Most of the time when people think of makeup, a huge majority of them think of applying foundation, eyeliner, lipstick, highlighter, and contouring.
But, what about prepping your skin? Not many take this into account.
Skin prep is quite an integral part of makeup application that can help you get that perfect base to make your makeup look flawless and last longer. Not only will your face have that sun-kissed dewy look, but it will also have a better texture giving you a smooth canvas for applying makeup products.
Read on as we discuss the steps to follow so that you can prepare your skin before you apply makeup.
Makeup Prep Step #1: Clean Your Skin Gently but Thoroughly
Cleansing is quite an important step before you apply anything to your face because a layer of oil, dirt, debris, and sebum gets collected on the outermost layer of your skin after some time. This will give you a dull and greasy look which you definitely want to avoid.
Use a facial cleanser to remove any impurities and dirt from your skin without irritating it. This can be ensured by selecting a cleanser formula that suits your skin type. If you have dry skin, try to look for a more cream-based cleanser. In the case of oily skin and combination skin, a gel or foam cleanser, and a cleanser that is specially designed for combination skin would work best respectively.
You can also use micellar water for cleaning your skin. There are various formulas available in the market that can help to hydrate, purify, and soothe your skin.
Makeup Prep Step #2: Use a Toner for that Extra TLC
After cleaning your face, it is important for you to use toner to restore the pH levels of your skin. A lot of people consider this as an unnecessary additional product when it most certainly isn’t one. With the help of a toner, you will be able to remove any leftover makeup residue and any other impurities from your skin while also leaving it refreshed and soft.
If you have sensitive skin or oily skin, it would be better for you to opt for a non-drying and alcohol-free formula. Douse a cotton swab in the toner and wipe your face and neck with it.
Makeup Prep Step #3: Exfoliate Your Skin for that Extra Smoothness
Gentle exfoliation should be a weekly part of your skincare routine. This will help to dissolve and get rid of any unneeded buildup on your face letting your pores breathe. You can exfoliate by either using a washcloth after you clean your face, or you can buy facial scrubs that are easily available at local or online stores.
Having said this, it is important for you to ascertain that you don’t exfoliate your skin too much. Over exfoliation will leave your skin feeling raw and irritated which can increase oil secretion remarkably.
Makeup Prep Step #4: Apply Moisturizer to Hydrate Your Skin Cells
Thankfully, people have become aware of the importance of moisturizing their faces on a daily basis. With the help of the correct moisturizer formula, you will be able to retain the moisture in your skin cells giving you a radiant and glowing experience.
Applying a drugstore face moisturizer, for example, becomes even more important before makeup application. The main reason for this is that the product can help to ensure a smoother application without making your foundation or concealer feel too cakey or heavy. Invest in a good-quality moisturizer to improve your complexion before and after you apply makeup.
Makeup Prep Step #5: Prime Your Lips with Some Coconut Oil
Most of us prefer to use either a lipgloss or lipstick whenever we apply makeup. And why not? These lip stains help to instantly enhance the overall look with a burst of color that they add to the face. But then again, just like the rest of our face, we forget to prep our lips.
The best way to make your lips smooth and to remove any cracks would be to massage coconut oil on it. The coconut oil gets absorbed into the area giving you a uniform surface for applying lipstick or lipgloss.
Makeup Prep Step #6: Applying a Primer to Your Face
Using a primer can prepare your face for any product that you apply to it afterward. A primer is specially formulated by beauty companies to make your makeup last longer while filling in any gaps. This, in turn, helps to give you a more even skin texture for applying any makeup product. The best part here is the sheer variety of primer formulas available in the market.
You can buy a primer to illuminate your skin, to eliminate any excess shine, to hydrate your skin, or a silicone-based one to fill any lines. You don’t have to worry about any allergic reactions as well if you buy the correct formula for your skin type. You can also accept the help of the seller to help you find a formula that would suit your skin type.
Makeup Prep Step #7: Use a CC Cream for Hiding Your Blemishes and Nourishing the Skin
CC cream stands for color correction cream and, as the name suggests, it has ingredients that can help to improve and repair your skin while containing a foundation pigment to conceal any discoloration or blemish marks.
If you are somebody who prefers lighter makeup, using a CC cream can also be an alternative to a foundation. The formula is super creamy making it easily absorbable into the skin while being advantageous in improving the overall skin quality. Talk about killing two birds with one stone.
These are a few ways in which you can prepare your skin to get the most flawless base for your makeup application. You will get a smooth visage with no flakes, dryness, or redness but instead, you’ll have hydrated and glowing skin. A definite win-win in our opinion!
Resources— L’oreal Paris USA, WikiHow
