For the best cleanse Spencer recommends you "apply a thick layer, leave it on for five to 10 minutes, and then wipe it right off." This then helps to "soften the top layer of dead skin cells" for the smoothest surface for your makeup to sit on.
The second crucial step to avoid cakey makeup may sound slightly controversial to beauty gurus, but after years of being told to buff our foundation, Spencer says this is a no-go. He highlights if you're using a brush, avoid any circular motions, the bristles of the brush as you buff it in are prone to going under any dry flakes of skin, causing them to lift up off the surface. "This causes more texture and cake-i-ness", so no buffing girls if you're looking for a flawless base.
What you actually want to do for your foundation, concealer and any base product is "tap, tap, tap everything in", this avoids raising any dry skin that can lead to a cakey-looking base.Exfoliate your skin beforehand - in a way that doesn’t strip it of its natural oilsSpencer also mentions, that when applying foundation or concealer, "using a sponge is all that better."