How To Prep Your Skin For Flawless Makeup In 7 Steps

I think this is a scenario most women have experienced. You spend extra time and effort carefully applying makeup. Your foundation perfectly matches your skin, concealer blends seamlessly, and your blush and bronzer are perfectly placed to highlight your face. But just a few short hours later, you see all that time you put into perfecting your makeup has been wasted. Your makeup is either melting, fading away, or flaking and settling into fine lines. That’s because the first step to a flawless look is a good pre-makeup skincare routine.

So this week on Purfect Sunday, we’re going over all the ways you need to prep your skin in order to achieve flawless makeup that lasts all day and into the night.

How To Prep Your Skin For Flawless Makeup

Step 1: Cleanse

The first step of your skincare prep routine is to wash your face. To start, clean skin with lukewarm water using gentle circular motions to thoroughly remove all dirt, oil, and impurities. It’s best to use a cleanser that suits your specific skin type. If you have sensitive skin, stay away from products glycolic acid and benzoyl peroxide. These ingredients may be too harsh for delicate skin causing redness and irritation.

Step 2: Exfoliate

Because the main cause of cakey-looking makeup is dry skin, exfoliating is one of the most important steps in your skin care routine. That’s because when dead skin cells build up on the surface of your skin, makeup sticks to it unevenly. Exfoliating 2-3 times a week will help remove dry patches of skin, even out skin tone, and reduce acne from clogged pores. After washing your face, massage the exfoliating product onto your face for a few minutes before rinsing off with warm water. It’s best to always follow the directions on the product’s label, especially when it comes to physical exfoliants. Don’t forget your neck, since you need to blend makeup there to look natural. As well as your lips! Use an exfoliating lip scrub to remove dry skin from chapped lips so lipstick will go on smooth.

Step 3: Tone

Toners are often time an underestimated and overlooked step in many everyday skincare routines. But they shouldn’t be. Toners help restore the proper pH balance of your skin, while also adding the first layer of hydration back into your skin.

Step 4: Serums

Some people choose either toner or serum, but really you can and should use both. After your toner has been absorbed into the skin, apply a serum that best addresses your skin concerns. A serum containing hyaluronic acid will help draw moisture into the skin. Not only will this plump up your skin, but it will also help your skin stay hydrated throughout the day. Another major bonus to hydrated skin is that any fine lines will be less visible,

Step 5: Eye Cream

The thin and delicate skin around your eyes needs some extra care and attention, making eye cream a daily must whether you’re wearing makeup or not. Eye cream should always be applied before moisturizer so it can fully absorb into your skin. In addition to providing hydration, eye creams usually contained ingredients like caffeine to help depuff and brighten the under-eye area.

Step 6: Moisturize

You should never skip moisturizer if you want your foundation to blend seamlessly. If you have oily skin or are prone to acne breakouts, use an oil-free moisturizer that is non-comedogenic. If you have dry skin a thick cream will keep you hydrated all day while giving you a fresh out-of-the-shower dewy glow.

Step 7: Prime

The last step before applying any makeup products is primer. Primers provide many different benefits, Depending on the formula and your goals, primers can add hydration and radiance, or help control oil and shine. At the same time, it also fills in pores to create a smooth canvas that will help grip makeup so it stays in place.

Xx Monti