inches away from your face, then close your eyes and gently mist it all over your face.
Other Tips
Look Straight in the Mirror
Weronika Hawkins, a freelance makeup artist based in NYC, suggests looking straight at the mirror! This may seem obvious, but positioning your makeup mirror straight across your face can do wonders. It keeps the face expression free and that is essential to makeup. The fewer face mimics you make during your application, the more time makeup has to set and adhere to your skin.
Use Liquid and Cream Foundations On Foreheads with Mature skin
Emily Frickey, a makeup artist at Mae McMann Makeup, advises that Liquid and cream foundations are better for mature skin, or those with larger pores because they don’t tend to sit in those creases as much. Liquid or cream foundations also usually contain hydrating ingredients that help with blending and providing moisture to fine lines.
Use Small Amounts of Foundation on the Forehead
Emily also urges that less is always more when it comes to foundation on fine lines. Many people think that applying more product is best to cover up the wrinkles, however, this usually results in more creasing. If you use too much foundation, then the excess is going to get caught in your fine lines and accentuate them.
If you find that you have applied too much foundation, remove any excess foundation from your forehead with a small blending brush, or Beauty Blender. Ensure you buff out any extra foundation.