How to Stop Foundation From Separating With 1 Simple Trick

Tools and materials:

• Silicone primer and foundation; OR
• Water-based primer and foundation

1. Types of products

The two main types of foundation and primer are water-based and silicone-based. It’s important to use the same type of foundation and primer.

Don’t use one water-based product with another silicone-based product.

To determine which type your product is, look for the words “siloxane”, “dimethicone”, or other words ending in “cone” in the ingredients. That means it’s silicone-based.

Don’t be fooled if the first ingredient is water – that will be the first ingredient on both water-based and silicone-based products.

2. What happens with a silicone primer and water-based foundation?

If you apply a silicone primer under a water-based foundation, you will see that the foundation beads up.

That is because the silicone primer has acted as a barrier to the foundation, preventing the foundation from blending onto your skin.

Instead, it sits on top of the primer, and over the course of the day will continue to shift around.

3. What happens when you stick with just one type of product?

Compare what happened above to the nice even blending you get if you use a water-based primer under a water-based foundation. Now it’s smooth and stable.

You will get the same even blending if you use a silicone foundation over a silicone primer. It’s only the mixing of silicone and water-based products that creates the flaky, patchiness on the skin where you’ve applied it. 

How to stop foundation from separating

You can see the difference between the end result of mixing silicone and water-based products, on the left, with using only one type of product, on the right.

If the result you are getting from your primer and foundation looks flaky, then let me know in the comments if this tutorial for learning how to stop foundation from separating has given you better results!