face makeup

There are several types of face makeup products, including foundation, bb cream, concealer, powder, primer, blush and highlighter, with each serving their own unique purpose. A foundation is meant to be used allover the face and will help to even out discoloration, giving you a smooth complexion whereas a concealer tends to be a little more concentrated and meant to spot treat certain areas such as dark under eye circles or redness around the nose. Under the concealer umbrella, there are also color correctors, which are specially formulated to counteract discoloration. A bb cream or skin tint however will give you more of a natural finish, still covering imperfections, but with a lighter coverage. Primer typically won’t have much color payoff, but rather is meant to prime the skin and prepare it for the face makeup you put over top, also lending itself to the longevity of your makeup, as it will grip your foundation and hold it in place for a longwear finish. To add some color and shine, there’s blush and highlighter, which are meant to be applied to the cheeks and just above the cheeks, helping to create dimension, perk up your complexion and reflect light.

A full face makeup look calls for a primer like Poreless Jelly Hydrating Blur Primer, followed by base makeup product such as foundation or a bb cream or skin tint, plus a concealer should you need a little extra coverage. We love the way our Super Stay Lumi Matte Foundation pairs with our Instant Age Rewind Concealer. If you want to mattify certain areas such as the T-zone, dust some SuperStay Powder over the top. Then, go in with a blush like Sunkisser Multi-Use Blush, dabbing from the apples of your cheeks, up and back toward your hairline to lift, sculpt, and infuse your complexion with some color. Finish wish a sweep of MasterChrome Highlighter on the top of your cheekbones, creating backwards “C”s around your eyes to reflect light.

There are several ways to apply face makeup, including with a brush, sponge, or your fingers. A brush will allow for you to pick up a heavier pigment load, giving you a more even finish, whereas a damp beauty sponge will sheer out the formula a bit for a lighter coverage. Fingers are a great option for simple makeup application such as with a bb cream or liquid blush because the heat of your fingers will help to melt the product to encourage it to melt into your skin more naturally. Check out our face makeup blog for some super helpful tips and tricks for applying face makeup.

You can contour your face with makeup by selecting darker shades that will add shadows and lighter ones that will reflect light. Our Instant Age Rewind Concealer is a great multitasker for contouring because the sponge applicator makes for easy application. Choose a shade or two darker than your skintone to carve out just under your cheekbones and jaw, and place it along the sides of your nose for a slimming effect. Your shade or two lighter as a highlighter will go in the opposite areas, so just above the cheekbones and down the center of your nose. Depending on which features you want to accentuate, you can adjust your contouring technique, as each face shape can benefit from different areas of contour and highlight. Whether you want to contour a heart shape, round, square, or oval face shape, we have all of the tips you need to contour by face shape.

To best get makeup off of your face, we recommend a double cleanse. First, use a makeup remover, micellar water, or balm cleanser, which will help to remove even the most stubborn of makeup, including waterproof. Then, follow with your go-to cleanser, which will ensure a clear complexion, helping to prevent clogged pores and breakouts. Be sure to do this nightly before bed to maintain clear skin.

Face makeup can last from six months to two years, depending on the formula. Liquid formulations such as foundation and concealer with a brush that goes into the liquid won’t have as long of a shelf life because it is more prone to bacteria getting in. The more times you open the product, exposing it to air and light, the shorter time it will last. Same goes for where you store it– if it’s in a humid bathroom or left in a hot car frequently, that will speed degradation. Powder formulas will last longer, though, because bacteria is less likely to grow in a dry environment. To prolong its life, try to avoid getting it wet (i.e. dabbing a damp makeup sponge in it) and store it in a cool, dry area. This goes for all makeup products– they’ll last longer when stored properly.

To fix separated makeup on the face, you can simply refresh with a face mist and dab the areas of separation to smooth them out. It also helps to start with a primer to prevent your makeup from separating in the first place. Then, finish with a powder over top, followed by a setting spray to lock your look into place.

To cover scars with makeup, the most important technique is smoothing out the surface so there are no raised bumps or indented divots. After moisturizing the skin and applying a primer, assess whether the scar needs color correction. If it is an acne scar from a recent breakout that’s red, our green Instant Age Rewind Color Correcting Concealer in green will help counteract the redness. However, if the scar is darker than your skin, try the pink or orange version (for lighter to deeper skin, respectively) to brighten. We recommend spritzing FaceStudio Lasting Fix Makeup Setting Spray after your color corrector has dried down in order to keep the coverage in place as you add additional layers of makeup. Over top, you’ll apply your full coverage foundation, being mindful that you’re not smudging the color corrector, but rather dabbing your foundation over the top with a brush. If you still need more coverage, you can go in with a concealer that matches your skin tone– avoid the lighter shade that you would use to brighten your undereyes because that can draw even more attention to the scar. Finish with a generous dusting of SuperStay Powder and spray with setting spray again.