Beauty SOS: Why Does Your Makeup Look Dry?
Alyssia Chang
- Published
Disclosure: I only recommend products I would use myself and all opinions expressed here are our own. This post may contain affiliate links that at no additional cost to you, I may earn a small commission.
Making your skin look good with makeup can be tricky. Especially since your skin, environment, and the makeup industry are consistently changing.
If you struggle to find the perfect recipe to make your makeup not look dry or textured, then you’re in the right place.
This article DOESN’T make you buy a hydrating moisturizer.
Instead, what I’ll show you are the BEST steps, tips, and tricks to understand where you might need improvement to PREVENT dry looking makeup. This makeup problem can easily be solved with a bit of skin and makeup knowledge and inserting makeup steps that actually WORK to make the skin look flawless!
How to Prepare Your Unique Skin Type for Makeup
How you prep your skin before applying face makeup is KEY to making sure that your makeup looks and appears flawless.
Improper skin prep + Not enough moisture + Improper Makeup Application = dry or textured makeup look
When you apply liquid or powder face makeup to your skin that already has a layer of oil or dead skin, the chances of your makeup showing texture or the appearance of dryness increases by a lot!
ASK Yourself: “What skincare and priming products are you using BEFORE applying your face makeup?”
Important Skincare Prep Steps:
- Exfoliate
Make sure that you are exfoliating your skin every week to help promote skin cell regeneration and to remove dead skin cells.
- Dry Skin – Exfoliate once or twice a week.
- Oily Skin – Exfoliate more frequently, two or three times a week.
- Combination Skin – Twice a week.
- Sensitive Skin – Once a week.
- Normal Skin – Once or twice a week.
- Cleanse
This step isn’t crucial but if your makeup always looks dry or textured then you need to START your makeup routine by use a micellar water to remove any of the previous night dirt and oil build up (For oily skin use your traditional facial cleanser), it also helps to remove surface level dead skin.
This is the best way to make sure that your skin is ready to absorb the moisture it is about to receive!
- Apply Your Daily Skincare Products (Moisturize)
If you don’t have a daily skincare routine regime, then this doesn’t mean that you have to get one in order to not have your makeup from looking dry – but the better the prep, the higher the chance that your makeup will look even and lush!
The one daily skincare item you will for sure need is a good Moisturizer that is made for your skin type! This will help create a barrier between your skin and the makeup, preventing the makeup from soaking up all the moisture from your skin.
A moisturizer also helps to create a heavenly pillow of hydration (yes, even for you oily skin types, you NEED moisture) that will allow the next step to glide on smoothly.
- Prime
Primer not only acts like velcro to your face makeup products, but a GREAT primer will guarantee to add skin enhancing benefits!
Some examples of good primer benefits are: has a blurring effect, reduces the look of pores, makes the skin radiant, hydrated, smoother, younger, etc.
When looking for Primer, avoid primers that contain silicone. Silicone is a cheap, filler ingredient that does help the application of makeup but isn’t good for the pores or skin. Stick to clean beauty brands that don’t use silicone.
Invest in the Right Tools to Apply Your Makeup
Whether you use makeup brushes, beauty blenders, sponges, or other face tools, you want to make sure they are good quality and are well taken care of (make sure to wash your tools at least once a week for good hygiene).
This will make sure that the application of the makeup goes on controlled and even. High quality tools increase the performance of makeup and how it looks!
Less is More!
Another way to prevent the dry skin look is to be aware of how MUCH product you are applying to the face at once.
Instead of dripping product directly onto the face, brush, or sponge, apply a pea sized amount onto the back of the hand first. Then use your preferred tool to gently work a bit product onto the face and do this in layers to achieve the desired amount of coverage.
The biggest makeup lie is that in order to apply makeup fast, you have to apply a lot of product at one time. THIS ISN’T TRUE. If you apply a big dallop of foundation onto the face, you’re actually spending more time blending it and making it look good rather than using a small amount at a time and doing this step in thin layers. Save time and create a flawless makeup look by following the rule: Less is more!
Setting Products Help a Lot
People ask me all the time, is it necessary to use powder on the face? Won’t it make my skin look dry?
I get why you might be nervous to use a powder on your face if your skin is dry or mature, but remember that with technology these days, that we have products made for ALL skin types!
When you use a setting powder on top of your makeup, this step will help lock in the moisture into the skin. Add a setting spray with that and you will keep your makeup from looking dry throughout the day!
Always double check the product description and benefits from the brand to make sure that it is made for your skin type or made for all skin types. Influencers or sales associates might not give you correct product details and that might get you using the wrong product for your face and skin needs.
Makeup Tips to Help Prevent Your Skin From Looking Dry
Here are some of my favorite artistry makeup tricks that I teach when clients need help!
- Use a damp Beauty Blender with a couple mists of your favorite hydrating spray to fix dry areas or areas that makeup is separating. Just tap a few times on the areas that have texture on it and apply some more translucent powder on afterwards.
Choose a makeup primer that has similar base ingredients as your foundation. For example, if you use a silicone-based primer and then apply a water-based or oiled-based foundation on top of it, you might experience flaking, separation, or a pilling look.
To avoid this, test your primer with your foundation on the back of your hand!
Apply a small dot sized amount of primer on the skin and rub over the back of the hand. Then use the same amount of foundation on the same area and blend. If it doesn’t go on smoothly and begins to show texture, it is a sign that it is the wrong match.
You Got This
Making your face look like you’re wearing flawless skin with makeup can be hard.
I know that with these different solutions and tips, that you’ll be able to navigate your way to making your makeup look hydrated, natural, and like second skin!
Understanding your skin, what products benefit your needs, and trying effective ways of applying makeup – will all help with solving the question of why your makeup looks dry.
Thank you so much for your support. I hope that you keep learning and are always open to trying something new!
