A Guide to Preparing Your Skin For a Flawless Makeup Application

Have you ever seen makeup so perfect that you wonder how it’s possible for an application to be so perfect? The secret is that their skin is well-prepped beforehand. A complete skin routine before your makeup application can make all the difference. Let’s discuss the steps to take in your skin preparation to achieve a professional makeup look.

Steps to Take to Prepare Your Skin Before Makeup Application

1. Cleanse Away

The first step to an immaculate makeup application is ensuring that any past traces of makeup, dirt, and excess oil are removed. This can be done with a quality cleanser, but you have to be careful about what kind you choose. Not every cleanser works the best with every skin type.

• Dry Skin If you have dry skin, try and find a cream cleanser that will help moisturize your skin.
• Oily Skin If you have oily skin, use a gel or foam cleanser that will help remove the oil on your skin without irritating it.
• Combination Skin If you have combination skin, look for cleansers that are specifically designed for combination skin with sections that are oily, dry, and normal.
• Skin Prone to Breakouts If your skin is prone to breakouts, find a cleanser that contains salicylic acid, benzoyl peroxide, or tea tree oil to help stave off pimples.

To be safe, it’s generally a better idea to stick to cleansers that aren’t too harsh. If your skin is sensitive, the cleanser can strip your skin of its natural oils and make it dry and inflamed.

2. Always Use Alcohol-Free Toner

Using toner is an essential part of a complete skincare routine that often gets forgotten. It wipes away any leftover dead skin cells, makeup, or other bacteria that the cleanser could have missed. Remember these tips when you’re using toner:

• Avoid toners that have alcohol as their main ingredient as it can dry your skin out
• Add a small amount of toner onto a cotton ball and run it over your face gently without scrubbing
• Take note of what comes off of your face when you use toner and consider that if there’s a lot, your cleanser may not be working as well as it should

3. Exfoliate, Exfoliate, Exfoliate

Exfoliating is the secret to smooth skin and should be done once or twice a week instead of every time you apply makeup. You will know if you’re exfoliating too much because your skin will be red and raw. If your skin appears dull and feels rough, you probably need to exfoliate more. There are a couple of ways to exfoliate.

• Use a Washcloth You can exfoliate by using a washcloth during your cleansing. The cloth can replace your fingertips while you massage the cleanser into your skin, using gentle, circular motions. It’s important to note that you will need to wash the cloth after each use. Otherwise, you may be introducing old bacteria back to your face.
• Use a Scrub There are scrubs designed to exfoliate your skin, as well as cleansers that include an ingredient that exfoliates.

No matter the method you choose, you will start to notice a major difference in your skin’s silkiness if you get into the routine of exfoliating.

4. Take Care of Your Under Eye Skin

The skin underneath your eyes is some of the most difficult to keep looking moisturized, bright, and smooth. There are eye creams that are made to help with this issue that assist in not only hydrating but also ensuring that the makeup you apply blends smoothly and is long-lasting. Other options include under-eye masks and patches that work similarly.

5. Moisturize More Than You Think

Another absolutely vital step in a successful skincare routine is moisturizing. As a general rule, your skin could always use more hydration. It’s recommended to have a lighter moisturizer for the day and a heavier-duty moisturizer for the night. Like with many other steps, the moisturizer you choose needs to be suited to your skin type.

• Dry Skin If your skin is dry, use a thicker moisturizer that specializes in nourishment and extra hydration.
• Oily Skin If your skin is oily, find a moisturizer that is oil-free or matte.

No matter your skin type, the moisturizer you use in the day should contain at least SPF 15 to protect your skin from the sun, as well.

6. Serum is Always a Great Idea

Serum is particularly beneficial if you have dry skin, as it can help add extra moisture to your face. If you have oilier skin, then it may be easier to apply the serum at night. In either case, a little serum goes a long way, and you don’t need to apply more than a couple of dots on your cheeks, forehead, and chin. Instead of rubbing them in, patting them in is more effective. While finding a serum for your routine, look for those that contain:

• Antioxidants, like Vitamin C
• Anti-inflammatories, like Zinc
• Hydrators, like amino acids

7. Mist Your Face With Rosewater

This step isn’t necessary, but many swear that misting your face with rosewater is the unlocked mystery to glowing skin. If you want to try it out, find an all-natural rose water and make sure that you let it dry before moving on to the next steps. Alternatively, you could also mist your face with rose water after all of your makeup has been applied.

8. Primer is Key

Primers come in many different forms and have many different benefits. At their core, primers prepare your skin for whatever makeup you wish, fill in lines on your skin so that your makeup doesn’t crease, and ensure that your makeup will go on smoothly and last longer. There are specific primers for a number of special needs. For example, if you are prone to acne or redness, a light green primer works better to remove the redness.

9. Your Lips Need Love Too

Even if you’re not applying lipstick, it’s important to keep your lips exfoliated and moisturized. If you do plan on wearing lipstick, these steps can ensure that the color goes on smoothly, evenly, and with longevity.

• Exfoliate Exfoliate your lips by using a clean, damp washcloth to gently massage your lips and remove any dead skin. If you have sensitive skin, this step can be done at night as opposed to before applying your makeup.
• Moisturize Utilize a lip moisturizer and let it sit for 10 minutes before applying lipstick.

10. Do Your Makeup as Usual and Dazzle

After your skin has been well prepared, you can continue with your regular makeup routine. You will notice a huge difference in how your makeup looks and how amazing your skin feels. Our comprehensive cosmetology program provides hands-on training, industry insights, and expert guidance to help you excel in the world of beauty and fashion.

How to Become a Licensed Esthetician

Becoming a licensed esthetician requires enrolling in a cosmetology or esthetician program that’s approved by your chosen state to work in. You will learn topics related to customer relations, cosmetology and esthetician treatments, and techniques for disinfecting your equipment. The requirements to earn your state license vary from state to state, but they typically require a specific number of training hours to be completed. Once you have met the requirements, you sit for the exam that, when passed, will lead to your license. This exam typically involves written sections and practical components, like performing treatments and techniques.

Is a Career in the Beauty Industry Right For You?

Do you love making others feel and look their best? Then a career in the beauty industry may be for you. Careers in this field offer opportunities to show off your creative side, build a close-knit community of other estheticians and clients, and enjoy a flexible work schedule.

Enroll in Blue Cliff College’s Premier Beauty Programs

Who says that you can’t have a career that you love? If your passion lies in the beauty industry, enroll in our affordable cosmetology or esthetician programs at Blue Cliff College. You can learn everything you need from our experts, receive invaluable hands-on training, and earn your license. Enroll now or contact us to learn more about these programs and others that are offered by Blue Cliff College