7 Expert Tips on How to Apply Makeup to Dry, Flaky Skin
No matter your age or skin type, everyone can suffer from dry skin once in a while. The seasons change, temperatures drop and all of a sudden your skin feels tighter, you’re reaching for lip balm all the time, and your body requires a lot more lotion to feel soft and hydrated. But there are those whose dry skin is such a problem that it causes makeup to look cakey and textured—not exactly glamorous.
That’s why we chatted with two makeup artists to find out exactly how to apply makeup to dry skin to ensure smooth coverage that lasts the entire day without fading or cracking. You might be surprised what products they recommend you stay away from.
Meet the Expert
Cara Lovello is a bridal and celebrity makeup artist based in the New York/New Jersey area.
Tomy Rivero is a celebrity makeup artist and founder of the Tomy Rivero Beauty Lab.
How to Apply Makeup to Dry Skin in 7 Easy Steps
1. Start With the Right Skincare
When your skin is especially dry and flaky, it’s more important than ever to take a look at your skincare routine. You can’t expect a smooth makeup application if you don’t prep your skin. “The best way to prep dry skin for makeup starts with the cleanser,” says Rivero. “Removing old, flaky skin and nourishing the top layer is key even before moisturizing to eliminate texture and provide a cushion for the makeup base.” He recommends using a cleansing balm you can work into the skin and easily remove with a towel. We love REFRESHMENTS Cleansing Face Balm for the way it removes stubborn makeup, dirt, oil, and daily pollutants, all while nourishing the skin with squalane and shea butter.
2. Prep for Foundation With a Hydrating Primer
Once you’re done exfoliating dead skin cells and hydrating, go in with a moisturizing primer that will help your makeup smooth over dry areas and stay put all day long. Look for any that say “dewy” or “luminous” instead of “mattifying.” We love SHADES BY SHAN The Hydrating Primer because it’s infused with nourishing olive extract and coconut water.
3. Choose the Right Foundation for Dry Skin
With dry skin types, you’ll want to skip the powder foundations for risk of looking cakey. Instead, choose a liquid foundation that smoothes right over any dry patches. Lovello recommends avoiding full-coverage foundation and those with a matte finish. “Go for ones that say ‘luminous,’ she adds. Try ANASTASIA BEVERLY HILLS Luminous Foundation for lightweight, skin-like coverage. This goes for concealers, too.
Rivero, however, doesn’t recommend applying foundation to especially flaky skin. You can skip it all together (bare skin is stunning!) or go for a hydrating tinted moisturizer, a glowy skin tint, or a BB cream with a dewy finish.
4. Pat in Foundation With a Sponge
It’s not just the type of foundation that’s key here. It’s how you apply it, too. To ensure an even makeup look without any dry areas, grab your BEAUTYBLENDER ORIGINAL BEAUTYBLENDER Makeup Sponge. “Apply your foundation with a moist sponge,” says Rivero. “This helps the foundation to spread evenly and binds the makeup with water onto the skin for a smoother finish.” Lovello admits she often uses a brush with success but a damp sponge patted into the skin is a great, at-home choice.
5. Be Careful With Powder
We’re not saying you can’t use powder makeup products like setting powder on top of dryness, but more that it depends on the type of powder you use. Rivero recommends skipping loose powders all together and going for a pressed setting powder that tends to be more hydrating. “If you feel like it’s looking too dry, go back in on top with your cream blush for a luminous, dewy finish,” adds Lovello. CIATÉ LONDON Watermelon Burst Pressed Setting Powder hydrates with watermelon extract, hyaluronic acid, and vitamin E.
6. Skip Matte Makeup
As trendy as a matte-finish product might be, it could also cling to your dry areas and amplify your texture. Matte finishes are fine with products like eyeshadow and lipstick, but just skip it altogether when it comes to your base. Instead, look for pressed powders or liquid bronzers with a dewy or luminous finish. The same goes for liquid or cream highlighters. Try BENEFIT COSMETICS Sun Beam Golden Bronze Complexion Highlighter for a natural-looking glow.
When it comes to skincare, Rivero recommends avoiding “drying toners and astringents that strip away natural oils from the skin.”
7. Mist Away
It might seem like a spritz of face mist is just for fun, but the right one can have major benefits to dry skin. Keep a hydrating face mist handy, such as JUICE BEAUTY Hydrating Mist, to banish dryness throughout the day. It can even help set your makeup without ruining your hard work.
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