Ask Beauty Buff: How Do I Make My Makeup Last?
Don't want to leave your lipstick behind?
Amy from Ottawa won last week's L'Oreal Voluminous Million Lashes mascara along with Smashbox's Photo Finish Foundation Primer Light to help her keep her makeup on all night long!
Amy's question:
I'm going to a bunch of weddings this summer and I want to know how to keep my makeup looking fresh into the night. Please help!
Coincidentally, I'm going to a wedding tomorrow (congratulations Mike and Michelle!) and have been thinking about how to do my makeup so it lasts though to the very last dance.
Here's what I'm thinking:
I'll start by washing my face, spritzing with toner and applying a light moisturizer. I use products from Pure + Simple and I find that my skin is soft and dewy and ready for makeup.
Next I'll apply Smashbox's Photo Finish Foundation Primer Light all over my face, avoiding the under eye area. I love a pre-makeup primer. I don't use them every day but they ESSENTIAL to keeping makeup on for long periods of time. Basically, they prep the skin for makeup by creating a barrier between your potentially oily, sweaty pores (that chicken dance is exhausting) and your foundation, meaning that makeup doesn't just melt away.
Then I'll apply L'Oreal's Magic Perfecting Base — another primer — under my eyes. Of course you can use the Smashbox primer under your eyes as well as all over your face — or L'Oreal's primer all over your face. I just really like the texture of L'Oreal's primer to hide fine lines and the very sheer pink shade brightens dark circles.
I will apply foundation where I need it most: to cover up blemishes on my skin, covering redness around my nose, dark circles under my eyes and the veins on my eyelids — plus, applying foundation to your lids is important for keeping shadow on. It's best to apply with a sponge so you get thin layer (although to be honest, I'll probably use my fingers).
You can apply foundation all over your face if you like but if you don't need it, don't add extra weight. The idea here is to look light and fresh, right?
And now for a little colour. I'll start with a cream blush in a very light layer. It creates a good base for powder blush.
Instead of adding the powder blush at this point, I'll dust my entire face with a translucent powder to set my foundation.
Next is the colour. I'll use a mineral powder blush on the apples of my cheeks (and realistically will put too much on and have to remove some with a tissue).
Moving on to eyes, I like black liquid or cream eyeliner. I know it's tricky to apply but pencil eyeliner will smudge if you rub your eyes (or wipe away tears during the ceremony). To make getting that perfect Audrey Hepburn liner easier, start by sketching your line with a pencil and then just go over it with liquid or cream eyeliner. I find cream eyeliner much easier to use.
For eyeshadow that really stays put, start with a cream shadow and let it set. Ask before you buy cream eyeshadows. I've found that some stay sort of moist all day and easily slide off. Make sure that the shadow absorbs into skin. Follow with a powder eyeshadow in a similar shade.
Finally, curl your eyelashes then apply a waterproof mascara.
It's really hard to keep lipstick on all night. You will have to reapply a few times throughout the night but to keep it in place as long as possible, try a long-wearing formula. Prime your lips by gently buffing away dry skin with a wet cloth or old toothbrush and add a little lip balm.
Next, apply a lip liner in the same shade as your lipstick (or the same shade as your lips). This will help your lipstick adhere.
Apply your lipstick straight from the tube. Blot with a tissue then reapply.
And that's it! Okay, so that sounds like a lot of work but it'll be worth it when it's 2am and you're still looking fabulous!
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