Neutrogena Hydro Boost Gel Cream absorbs quickly like a gel but has staying power for all-day hydration. It's one of the best moisturizers for dry skin under makeup. Cetaphil Rich Hydrating Cream deeply hydrates your skin and helps restore your natural skin barrier, making it ideal for dry and aging skin.
Add some moisture boosting ingredients to your skincare (hyaluronic acid, glycerin). Make your moisturizer more nourishing, nothing oil free obviously. Layer in a few spritzes of thermal water (such as La Roche Posay) and dab on a nice facial oil before applying a moisturizing primer and foundation.
FarmacyHoney Halo Ultra-Hydrating Ceramide Moisturizer
The BEST moisturizer under makeup. I have combo skin/ dry spots around my nose and eyes so makeup usually clings to those areas. ... Best moisturizer I've used.
Use a primer. Primer is a product that you apply to your face before your foundation or concealer. It helps your makeup adhere to your skin better and can also help control oil and shine. Apply a thin layer of primer all over your face.
Makeup Primer: Opt for a budget-friendly option by using Vaseline as a makeup primer. It creates a smooth canvas for your foundation and other products, allowing your makeup to last longer. For sensitive and acne-prone skin types, opt for a face serum that accentuates the skin, creating a fine surface for makeup.
Hyaluronic acid is amazing for making skin appear plumper and reducing the appearance of fine lines, which leads to a smoother base under makeup. This serum absorbs quickly and is suitable for all skin types, including sensitive.
Look for a hydrating moisturizer that can quickly absorb into the skin, providing long-lasting hydration without feeling heavy or greasy. Once your skin is adequately moisturized, you can apply a lightweight, hydrating primer to further enhance the smoothness and longevity of your foundation.
While you can use a moisturiser instead of primer if you just want a hydrated base, I wouldn't suggest using makeup primer as a moisturiser. Hydrating primers are designed to be an additional step for dry skin, not a substitute for moisturiser.
Moisturizer isn't just great to help hydrate your skin and protect its moisture barrier, it can also be the perfect base for makeup application.
This is probably the easiest and most obvious choice: you can use your regular day moisturiser as a primer replacement. It's great is the product contains humectant and emollient ingredients, such as glycerine, hyaluronic acid, or aloe vera leaf juice.
La Roche Posay's Toleriane Double Repair Face Moisturizer is our top overall pick because it delivers lasting hydration, has a lightweight, gentle formula, and works as an excellent base when layering on products or makeup. It also leaves skin looking a little brighter and more glowy than before.
Also, layering too many skincare products before applying makeup can give it a cakey look. Instead of applying moisturizers or sunscreen separately, you can choose to use sun-control moisturizer to get both sun protection and moisturization benefits. Now is the time to give your skin a final boost with a primer.
Don't apply foundation right after moisturizing.
Always give your moisturizer time (as long as 15 minutes) to absorb into your skin before applying foundation. Otherwise, you can end up with a streaky mess.
Allow the lotion to absorb: Cetaphil Moisturizing Lotion has a fast absorbing, lightweight formula, so you only need to wait a few minutes for the lotion to be absorbed by your skin before applying makeup or going to bed.
Moisturizer is skincare—so it should always be the last step in your skincare routine (unless it's daytime, in which case, you should end your routine with sunscreen). Primer, meanwhile, is a makeup product, and it should always be the first step in your makeup routine.
Use a hyaluronic acid serum
If you have dry skin, it's important to hydrate as much as possible to help give your skin the moisture it needs. After cleansing and toning your face, apply a hydrating serum, like the L'Oréal Paris RevitaLift Derm Intensives 1.5% Pure Hyaluronic Acid Serum.
Dry patches and rough areas can make makeup look patchy and uneven. By smoothing out the skin's surface, moisturizer allows makeup products to glide on effortlessly and blend seamlessly. This results in a polished and natural-looking finish, enhancing the overall appearance of your makeup.
After testing dozens of options, we found that the Dermalogica Circular Hydration Serum With Hyaluronic Acid is the best face serum for under makeup: It has a lightweight and fast-absorbing formula that preps the skin and adds a natural-looking glow under foundation.