In the case that your foundation turns out to be more on the OTT, cakey side, use a damp sponge or beauty blender and blend the excess foundation away. Dampen the sponge with a little water using a water spray bottle, which will help get rid of the extra layer of foundation on your skin.
Another trick to reduce a cakey makeup appearance is to make use of a face mist after the foundation is applied. Ensure that you always keep a face mist or skin refreshing spray handy in your beauty bag. Spraying the mist on your face, post makeup, allows it to set better, preventing an overly cakey look.
Alternatively, use a glow mist that will make your skin look dewy, instead of cakey. It will immediately add a glow to your skin, without the makeup looking jarring.
Break the foundation with the help of a makeup setting spray! The setting spray will not solely set your makeup in place, but will also melt the extra powder applied. Instead of having to redo your makeup, just invest in a good makeup setting spray that will do the trick last minute.