If you spend hours doing your make-up and it hardly stays, then you’re probably missing a few important steps. To make your make-up last longer, you must follow moisturise, prime and set. Follow these three simple rules and don’t let your make-up fade away easily. Here’s how you should do it:
POLISH THOSE PORES
Exfoliation is key to prepping your skin for makeup application – the smoother the surface, the more even it can be applied and therefore the longer it lasts. Twice a week polish away dead surface cells with a good exfoliator. If you’ve got the money, the Goldfaden MD Doctor’s Scrub (£65) is uh-mazing but equally the No7 total Renewal Micro-dermabrasion Face Exfoliator (£11) delivers on its promises.
USE A CLEVER MOISTURISER
Ever noticed that your makeup starts to collect into fine lines and creases come mid-morning? Hydration levels and sebum production fluctuate through the day causing your skin to look more uneven, but there are moisturisers that respond to ‘over-day ageing’ to aid this. Vichy Liftactiv Supreme (£23.25) smoothes and firms skin while you wear it.
IT’S ABOUT PRIME
Primer ‘seals in’ your moisturiser and provides a smooth, even surface for makeup. Not only this, it keeps your makeup from being absorbed, giving it greater staying power. If you have oily skin and feel like your makeup ‘slips off’, try an oil-free formula like Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer Light for an all-day matte finish, however if you feel your makeup fails to wear well because you’re battling dry patches try the Smashbox Photo Finish Hydrating Foundation Primer which seals in moisture for hours. Use a different primer for the delicate eyelid skin, we love the YSL Couture Eye Primer which intensifies your makeup, ensuring it doesn’t crease, slip or shift.
CARE FOR LONG-WEAR
Long-wear makeup is so-called for a reason; good ones boast budge-free formulas without looking heavy. We love the Bobbi Brown Long-Wear range that covers everything from gel eyeliner to mascara and their Long-Wear Even Finish Foundation is great for dry and dehydrated skin, while the Clinique Stay-Matte Oil-Free Makeup which contains shine absorbers is perfect for oily skin types.
LAYER IT
Building up your makeup products in light layers will make it last way longer than applying one heavy layer, and it always looks more natural too. This rule applies to your base, eye makeup and lipstick.