Could the answer to seamless, never-patchy foundation lie within a simple metal spatula? Quite possibly. Similar to using an eyeshadow brush for your lipstick (no, really) or curling your eyelashes upside down (yes, really), I felt dubious about the K-beauty hack. What would happen when naturally textured skin meets a rigid, straight-edged tool? Surely, it wouldn't work. According to TikTok, my doubts were ill-founded.
Videos abound of creators and make-up artists using the technique, with many stunned by how well foundation and complexion products glide onto the skin. Skincare influencer @glowwithava said that using a spatula to apply her foundation left her 'shook', especially considering she didn't finish by using a beauty blender or brush to blend it out. High praise indeed.
piccasso Piccasso Foundation Spatula (+ 2 Latex Square Sponge)
piccasso Piccasso Foundation Spatula (+ 2 Latex Square Sponge)
An unassuming thing, the spatulas used resemble a thin, symmetrical butter knife, often with a thin handle to control the movement. Available from £5 to £20, it's one of the more affordable TikTok make-up hacks, better for your budget than, say, slathering your face in foundation à la Meredith Duxbury.
Trying the spatula foundation hack
Admittedly, it doesn't take much for me to try a new make-up hack. And, some have made their way into my everyday routine. (If you've never tried this vertical brow hack, trust me.) When the spatula arrived, my doubts resurfaced. The spatula itself is light but has little bend or 'give', a far cry from the small dense buffing brush I usually use. Alas, we pressed on.
Splitting my face in half, I used the spatula for one side and my fingers for the other. For the foundation, I picked the Suqqu The Cream Foundation, a product I will eventually be buried with it's that good.
Dolloping a small amount on my hand, I dipped one edge of the spatula in it, creating a straight line of foundation, ready to be applied. The first swipe was a failure. I had held the spatula at too much of a right angle (and with too much pressure), to evenly distribute the product.
The next pass, I angled it the way I would a gua sha – flush to the skin with a gentle, steady hand. This time, the foundation looked more even, with little to no streaks. That being said, it was much more foundation than I would usually wear, preferring a light covering.
Unlike the dot and buff method, it's harder to control the amount of product transferring from spatula to face, especially as you ideally want the entire spatula edge to be covered. Some tricky angle work later and one side of my face was as 'finished' as it could be only using the spatula.
Comparing it to the side of my face I used my fingers for, the spatula-applied foundation looked much heavier, albeit very even. I found the effort of trying to apply it around my nose and eyesocket more work than necessary and didn't love the way it seemed to sit on top of my skin. Where I had used my hands, the foundation had warmed and settled in the skin, invisible in the creases, sockets and bumps that are totally normal for human skin.
Something to consider is that using a spatula for your foundation takes a little practice. And if the hygiene factor of being able to wash and dry your face tool in seconds appeals, I can see why it would be for you. If, however, you prefer to press products like foundation and concealer into your skin, save your pennies. Your fingers do the job just fine.
