There is nothing
worse than looking in the mirror at the end of the day (or the end of a
sweaty Beyoncé dance floor
session) to find the makeup you spent an hour (or hours) applying
has slid off your face. I've tried and tested countless products and have
a few tips and tricks along with my favourite products to ensure your
makeup will stand the test of time...
MOISTURISE/PRIME
Skin preparation aka
moisturising and priming is key before applying your foundation, as it stops
your skin from eating up all your makeup and creates the ideal surface.
Personally I like to prep my skin with a little lightweight moisturiser, I've
currently been reaching for Origins GinZing Moisturiser, or Clinique's Dramatically
Different Moisturizing Gel. Once applied I like to let it skink
in, otherwise my makeup has the tendency to slide around my face. More often
than not I find moisturising alone is enough, but sometimes I like to add a
primer. Primers can luminise, minize pores, mattify, add longevity, create a
smoother surface and is a must have in any makeup bag. Some of my favourites
include; Clarins Flash Beauty Balm and Kiehl's Micro-Blur Skin Perfector.
FOUNDATION/CONCEALER
It's time to push your
sheer bases to one side and opt for something with a fuller coverage. I highly
recommend L'oreal Infallible 24H Foundation not only does it
offer a quality long lasting finish it only costs £9.99! When it comes to
applying my foundation I like to take my time and build my base by applying
light layers and I then blend, blend, blend, blend (or bounce, bounce, bounce) like
there is no tomorrow to secure it into my skin. I like to use a damp beauty
blender to apply my foundation as it gives a flawless, smooth and even finish.
For concealer, I can't get enough of Urban Decay's Naked Concealer and I like to
apply it with either a damp beauty blender or my fingers. But remember to pat,
do not drag.
POWDER
Applying a light dusting of
loose powder is one way to ensure your makeup will last. It stops your base
from transferring and helps set it in place. You can pass the powder if you
have dry skin, but if you have combo/oily skin this is essential. Powder can
change the colour of your foundation, settle into fine lines and can often be a
little drying, so I like to opt for a translucent loose powder. Loose powders
are a sheerer, fall into fine lines and there is no fear of it changing colour.
I like to apply a light dusting to the centre of my face avoiding the outer edges,
as I don't want to disrupt my highlighter, or any natural radiance. My favourite
loose powders are MAC Prep + Prime Transparent Finishing Powder and Makeup For Ever HD Powder.
GET MISTY
Facial setting sprays help
prevent that dreaded makeup meltdown and are pretty revolutionary. A little
like hairspray for the face (dare I say I used to spray my face with
hairspray back in the day!), setting sprays are facial mists that can be
sprayed before, during and after makeup application. My all time favourite
setting spray is the Urban Decay All Nighter Makeup Setting Spray. It's
lightweight and really does lock down my base. Another firm favourite is MAC Prep + Prime Fix+, which works like magic at taking that powdery 'I've applied too much
makeup' look away.