As a freelance makeup artist, I come across a number of different skin types. A few problems that I find my clients complain about is that their makeup doesn't last throughout the day, their skin feels dry, and their skin is too oily. Fortunately for them, these problems can be solved by getting into the habit of prepping your skin before you apply makeup. Not only will your makeup apply more smoothly and last longer throughout the day, but your skin itself will look and feel so much better. There are so many skin care products out there and finding the right products for your skin can be a bit daunting. Here are a few of tips that I have found to work for me.
Cleanse:
The first step to achieving smooth, even skin is to find the right facial cleanser for your skin type. Whether you have normal, dry, oily, combination, sensitive, mature, or dehydrated skin, there is cleanser out there for you. Cleansers can be anywhere from cleansing milks, cream cleansers, foaming cleansers, and gel cleansers. Some of my favourite brands are
Vichy,
Neutrogena,
L'Oreal,
and Biotherm.
Exfoliate:
The next step is exfoliation. Have you ever noticed that your skin feels a bit rough in texture, or you have dry flakes around your nose or on your forehead? That's most likely due to the fact that you have not exfoliated in a while. When you exfoliate, you remove any dead skin cells that have built up onto the surface of your skin. They can dull your complexion, clog your pores, and generally make your skin look and feel not as healthy as it could be. When you exfoliate your skin will absorb serums and moisturizers much better as they will be sinking into your skin rather than sitting on top of your skin. Exfoliation can be done a number of different ways, from using a washcloth with your facial cleanser, to a facial scrub, to using a brush such as the
Clairsonic. Whatever method you choose is entirely up to you as long as you exfoliate regularly which is typically 2-3 times per week, although the Clairsonic is gentle enough to be used daily.
Tone:
After you've exfoliated it's a good idea to tone your skin. Sometimes people find this step unnecessary however it is essential to further remove any traces of dirt, oil, makeup, and cleanser that have remained on your skin. Simply take your favourite toner (I like the
Neutrogena Alcohol-Free Toner) apply some onto a cotton pad and gently smooth it across your forehead, nose, cheeks, and chin.
Moisturize:
Lastly, the final step is applying the appropriate moisturizer for your skin type. This step is essential not only to restore the moisture in your skin after cleansing, but for smooth, even makeup application. The most common misconception for people with oily skin is that they don't have to moisturize their skin because it's already oily. By not moisturizing they are actually encouraging more oil production because their skin is working overtime to restore the balance. The simplest solution is to use a lightweight gel moisturizer such as
Vichy Aqualia Thermal Aqua-Gel, or
Clinique Pore Refining Solutions Stay Matte Hydrator. Normal skin can get away with using a very basic oil-free moisturizer such as
Neutrogena Moisture Oil-Free. Dry skin types will find that a richer moisturizer is best for them.
Biotherm's Aquasource Deep Hydration Replenishing Cream is one worth trying, as is
Vichy Aqualia Thermal in Rich.
Eye Creams, Face Primers, and Lip Prep:
If find that eye creams are a product that people either love or find totally useless. I recently started using an eye cream simply to hydrate the delicate under-eye area and I absolutely love it. My under-eye concealer goes on a lot smoother and the fine lines around my eyes are a bit softer because that skin is getting moisture. I'm addicted to
MAC's Mineralize Charged Water Moisture Eye Cream.
Face primers really do help extend the wear of your makeup. They smooth over any fine lines, pores, and help keep shine at bay. Some of my favourites include
Smashbox Photo Finish Primer and
MAC Prep + Prime Skin.
Lip Prep is something that I am often guilty of overlooking at times. Dry skin flakes on your lips don't allow for a smooth lipstick application and can actually cause lipsticks to fade quicker. A quick exfoliation and application of lip balm can do wonders. Simply take a damp wash cloth and gently go over your lips in a circular motion until all flakes are removed. Once you've finished you can apply your favourite lip balm. My favourite is
MAC Lip Conditioner. I like to apply it to my lips before makeup so that it has a chance to really sink into my lips while I finish the rest of my face. Just blot the excess moisture away with a tissue and you are set to apply your favourite lipstick or lip gloss.
Hopefully you have learned a few things today about skin prep and it's benefits! I think if you follow these steps you will notice a change in the way your makeup applies and wears throughout the day. If you have come across an amazing product and would like to share it, please let me know in the comment section below!
x
Annemarie
