makeup-blog-smooth-base

[makeup-blog-smooth-base]

How To Have The Smoothest Makeup Base

Are you a beginner at makeup? Are the different brands and products stressing you out? Don't worry, I totally get it. That's why I'm here to help you!

First, let me explain what a "makeup base" is. The base makeup is the layer that comes first to cover skin imperfections and leave a smooth surface for other products. Your makeup base can include but is not limited to foundation, concealer, liquid blush, and setting powder. After finishing your base makeup, you can start on other things like your eye makeup.

When starting your face makeup, you should always ensure your face is properly prepped. To prep my face, I always start by cleansing it. Makeup looks best on a clean face. Then, I do my skincare.

Here is a list of everything I use:

Toner

Niacinamide Serum

Moisturizer

Sunscreen (SPF)

It is super important to wear SPF on your face during the day as well as under your makeup. According to Kim, Min Ah, "Layering sunscreen with makeup may compensate for insufficient sunscreen application in real‐life conditions by providing an additional source of UV protection and improving the homogeneity of coverage" (126). Sunscreen should be essential to your skin prep routine before you start your makeup.

Once your face is prepped, it's time to prime. "Primer—which goes on after your moisturizer and before foundation—it's worth the extra step for a perfect makeup application" (Fields, 126).

Primer is a makeup product that aids in helping your makeup stay on your face all day. Things like weather, skin type, and more can play a factor in whether your makeup stays fresh all day, but primer helps with that no matter the factor.

Primer can be either water-based or silicone-based. Whichever you choose to use is based on your skin type and foundation type. Water-based primer works for most skin types from sensitive to oily skin. Meanwhile, silicone-based primer is best for oily skin only. That doesn't mean other skin types can't use silicone-based primers though.

Primer should be applied on all areas of your face where makeup will go.

You can start applying your makeup after your face is prepped and primed!

Personally, I don't wear foundation for my base makeup, I use concealer only, but the same rules apply for both concealer and foundation.

Like primer, concealer and foundation can be either water-based or silicone-based. Water-based works for pretty much every skin type whilst silicone-based works best for oily skin. Keeping this in mind, the bases of your primer and foundation/ concealer should match. Silicone-based primer with silicone-based foundation or concealer, and water-based primer with water-based foundation or concealer.

The exception to this rule is: water-based primer and silicone-based foundation or concealer can work well together but not vice versa.

I have oily skin, but I use a water-based primer. I have found that water-based concealers and foundations don't mix well with my skin, so I use silicone-based concealer, and the primer and concealer mix well without any issues.

So to start, I apply a concealer that is about the same color as my skin all over my face (forehead, cheeks, nose, chin). The same can be done for foundation as well. After, I blend all the concealer (or foundation) out with a foundation brush. Once that's done, I apply a lighter color concealer on areas I want to be brighter (under eyes, eyelids, between my eyebrows, next to my nostrils, and chin). Then, I blend that concealer out with a beauty sponge. Next, I do liquid blush but not everyone does it, it's based on preference. I feel that applying liquid blush before applying powder makes your blush stand out more. If you do want to apply liquid blush, I apply mine on the apples on my cheeks and blend it out with a brush.

For your liquid products, I recommend the brand Elf. It is a very affordable makeup line and all the liquid products I use (concealer and blush) are from Elf.

Now, we can move on to powder. Setting powder is what locks in your liquid products and keeps them in place. There are two types of setting powder: pressed powder and loose powder. The names are kind of self-explanatory but here is what they look like.

They are basically the same, but the difference between them is in their name. Pressed powder is packed tightly into a container while loose powder is not.

I use both pressed powder as well as loose powder when I do my makeup because I have found that by using two different powders, my face is less likely to get oily throughout the day. For dry skin, I recommend only using one powder, because too much powder on that skin type can dry out the skin. For normal skin, you can do whatever feels best. I apply my pressed powder with a medium-sized makeup brush all over my face. Then I go in with loose powder all over my face and I apply that with a powder puff.

Here are some powder recommendations!

Loose:

Kimchi Chic Puff Puff Pass Set & Bake Powder

Maybelline Fit Me! Loose Finishing Powder

One/Size Ultimate Blurring Setting Powder

Pressed:

Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Finish

Maybelline Fit Me! Pressed Powder

NYX Professional Makeup Pressed Powder

Now that you're all done with powder, you are just one step away from a perfect makeup base! All you need is a setting spray. Setting spray is the final step to locking in your base makeup so it lasts all day. To apply it properly, hold the spray a couple of inches away from your face and spray everywhere.

Here are some setting spray recommendations!

Elf Stay All Night Blue Light Micro-Setting Mist

Milani Make It Last Matte Finish Charcoal Setting Spray

Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Setting Spray

One/Size On 'Til Dawn Setting Spray

Look at you! Your base looks absolutely flawless. I hope this blog was of great help to you.

Works Cited

Kim, Min Ah, et al. “Layering Sunscreen with Facial Makeup Enhances Its Sun Protection Factor under Real‐use Conditions.” Skin Research & Technology, vol. 27, no. 5, Sept. 2021, pp. 751–57.

Fields, Jackie, and Andrea Lavinthal. “20 Makeup Tips That Really Work.” People, vol. 97, no. 19, May 2022, pp. 126–29.