Every makeup artist we spoke to explained that without a well-prepped base (aka hydrated and healthy skin) any foundation application will flounder. Prepping the skin with the right products and ample moisture is crucial for a seamless, long-lasting finish. 

“I am really, really big on prep—prep is everything,” exclaims celebrity makeup artist Tamah Krinsky, whose clients include Julianna Margulies, Mary Steenburgen, Judy Greer, Idina Menzel, and Christy Turlington. “Regardless of age, how you prep your skin determines how your foundation will sit on your skin, and the more hydrated and healthy your skin is to start, the better your foundation will look. My clients would tell you skin prep is the longest part of their time in the makeup chair with me!”

Krinsky recommends starting the process with a luxe spray like Josh Rosebrook’s Hydration Accelerator ($44) before moving on to an oil. She typically applies around six drops, although it depends on the day and client. “I take three to five minutes to massage the oil from the hairline to the collarbones. It’s amazing what that alone can do for your complexion! My favorites are Drunk Elephant Virgin Marula Antioxidant Oil ($72), Eve Lom Radiance Face Oil ($80), and the Josh Rosebrook Herbal Infusion Oil ($44),” she says.

Afterward, she’ll press a pea-size amount of moisturizer into the skin to lock all the magic in. She loves anything from Tatcha, Drunk Elephant, Dr. Hauschka, or La Roche-Posay.