6 Tricks to Ensure the Long Wear of Your Makeup

There is no doubt that a lot of people have amazing makeup know-how. They can create gorgeous looks with any makeup palette. They skilfully combine vibrant colours together and really transform the face.

However, what sets professional makeup artists from people who are just “good at makeup” apart is their ability to make any type of makeup last for a longer time.

Their makeup application skills and techniques prevent caking and breakdown, even if they just use drugstore makeup brands. With their unique approaches, they can outwork the performance deficiencies of cosmetic products.

‘Want to know some of their tricks for makeup longevity? Rounded up below are six of them:

1. Start off with skin care products formulated for your skin type

Wash, tone, and moisturise your face with skin cream and/or other products intended for your skin type. Having this as a base can contribute to the long wear of your makeup. It will complement and reinforce the texture of your skin-compatible foundation and concealer.

Also, exfoliate regularly. This will get rid of dry patches that look quite obvious when you put makeup on. These dry patches can create a flakiness that can make your makeup disintegrate easily.

2. Use a primer

Apart from creating a smoother canvas for the rest of your makeup, primer also makes sure that the colour pops. It makes pigments adhere better, preventing fall out.

3. Build up slowly

Avoid slopping on your liquid makeup (which a lot of Instagram makeup gurus tend to do).

 

Always start out with just a small amount and gradually build up coverage by pressing in the product with a damp makeup sponge. This is a tried and true strategy in preventing caking and breakdown, especially around the oily areas of your face.

Some foundations and concealers already have amazing opacity and you do not need a lot to achieve the coverage you want. So, work with small amounts and slowly add more until you’re completely satisfied with the opacity of the product.

4. Use a setting powder

If you want your makeup to stay put through sweat and even rain, do not skip setting your face with powder.

In advanced makeup classes, setting powder is the key to the long wear of the most complex makeup looks (such as drag makeup). It is the tool for “baking,” which is a technique that really locks makeup in place.

It is important to note, however, that setting powders are not created the same. If you want the best performer for creating a smooth finish and achieving longevity for any look, opt for finely milled setting powders like Laura Mercier’s Translucent Loose Setting Powder, Ben Nye Luxury Powder, and Hourglass Veil Translucent Powder.

When applying your setting powder with a puff, do concentrate on areas where you normally get oily. Proper application of setting powder in these areas will keep shine away and maintain your makeup look for longer.

5. Use a setting mist

This is another step you should take to lock makeup in. However, spritzing your face with a great setting mist does not only keep your makeup in place longer, but it can also create a dewy finish.

After setting with powder, your makeup can look quite matte or flat. A generous misting of MAC Fix Plus or Urban Decay All-Nighter Setting Spray will restore dimension to your face by creating the look of moisture.

A special tip to make setting mist even more effective is to fan your face dry. This has been proven to keep makeup intact throughout the day.

6. To finish off your look, get rid of excess moisture

One of the makeup tricks makeup artists who prep models for a runway show is to use a facial tissue to blot out oil. But, they do not pat the tissue on the skin to avoid moisture. Instead, they place the tissue against the face and use a fluffy makeup brush to “sweep up” sebum gently for the tissue to absorb.

This effectively gets rid of excess oil without disturbing your makeup.

Top makeup pros swear by these tricks.

So, if you want your gorgeous “face paint” to look fresh until you are ready to take it off, these are the tricks to learn and implement.

AUTHOR BIO

Toni Malt is the Middle East’s leading international editorial makeup artist and the woman behind the highly anticipated Toni Malt Makeup Academy in the heart of Dubai, now training the next generation of key makeup artists. From minimalistic looks to freestyle artistic creations, Toni’s creative work has been published in top international fashion magazines around the world including VOGUE, ELLE, L’Officiel, Marie Claire, Harper’s BAZAAR, Grazia and Cosmopolitan.

 

You might also be interested in reading this blog: Recovering broken make-up powder.