To achieve a flawless finish on your makeup, you have to take the proper steps in preparation! You don’t have to have flawless skin to fake it if you’re taking the right steps. Whether you’re working on a client or yourself, these tips are going get you a gorgeous beat.
It’s important to always begin with clean skin. This may seem like a “duh” step, but sometimes you have a product lingering on your skin and don’t even know! Makeup can be a ninja like that. Using a makeup wipe before applying anything to your skin is a good way to ensure that all previous makeup was removed. This will also help to lightly exfoliate the face and remove any lingering dead skin (sexy). You should exfoliate your skin 1-2x per week. This will remove all old, skin and reveal that beautiful fresh face of yours. You don’t want to over exfoliate tho! This can cause skin irritation. So make sure you’re using something that is not too abrasive, a gentle touch, and no more than twice a week.
After the skin is clean and ready to go, you can move on to a toner, depending on the skin type you’re working with. If you’re working with dry or sensitive skin, you can skip this step or use a toner that has soothing agents. If you’re working on oily or combination skin, you should tone with something astringent to get a beautifully clean base. Toners help to tighten pores and control oil production. They also allow your skin to absorb moisturizer better!
On to the moisture! You can apply moisturizer with your fingers or with a synthetic fiber brush, whatever feels right, just trust yourself. Massaging your skin as you apply moisturizer will improve circulation and instantly brighten you up, and nobody wants a dull face! Again, with moisturizer you want to choose one that works with your skin type! With oily skin opt for serums, gel & oil-free moisturizer so you’re not adding any unwanted shine. Dry skin should be moisturized with creams, oil-based moisturizers, or balms. If you have any particularly problematic areas that are extra crusty, you can apply a skin oil or serum before your moisturizer. Also, on all skin types, you should apply some eye cream to the orbital bone (aka under your lash line/below your eyebrows). You want this area to be extra moist and plump to disguise wrinkles and combat creasing when you apply concealer!
If you’re gonna be exposed to sun, don’t forget to use a sunscreen! You can use it in place of moisturizer (oily kids) or before moisturizing (if you dry). Using a foundation brush to apply a light layer of sunscreen will help to prevent oxidation, too, pro tip! (this is when you have a ghostly white face with a camera flash.)
After you’re feeling all hydrated and gave your moisturizers some time to sink into the skin, you’re ready to prime! (not like Amazon but equally as rewarding.) Choose a primer that matches your skin type as well as the foundation you use. If you’re priming dry skin, choose a primer that is creamier and more moisturizing. Typically these primers are more opaque and white in base. If you’ve got oily skin to prime, then opt for something mattifying or silicone in base. Combo skin, you just gotta do what feels right! You can essentially use any product. A mattifying primer in the T-Zone or wherever you find it oily, and a hydrating primer along the exterior of your face (or where the conditions are in a drought!). If your primer is water-based, you don’t want to add an oil-based foundation on top. (the age old oil and water combo.) Same with silicone-based or oil-based primer and water-based foundation, they don’t mix well.
Now that you’ve let your primer sink into the skin, you’re ready to proceed with foundation. And now you’re on your own! Kidding, but if you would like a rundown of how to get a smooth, flawless foundation coverage, let me know! Or if you’re a LiveGlam Pro member you can go check out a few detailed classes on it on our website Makeup Class Section. You will also find some great classes here on skin prep and skin types!
Send us pictures of your flawless faces by using #LiveGlam or tweeting at us! Stay fierce. <3
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