According to a recent survey, the average woman in the US spends around $8 on cosmetic products per day. So it’s better to get the most out of it! Everyone knows that a particular type of skin requires its own special care, yet there are certain things that can make a whole lot of difference. If you aren’t sure what kind of makeup is best for your skin, read on.
We all want our makeup to look perfect but sometimes skin problems may get in the way. Thankfully, the modern beauty industry and makeup artists are always ready to come up with a solution for any difficulties we may have.
We found the most effective tips for your makeup routine. Your skin will look absolutely amazing in any situation!
The basic rules for applying foundation flawlessly are pretty much the same for all skin types:
- Clean and moisturize your face.
- Use only the products suitable for your skin type.
- Choose the right foundation color.
- Apply primer and color correct parts of your face before applying the foundation.
- Apply foundation and gently blend it.
- Conceal blemishes, dark circles, and redness. Contour if you need to.
- Set your makeup with a finishing spray or a translucent setting powder.
Please, keep in mind that everyone is different and skin condition may change due to many factors. The tips listed below are not universal and some of them may work for you even if your skin type is different.
Oily skin
Oily skin is usually prone to acne but still can be extremely sensitive as many people use aggressive skin care products. So it’s essential to hide the excessive shine, cover the redness, and make the skin look smooth. Below are some tips that may help you:
1. Cleanse first and apply a light moisturizer.
You should never skip your skincare routine before applying a makeup. Proper cleansing helps to exfoliate the skin and even out the texture so it will be easier to apply the foundation and make it look smoother.
Don’t forget to use a light moisturizing cream or serum to hydrate your skin and avoid dry skin. Moisturizing spray may work too because it tends to be extremely light. Keep in mind that oily skin also needs enough hydration so don’t be afraid to use heavier or richer creams if your skin needs it. Remember, all your products should be non-comedogenic!
2. Use the right accessories.
If you have oily or acne-prone skin, try to use beauty sponges instead of usual brushes. Sponges gently blend and apply a thin layer of foundation so your skin tone looks more even without makeup looking too heavy. Brushes may aggravate sensitive skin with imperfections and make spots more visible.
However, it may be a good idea to use a soft blending brush on some face areas if you have large pores. Take a small amount of foundation and gently blend it into the pores where you need it.
3. Don’t overdo it with powder.
Some people tend to apply a lot of powder on the foundation to make the face look more matte. But doing so not only makes your makeup look cakier but your pores start to produce more oil. Try to use a translucent setting powder to set the foundation in place and minimize the shine without making your makeup too heavy.
As oily skin doesn’t need any extra shine, try to avoid powders with sheen. However, if you feel like you need some radiance, apply special highlighters on the areas you want to accentuate.
4. Do your makeup touch-up right.
If you need to fix your makeup on the go, never rub or apply any additional layers of foundation. The first thing you want to do is to use facial blotting tissues to get rid of any extra oil on your face. If you have any redness on your skin, you can take a tiny drop of concealer and press it down into the skin. You can use a translucent setting powder on certain areas of your face that are more prone to shine if you need to.
Dry skin
Creating flawless look on dry skin may be a challenge as it tends to be extremely sensitive and flaky. And foundation can make things even worse by accentuating dry patches and making the face look cakey. Thankfully, there are some tips that will help you to deal with the possible problems.
1. Exfoliate and hydrate.
While most people know about the importance of moisturizing, some of them forget about exfoliating. It’s essential to gently remove all the dry flakes of skin with special skincare products. To avoid any irritation, it’s better not to do it right before applying makeup.
A rich moisturizing cream is an absolute must for dry skin. While applying it, focus on the driest areas like the nose and the area between the eyebrows. If you need any extra hydration, use a face mask before moisturizing. It’s important not to apply too much product so the skin won’t feel greasy.
2. Use cream products.
Cream products are the best choice if you want to avoid flakiness. Powder or cream-to-powder products absorb moisture and make dry skin look drier. If you feel like your foundation doesn’t provide enough hydration, you may add a drop of your everyday moisturizing cream in it by mixing it on your hand or palette in advance. It’s better to use a beauty sponge to blend cream products for a smooth and flawless finish.
3. Don’t forget about highlighter.
Highlighters give your skin a dewy look and make your skin appear less dry. So choose a liquid highlighter, apply a drop on the top each cheekbone, the browbones, cupid’s bow, and on your nose if you want to make it look slightly slimmer.
Keep in mind that a good highlighter should contain almost invisible shimmer and light-reflecting particles that shouldn’t be visible on the face and should look like a healthy and natural glow.
4. Refresh your makeup.
If you have dry skin, it’s a good idea to always have a moisturizing cream on hand. If you feel like your makeup is flaking, then it’s better to remove it, apply the cream, and then apply the foundation back on. If it’s impossible to do, try to use a hydrating mist that will revitalize your skin and make it look radiant. If you don’t have it with you, you may try to apply a small amount of hydrating cream on the driest areas. Keep in mind that you should be careful as it may ruin your makeup especially if you have applied several cosmetic products on your face.
Normal or combination skin
Normal or combination skin usually looks good with foundation without trying too much effort, especially if you follow the basic rules of applying makeup. However, there are still some tricks that will make the skin look even more flawless.
1. Keep your T-zone under control.
Although both normal and combination skin are usually the most trouble-free skin types, handling the shine on the T-zone may still be an issue. Try to use special balancing creams to prevent shininess, apply powder only on the T-zone, and keep facial blotting tissues on hand when you go out.
2. Choose makeup accessories that work best for you.
If you don’t have breakouts or areas of dry skin, you can choose basically any brush or beauty sponge you want. Keep in mind that it’s easier to layer the foundation with a sponge, while with brushes you need to choose the right one as different brushes provide different effects and coverage. If you have large pores, try a stippling brush to soften and conceal them. You can apply foundation with your hands if you don’t have skin issues, but this case it may be more difficult to blend the foundation.
3. Apply primer and foundation correctly.
Unless you shave your face, apply your primer downwards as it pushes all your peach fuzz down and it won’t stick up and create little bumps. You may also want to try applying foundation with downward strokes as it will prevent pores from clogging and the coverage will look more even. You should always give some time to the products to settle on your face.
4. Make the makeup last.
If you need your makeup to last all day, try this trick: apply a powder between primer and foundation. It may sound strange as makeup artists usually don’t recommend putting powder products on top of liquid ones, but when you apply translucent powder over your primer, you prevent it from sliding around during the day and ruining your foundation. But don’t use too much powder so the foundation won’t look cakey.
