What should I do before I put on makeup?

Author: Dr. Cordell Murphy MD  |  Last update: Thursday, August 7, 2025

Prep your skin with skincare and SPF Like makeup order, a skincare routine is personal, but before applying your makeup for the day you should include a cleanser, a serum (we recommend the L'Oréal Paris RevitaLift Derm Intensives 1.5% Pure Hyaluronic Acid Serum), moisturizer, and SPF.

What should I do before applying makeup?

Wash and moisturize your face before applying makeup. The best base for your makeup is usually a clean, oil-free face. Use a gentle cleanser to wash your face and follow it with a moisturizer or toner.

What should we do before putting a foundation on?

It would also help blend your makeup better. Step 1: Prep your skin: The first step is cleaning the face properly before applying the makeup. You need to exfoliate the skin with a scrub, which helps remove excess oil and dirt. In addition, it would help your foundation to blend evenly.

How do I prep my skin for foundation?

Comments Section
  • Exfoliate
  • Moisturize (and drink enough water)
  • Shake foundation before use
  • If you're using your hands to apply: they must be clean.
  • Use primer or cream as a base before applying the foundation or even mix foundation with a little amount of day cream

Should I wash my face before putting on makeup?

It's very important to apply makeup to a fresh, clean face! Before applying your makeup, grab your favorite cleanser that supports your skin type. Wet your skin by splashing some lukewarm water onto your face. Using a dime-sized amount of product, massage your cleanser gently all over your skin.

how to avoid cakey makeup

What steps to put on makeup?

Here's Charlotte's step-by-step guide to applying each makeup product in the correct order for a MESMERISING beauty look for every occasion.
  1. STEP 1: PRIMER. ...
  2. STEP 2: COLOUR CORRECTOR. ...
  3. STEP 3: FOUNDATION. ...
  4. STEP 4: CONCEALER. ...
  5. STEP 5: POWDER. ...
  6. STEP 6: BRONZER & CONTOUR. ...
  7. STEP 7: HIGHLIGHTER. ...
  8. STEP 8: BROWS.

Should I wash my face at night even if I don't wear makeup?

“If you wash your face more than twice a day, then you are stripping the natural oils in your skin, and, as a result, you will end up overproducing oils.” Even if you don't wear makeup that day or don't leave your house, you still shouldn't get into bed without a wash first.

How to avoid cakey makeup?

How to Avoid Cakey Makeup
  1. Priming is Key. You have probably heard it a hundred times before, but that's only because it is true. ...
  2. Airy Foundations. Jumping into dense foundations is risky. ...
  3. Blend with a Sponge. ...
  4. Powder Sparingly. ...
  5. Bind the Layers with a Setting Spray.

Is primer really necessary?

Primer is often referred to as a base for Foundation or a Foundation primer. They are most commonly used to achieve a controlled matte finish. It isn't necessary to use a Primer before foundation, yet there are many benefits to adding this product into your makeup bag.

How do I make my face smooth before applying foundation?

Prep Your Skin By Exfoliating

Regardless of what makeup you apply on your skin, having dry patches and uneven skin texture will detract from the smoothness of your complexion. To address these concerns, exfoliating is key.

What should I apply before applying foundation?

  1. Step 1: Moisturizer. Before you begin applying your makeup, take the time to prep your skin with a high-quality moisturizer. ...
  2. Step 2: Primer. ...
  3. Step 3: Liquid Foundation. ...
  4. Step 4: Concealer. ...
  5. Step 5: Foundation Powder. ...
  6. Step 6: Bronzer. ...
  7. Step 7: Blush. ...
  8. Step 8: Highlighter.

How to prep skin before makeup reddit?

My PM skincare routine:
  1. If I was using SPF and/or makeup that day, I will use a cleansing balm/lotion to break down the SPF/makeup. ...
  2. Wash face with a face wash.
  3. Serums - I rotate vitamin c, hyaluronic acid and AHA. ...
  4. Eye cream.
  5. (If I feel dry or did a face mask, a face oil - rosehip or jojoba)
  6. Moisturiser.

What is the best makeup primer?

Our Top Picks
  • Best Overall: Smashbox Photo Finish Primerizer+ Hydrating Primer, $42.
  • Best Firming: Beautyblender Boost Firming & Smoothing Peptide Primer, $29.
  • Best Glowy: Armani Luminous Silk Hydrating Primer, $46.
  • Best Moisturizer: Merit Great Skin Priming Moisturizer, $38.

What do you spray on your face before applying makeup?

Makeup primer is used before makeup to create an even base for your products to lay on. Primers typically come in creams and gel form, but may sometimes come as a spray. On the flip side, makeup setting spray is used to lock in your look—it's a finishing touch.

Can I use moisturizer as primer?

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.

Which is better, primer or setting spray?

While some choose to use one or the other, we recommend thinking of primer as your makeup base coat and setting spray as the top coat. Primer creates a canvas for you to work with, while the setting spray locks all of that perfectly-applied makeup into place.

What's the best drugstore primer?

The Best Drugstore Primers
  • Makeup Artist Pick. e.l.f. Cosmetics Power Grip Primer. Read more.
  • Best for Dry Skin. NYX Plump Right Back Plumping Serum & Primer. Read more.
  • Best for Mature Skin. L'Oréal Paris Age Perfect Face Blurring Primer. Read more.

How to prep your skin for makeup?

How to prep skin for makeup
  1. Exfoliating. Evenly textured skin that's free from flakiness is key to a long-lasting makeup look, and exfoliating is a key way to achieve flawless texture. ...
  2. Toning. The next step in your skin prep for makeup should involve toners and essences. ...
  3. Face serum. ...
  4. Eye products. ...
  5. Moisturising. ...
  6. Priming.

What does setting spray do?

Setting spray is a beauty product that helps to improve makeup longevity and boost staying-power, so you can have makeup that looks 'just applied', all day long! Some setting sprays also work to prime your makeup and can be used as a multi-purpose product to create a hydrated, even-looking canvas.

How to stop makeup from creasing?

Pro Tips For Crease-Proof Makeup
  1. 1) Start with great skin. Using the right cream for your skin type hugely impacts the staying power of makeup. ...
  2. 2) Use powder products minimally. ...
  3. 3) Less is more when it comes to foundation. ...
  4. 4) Perfect with a concealer brush. ...
  5. 5) Blotting powder is your best friend.

What is the 60 second rule for face wash?

‍What is the 60-second cleansing rule? Washing your face for 60 seconds is vital for multiple reasons: Firstly, it permits sufficient time for the cleanser to effectively remove dirt, oil, and makeup from your skin. This is essential for preventing clogged pores and breakouts.

What is in the micellar water?

Micellar Water is essentially just water containing lots of these micelle clusters. They're pretty happy to hang around in the water, but when they meet other oils, just as they do when they're on a Reusable Pad being wiped over your face, they draw them up like a magnet.

What is double cleansing?

“Double cleansing means cleansing your face twice, first with an oil-based product and then followed by a water-based cleanser,” explains Dr. Wu. The first step of using an oil-based cleanser is helpful when it comes to removing waterproof makeup and sunscreen.

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