Makeup can be overwhelming and intimidating for many people, especially when it comes to foundation and concealer. What is my shade? What goes first? How do I apply? These are questions that I asked all the time when I first started wearing makeup. Don’t use products you don’t need – think about what needs to be corrected before applying anything to your face. The key is to keep your routine simple and to the point. For a quick how-to on how to prep your skin before makeup, refer to last week’s SKINCARE 101 article. I will also have a list of products I use on an everyday basis below!
Many of us don’t even need foundation for everyday use. The purpose of a foundation is to add to, or even out the color of the skin, cover up minor pigmentation flaws and help create a smooth working surface. Most people can get away with a BB cream/tinted moisturizer and some powder.
After letting your moisturizer absorb into your skin for 30 minutes, you want to apply a primer. Primers are silicone based products that will create a smooth surface for the rest of your makeup by filling in fine lines, pores and even subtle scarring. They also help give your makeup more staying power and make it last longer. The next step is to correct any blemishes, pigment flaws and dark under-eye circles. Remember to use concealers with subtle undertones of certain colors to counteract uneven skin tone. For example, using a concealer with a green undertone will neutralize any red blemishes.
Now for those of us who do need foundation, I suggest finding a shade that matches your neck. You want to apply the foundation just above your jaw line and blend it down under your chin and down to your neck to ensure you have the color that best matches you. Depending on your budget you can use clean fingers or disposable makeup sponges to apply your foundation. I strongly recommend the Beauty Blender ($26-$33), it gives you a flawless, airbrush-like finish and gets the job done super quick. If after foundation application you feel you need more coverage, conceal again and blend.
Lastly, powder! You want to set your makeup and keep it from moving as well as dulling down any shine. Remember to press it into your skin with a powder puff versus sweeping it with a brush. Pressing it in to your skin is going to give your makeup its staying power; sweeping it over your skin might shift your base and decrease longevity.
Now that you’ve got your base down, you’re ready to get creative with the rest of your makeup!
Products I Use:
- Primer: Porefessional by Benefit Cosmetics ($36)
- Concealers: Hidden Agenda Concealer Palette by Sonia Kashuk for Target – I use for blemishes ($12) / Match Perfection by Rimmel London – I use for under eye circles ($7 – $9)
- Foundation: Amazonian Clay 12 Hour Full Coverage by Tarte Cosmetics ($49)
- BB Cream: Skin Renew Miracle Perfector by Garnier ($16 – $19)
- Powder: Natural Finish Loose Powder by Chanel ($56)
- Setting Spray: All Nighter by Urban Decay ($15 – $35)
I’ll be talking about the above topics in greater detail in a future post. Stay tuned or follow @NavanArtistry for more tricks, tips and faves!
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