Get Celebrity-Worthy Glowing Skin: Master These Makeup Techniques for Dry Skin.
Whether you're opting for a minimal makeup look or experimenting with the latest TikTok trends, it's crucial to ensure that your dry skin doesn't hinder your makeup application. Even with the use of high-end cosmetics, makeup on dry skin can appear patchy if the products aren't specifically tailored to your skin type. When your skin lacks sufficient sebum production to keep it moisturized, it becomes essential to select skincare products that can provide external hydration.
Valerie Aparovich, a certified cosmetologist-aesthetician, biochemist, and Science Team Lead at OnSkin, explains that there are several reasons why skin can become excessively dry, including certain medical conditions, physiological imbalances, vitamin deficiencies, UV damage, an inappropriate skincare routine, the use of cosmetic products containing harsh ingredients, exposure to dry climates, and more. As a result, the skin becomes dehydrated, the integrity of the lipid barrier diminishes, defensive functions decrease, and issues like flakiness, peeling, irritation, and small cracks on the skin surface may occur. Therefore, makeup products designed for dry skin should not only conceal imperfections but also provide the necessary hydration to achieve a dewy and luminous finish.
How to Apply Makeup on Dry Skin
Have you ever noticed that your skin seems to age more quickly after applying makeup? This is a common issue, especially for those with dry skin. When foundation and concealer absorb the limited moisture from your skin, it can leave you with a pale, wrinkled appearance. One straightforward solution to this problem is to prepare your skin with hydrating products before beginning your daily makeup routine.
Here's a step-by-step guide to applying makeup for dry skin to ensure it lasts without cracking. But before we dive into the details, let's discuss how to prepare your skin before applying makeup.
Prepare Your Dry Skin for Makeup
Cleanse to Remove Dirt
Start your skincare routine with a gentle cleanser designed to remove dirt and pollution without stripping your skin of its natural oils. Before using any cleanser, it's essential to check its ingredients. Avoid cleansers containing harsh agents like sodium lauryl sulfate and sodium laureth sulfate, as they can be too abrasive, leading to oil depletion and skin dryness. Opt for healthier alternatives such as milder surfactants like lauryl glucoside, coco glucoside, and disodium cocoyl glutamate. Additionally, consider using cleansing foams as they tend to be gentler and provide better comfort to the skin compared to cleansing gels.
Gently Exfoliate to Remove Dead Skin
While some may caution against using a scrub on dry skin due to concerns of irritation and redness, a gentle exfoliation can actually help improve your skin's texture.
The safest exfoliation method for dry skin is using enzyme peels. They are mild, gentle, acid-free, and promote a gentle exfoliation without irritating the skin. Enzymes work well with warmth and moisture, so applying this peel while taking a bath and covering your face with a film can enhance its effectiveness.
Beauty experts suggest gentle exfoliation to attain a smooth base for flawless makeup application. Exfoliating helps eliminate the outer layer of dead skin that can cause your complexion to appear dull, fatigued, and older.
Moisturize Using a Toner
Hydrating toners effectively eliminate lingering dead skin cells while providing essential moisture to dry skin. Additionally, toners enhance the absorption of subsequent skincare products you apply.
Some of the most beneficial ingredients to look for in toners include aloe leaf extract, known for its excellent moisturizing and regenerative properties, pea extract, a potent antioxidant with hydrating abilities, and Echinacea angustifolia extract, which offers moisturization, rejuvenation, and anti-inflammatory benefits.
Apply Eye Cream Gently
This step is crucial to prevent your eye makeup from creasing or settling into fine lines. Eye creams maintain hydration in the eye area and help minimize the visibility of fine lines.
Moisturize
Choose a facial cream or moisturizer specifically formulated for dry skin. Opt for products with 24- to 48-hour hydration capabilities, and consider those containing Aloe Vera. This succulent plant is abundant in antioxidants, and its humectants help retain moisture in the skin. Pay extra attention to areas prone to flakiness, such as the cheeks and the corners of your mouth.
You can incorporate natural ingredients such as aloe vera gel (abundant in antioxidants and humectants that lock in moisture), collagen (which attracts and retains moisture while reducing transepidermal water loss), and shea butter (a soothing moisturizer that prevents water from evaporating from your skin).
Use Lip Balm
For beautiful lips, treat them to a quality lip balm. Before applying, gently exfoliate away dead skin using a lip sponge or brush designed for this purpose. Choose a lip balm with ingredients like beeswax or shea butter to instantly nourish and soften chapped lips.
8-Step Guide to Makeup for Dry Skin
Begin with Primer
Commence your makeup routine by applying a cream or gel-based primer. These products serve a dual purpose, providing a smooth canvas while sealing moisture into your dry skin. With this flawless foundation, you can confidently proceed with your makeup application without worrying about creasing.
Apply Foundation
Opt for a lightweight, hydrating foundation. Many skincare experts recommend a sheer foundation that provides a luminous effect, which is often more suitable for dry skin compared to a matte finish.
You can even forgo foundation and opt for a tinted moisturizer or a hydrating serum for your dry skin.
While applying foundation, use a soft, fluffy brush or a damp sponge to blend the product. This ensures even foundation distribution and prevents dry patches from becoming visible.
Concealing Dark Spots on Dry Skin
Avoid over-applying concealer to one area, as it can exacerbate dryness. To make flaky patches less noticeable, apply an extra layer of moisturizer and then gently conceal them.
Apply Cream Blush for a Dewy Flush
If you have dry skin, we highly recommend incorporating a cream blush into your makeup routine. These products seamlessly blend into your foundation, resulting in naturally rosy-hued cheeks.
Blush balms are an excellent choice for individuals with dry skin. Their creamy formula not only adds a flush of color to your cheeks but also moisturizes the drier areas, preventing them from being accentuated, which can sometimes happen with powder bronzers and blushes.
Opt for Cream Eyeshadow
Before applying cream eyeshadow, prep your eyelids with a touch of eyeshadow primer. This step enhances the longevity of your eyeshadow, preventing smudging throughout the day. When applying cream eyeshadow, use your fingertips for a seamless and smoother finish.
Enhance Your Features
Highlighters can work wonders on dry, lackluster skin, providing the perfect touch of radiance for a youthful, luminous look. Opt for a cream-based highlighter, as it seamlessly blends into the skin and maintains its glow without drying out.
For precise application, use a makeup sponge or your fingertips. Concentrate on the high points of your face, including the cheekbones, the bridge of your nose, and the cupid’s bow. Begin with a modest amount of product, blend it in, and add more if needed.
Opt for a Moisturizing Lipstick
These products work wonders when you want to transform your chapped lips into a picture-perfect, alluring pout. If you're on a tight budget, tinted lip balms can also do the job perfectly.
Lock in the Look with Setting Spray
To complete your dry skin makeup routine, use a setting spray that adds a dewy finish to your look. Many options on the market cater to dry skin, so choose one that suits your needs. Opt for a lightweight formula with natural moisturizers like seed oils and aloe vera gel for a hydrating effect.
Now that you're well-versed in the art of layering and applying makeup for dry skin, selecting the right products is essential. The market is filled with products claiming to be 'for dry skin,' which can be overwhelming. To help you navigate this, we've compiled some key considerations to remember when shopping for the ideal drugstore liquid makeup for your dry skin.
How to Select the Ideal Liquid Makeup for Dry Skin
Foundation
Select a sheer foundation with a creamy or oily base for a seamless, dewy finish.
When shopping for your foundation, seek out ingredients such as seed oils (argan, almond, jojoba), niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, vitamin E, glycerides, ceramides, and aloe vera.
Steer clear of foundations with shimmer particles, as they can settle on your skin and contribute to a dry, patchy appearance.
Avoid ingredients like toxic preservatives including methylchloroisothiazolinone, methylisothiazolinone, and phenoxyethanol, which can lead to skin and eye irritation and allergic reactions. Parabens are another group of harmful preservatives known to disrupt the endocrine system. Alcohols such as ethanol, alcohol denat, Sd alcohol 23A, and any alcohols labeled as 40А or 40С may contribute to skin dryness. Be cautious of allergenic fragrances like amyl cinnamal or anise alcohol. Formaldehyde releasers like Imidazolidinyl urea, methenamine, and polyoxymethylene urea are additional preservatives used in cosmetics that have the potential to cause allergies and pose a cancer risk.
Concealer
Choose a lightweight, hydrating formula with a creamy texture. When applying, use a brush to gently buff and blend the product over problem areas, avoiding the buildup of excess product in one spot.
Opt for a concealer that includes ingredients like peptides, glycerin, hyaluronic acid, shea butter, or other emollients, as these are well-suited for dry skin.
When shopping for drugstore concealers for dry skin, make sure the product is free from toxic and irritating preservatives, allergy-inducing fragrances, or alcohol.
Blush, Bronzer, Highlighter, and Eyeshadow
Choose cream- or oil-based products that blend seamlessly, lock in moisture, and leave your skin looking smooth.
Ensure the product includes hydrating ingredients such as vitamin E, glycerin, and hyaluronic acid.
Steer clear of products that contain alcohol, toxic preservatives, specific PEG compounds, mineral oil, and synthetic dyes.
Choose Lipstick with Care
Choose Moisturizing Lip Products Over Matte Lipsticks
Opt for Lip Products with Moisturizing Ingredients: Honey, Aloe Vera, Jojoba Oil, Avocado Oil, Beeswax, and Cocoa Butter
Avoid Lip Products with Harmful Preservatives, Synthetic Dyes, BHA, and Allergenic Fragrances.
Winter Makeup Guide for Dry Skin: Tips and Products for a Radiant Look
Winter poses a challenge for dry skin, often leading to makeup issues like creasing and cracking. Fortunately, you can achieve a radiant look during this season with the right products and techniques.
Here's a straightforward guide to perfecting your winter makeup.
Step 1: Begin with an Oil Cleanser
The choice of your cleanser can significantly influence your final makeup look. Opt for an oil cleanser as it effectively removes makeup, dirt, and sunscreen without disturbing your skin's natural oil balance. Instead, it leaves your skin feeling soft, nourished, and slightly oily in a beneficial way. Moreover, it helps maintain a healthy hydrolipidic barrier in your skin.
Step 2: Double Up on Moisturization
Heavy moisturizers often act as occlusives, creating a protective barrier on your skin's surface to prevent moisture loss. However, due to their thicker texture, they may not effectively penetrate deeper skin layers. To achieve optimal moisturization, start by applying a serum (typically packed with skin-enhancing ingredients) or a lightweight moisturizer. Then, seal in the moisture with a heavier moisturizer. This two-step process ensures deep hydration for your skin.
Step 3: Hydrate with a Cream or Gel-Based Primer
Use a hydrating primer featuring a cream or gel base. These primers not only establish a flawless foundation for your makeup but also offer an additional layer of moisture, safeguarding your foundation against dehydration.
Step 4: Opt for Tinted Moisturizer or Foundation Mix
If you have dehydrated skin, consider skipping traditional foundation and go for a tinted moisturizer or a CC cream. Alternatively, you can enhance your liquid foundation by adding a few drops of moisturizer, facial oil, or serum to it for added hydration and a more luminous finish.
Step 5: Choose Cream-Based Makeup Products
Opt for cream-based blushes, bronzers, highlighters, and lipsticks to achieve a natural and healthy glow. These products blend seamlessly with your skin, providing hydration and a radiant finish.
Step 6:
To complete the look, apply an illuminating setting mist for an extended makeup wear.
5 Tips for Ensuring Long-Lasting Makeup on Dry Skin
Apply a high-quality moisturizer before starting your makeup application.
Start with a quality moisturizing primer and finish with a hydrating setting spray.
Steer clear of heavy formulas and opt for cream-based products.
When applying makeup, utilize a moistened sponge. Refrain from rubbing the product into your skin; instead, softly pat it on.
Apply a face mist as needed, as it can provide an instant hydration boost, particularly during the warmer months. However, please note that spray mists have a high water content. When used on a cold winter day just before going outdoors, they may contribute to skin dryness by causing skin hypothermia.
Infographic: 5 Common Makeup Mistakes to Avoid for Dry Skin
Dryness, creasing, and flaking makeup can be common challenges faced by individuals with dry skin. Even if you've invested in high-quality beauty products for dry skin, simple errors in your makeup routine can hinder you from achieving a flawless finish. To simplify things for you, we've outlined in the infographic below 5 significant mistakes that you can correct to achieve that radiant and flawless makeup look.
Conclusion:
While we all aspire to achieve that perfect glass-like glow, dry skin can sometimes present a challenge. However, as you now know, this issue can be easily addressed with some pre-makeup preparation and thoughtful product choices. Makeup tends to crease on dry skin due to its lack of adequate hydration. Valerie suggests, 'Emollients can be a helpful solution for this condition. These active ingredients work to restore the protective functions of the epidermal barrier. They prevent moisture loss from the skin's surface, replenish essential substances, shield the skin from environmental stressors, and enhance its healing capabilities. Emollients also soften, soothe, and alleviate irritation and itching.
Be sure to prioritize added moisture throughout each stage of your makeup routine, such as choosing cream-based products, applying a moisturizer at the outset, and finishing with a hydrating setting spray. Combine these makeup tips with a nourishing skincare regimen to achieve soft, supple skin that's prepared for any makeup trend, any day.