Vince Vaughn & Owen Wilson, tight jeans and a cute white t-shirt, hell even peanut butter and jelly; some things just go together because they compliment each other so well. Whether you wear makeup for work, special occasion or to cover skin issues, caring for your skin should always be a priority. There is no denying that good skin care practices can give you better results when it comes to applying makeup.
I love makeup, especially for its versatility. I dislike when people say "Well, I don't need to wear makeup" with that condescending arrogance that I can only describe as makeup shaming. When I hear this, I always think to myself, life is too short to be boring dahling. I'm trying to be all the bitches I can be! If wearing makeup isn't your thing, cool. But there are a lot of us who do. Makeup is a $60 billion industry in the U.S., clearly I'm not the only one buying it. Regardless of whether you wear makeup or not, the fact remains that you still need to take care of your skin.
Caring for your skin allows for a smooth, hydrated base for easy makeup application and improves your makeup's overall appearance. Taking care of your skin before, during, and after makeup application will help you achieve the best result. Here's what I mean:
Before:
Have a skin care routine that you practice consistently. Cleansing, exfoliating, hydrating and moisturizing are key as well as addressing any skin issues you may be experiencing, such acne is acne for example. This will ensure your skin has what it needs prior to make up application. Next, understand your skin type. This will help you choose products that work for your skin rather than against it. For instance, if you tend to experience dry skin, mattifying products may highlight that leading to cakey looking foundation. On the other hand, if you have oily skin, mattifying products would be the way to go.
During:
Knowing how to properly layer your makeup is key. Always moisturize and apply a sunscreen prior to applying makeup, followed by a primer based on your skin needs or desired effect.
As an added step, primers help to address skin concerns and prevent your makeup from melting or creasing giving it more staying power. Primers come in a variety of formulations. If you have oily skin, there are primers to help control oil & shine. If you have dry, flaky skin, there are primers that provide hydration. Large pores, redness, etc., there are primers to help remedy these issues. Are you seeing a pattern here? Primers can help to temporarily address these concerns that could be addressed with skin care.
As a protective barrier, primers seal in the goodness from your skincare products and prevents makeup from coming into direct contact with your skin. Whether or not you decide to use a primer is your choice, however from personal experience, I find it necessary. There was a time that I didn't use primers and a particular foundation (I will not name) discolored my skin. It took a considerable amount of time to even out my natural complexion. Tip: you can wear primer without makeup for the benefits it provides (blurred pores, shine control, etc.).
After:
Having looked flawless all day, you have to remove your makeup at some point. This is where your night time skin care routine shines. I will confess, after a long exhausting day, I have gone to bed without removing my makeup. I lie to myself saying I will sleep like a vampire to avoid messing up my pillow case, but nope. I wake up looking like this.
Sleeping in your makeup is a big no no and can lead to premature aging. Cell turnover occurs during sleep pushing dead skin cells to the surface of your skin. Dead skin cells, bacteria and makeup can clog your pores and dull your complexion leading to inflammation, dryness and breakouts. Although cleaning your skin is important, knowing how to gently remove your make up is equally important.
For easy make up removal, I strongly recommend having a dedicated makeup remover. Wipes, balms and micellar water are great options that break down your makeup for easy removal. The key here is to be gentle. Your skin is delicate, especially around your eyes where removing mascara and eyeliner can be stubborn. Keep your eyes safe from infection by using cotton swaps along your lash line to ensure all traces of makeup are removed. The moral here is to let the makeup remover do its job so you can avoid aggressive rubbing and pulling.
After using your makeup remover, then proceed with a facial cleanser and the steps to your normal routine. I am a proponent of soap and water to cleanse the skin to help wash away any remaining makeup the remover may have left behind.
I'll be the first to admit that being a makeup lover is more of a lifestyle than a hobby. The same goes for skin care. It's everything you do and don't do. It's your diet, how you handle stress, and what you do consistently in addition to the products you use. So no matter if you're team glam or au naturale, be sure to give your skin plenty of TLC.
Our face is the first thing people see and how we feel about our appearance is linked to our confidence. Whether that confidence is present or absent is telling about how we view ourselves. It's easy to tell if we are happy with what we see, I mean selfies galore right! However, sometimes we can be incredibly critical of ourselves and that negativity must cease. You are unique and beautiful. That's it, no discussion. There is no one like you occupying this time and space that has all of the experiences, talents, and joys that make you who you are. Stay R'Bellious & Beautiful!
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