In which order should you apply your makeup? Is it better to work on the complexion or the eyes first? And the eye shadow, is it before or after the mascara? These questions are not existential but they can still arise in a corner of our head. So that they don’t get in the way of our morning routine, here are the five steps to good makeup.
STEP 1: THE IMPORTANCE OF PERFECTLY PREPARED SKIN
“Thou shalt not escape cleansing. Here is a rule to follow without discussion. For a beautiful skin and a beautiful beauty, we cannot skip the make-up removal. “On perfectly cleansed skin, day cream is essential,” explains Max Herlant, makeup consultant at Yves Rocher, before adding, “If you plan to put on foundation, it’s best to avoid a cream that’s too rich in favor of a fluid moisturizer.” Using a makeup base after applying the skincare product is ideal especially to prevent the skin’s acidity from altering the pigments in the foundation.
STEP 2: THE FOUNDATION
“As its name indicates, the purpose of foundation is to blend into the complexion. So you don’t choose your product to look tanned!” exclaims Max. The make-up artist therefore recommends to get as close as possible to his skin tone. How to avoid the mistake? By applying a drop of foundation on the jawline or earlobe. The wrist test should be avoided because this area is too light in relation to the face. Another tip: to look younger, avoid matte foundation, which gives a waxy complexion.
STEP 3: CORRECTION OF DARK CIRCLES AND IMPERFECTIONS OF ALL KINDS
If there are two schools of thought when it comes to corrective makeup, Max advises hiding imperfections after preparing the complexion, as foundation tends to erase certain rough edges. As for dark circles, they can be reduced by mixing a touch of eye serum with your concealer and adding the preparation with a brush for a natural finish.
STEP 4: THE POWDER
It’s best to choose a powder that’s as close in color as possible to your foundation to set your makeup and control shine. “Makeup is like a short-lived face-lift. By stretching your make-up from the inside to the outside of your face, you’ll get a smoother, younger look,” says Max Herlant, a specialist in make-up rejuvenation techniques. And if your eyes are marked, prefer the “owl makeup”, in other words, powder at the edge of the dark circles as if you had a mask to prevent the pigments from getting lodged in the fine lines.
STEP 5: EYEBROWS, EYES AND LIPS
“Even for every day, working on your eyebrows is crucial,” says the make-up artist. We therefore alternate two colors of pencils: one close to the color of the eyebrows, the other lighter. Thus, with the help of the edge of the pencil, one comes to apply in alternation the two colors for a more natural effect. For the eyes, a nude base is preferred to unify the eyelid, which may or may not be marked with a line of eyeliner. And for perfect lips, Max has a great tip: make a cataplasm with her moisturizer during the beauty session. Simply remove the excess with a tissue and finish by applying a pretty lipstick.
The exception that proves the rule: To make a smoky eye, it is preferable to do it even before working on the complexion to avoid that the small falls of pigments become embedded in the makeup.
