How To Take Care Of Your Skin For A Great Makeup Look

Love putting on makeup? Then you should know this one important tip – flawless makeup starts with healthy, vibrant skin. Consider this: If you view makeup as art and a form of self-expression, that makes your skin your canvas. And as with a perfectly clean and fresh canvas, it only makes sense to make clear, healthy skin a good medium for your makeup looks.

In addition to supporting overall skin health, a good skin care routine has great extra benefits. Maintaining daily skin care unique to your specific concerns may help move you closer to your goal of seamless, effortless makeup application and beautiful skin — with or without makeup on.¹

Simply put, if you’re tired of constantly having to conceal dark circles, blemishes, and pigmentation, maybe it’s time to put more priority on taking good care of your skin. Soon, you might not have to fake glowing skin and find that you’ll be needing less and less makeup meant to hide imperfections. Read on for a simple guide to great skin care.

A Guide To Taking Care Of Your Skin

Regardless of your skin type, there are tried-and-tested approaches to caring for your body’s largest organ. Generally, you need to:

Cleanse your skin properly morning and night in order to remove dirt and bacteria
Nourish with serums, supplements, or creams
Hydrate with the right moisturizer
Protect it from the sun with the help of SPF^²

Of course, there’s a little more that goes into these facets of skin care. Here’s a comprehensive step-by-step guide if you’re starting skincare from scratch.

First, Talk To An Expert About Specific Skincare Issues

Some people might need a more intensive skin care routine guided by a doctor. Before trying out any new products or regimen, consult a dermatologist, especially if:

You have certain skin conditions such as severe blemishes or rosacea that may require specialized treatment;
You feel you have stubborn or severe recurring skin problems that need a more targeted approach³
You feel you have sensitive skin (more on this below).

Your chat with a skincare expert can also help you determine what formulations and ingredients may help benefit your skin’s current condition, whether you have dry or oily skin, or sensitive skin.⁴

Taking all of the above into consideration, here are some immediate steps you can take for better skincare.

Use A High Quality Facial Cleanser

As tempted as you may be to use any old bar of soap, your skin requires something much more gentle that is specifically formulated for the face area.

Ideally, you’ll want a balanced product that isn’t overly drying and irritating to the skin — or so rich that it leaves a filmy residue that might clog pores.⁵

Look for a cleansing product that can help remove makeup and the day’s dirt and pollution but won’t rob it of natural oils that keep your skin hydrated. And no matter what product you choose, make sure you rinse with warm water. Hot water may strip skin of natural oils that help keep it supple and moisturized.⁶

Invest In A Good Moisturizer For Day And Night

Moisturizer is an essential skincare staple. It works by helping to keep skin hydrated, resulting in a smoother, more supple, and glowing appearance. It may also help resolve dry skin that could be causing a less-than-flawless makeup application.⁷

After cleansing your face in the morning, apply a lightweight moisturizer with moisturizing ingredients like aloe vera. For night, opt for a rich moisturizing formulation that offers beneficial ingredients to help smooth fine lines and give the appearance of younger-looking skin.⁸

Protect With Sunscreen

If your moisturizer doesn’t contain SPF, make sure you layer on a separate sunscreen. Even if you’re staying indoors or during the winter time, don’t skip the SPF. UV exposure is the primary factor in skin damage that can make your skin look and feel older, drier, and rougher than it really is.⁹

Choose a mineral sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher for daily use.¹⁰

Eat A Healthy Diet To Get Good Skin From Inside Out

Taking care of your skin isn’t just about what you put on it, it’s about what you feed your body as well. Your diet directly affects your skin health. It’s important to choose foods rich in healthy fats, vitamins and minerals, and lean proteins, which all contribute to helping keep skin hydrated and youthful-looking.¹¹

Here’s a list of foods that may positively impact your skin’s health and appearance:

Fatty fish (like salmon, mackerel, and herring)
Avocados
Walnuts and sunflower seeds
Sweet potatoes
Bell peppers
Green tea¹²

Manage Your Stress Levels To Reveal Radiant Skin

Increased stress may take a toll on your body, and your skin is no exception. The release of hormones as a response to your stress levels may result in dull, tired-looking skin and dryness. Stress might even trigger flare-ups in your skin, causing blemishes or redness.¹³

Try to adopt some strategies to help you manage your stress more effectively and to hopefully help relax your tense facial muscles. Here are some ideas to try:

Take frequent breaks and go out for some fresh air.
Diffuse essential oils to help you relax and recharge.
Get adequate sleep.
Exercise often to have an outlet for your stress.¹⁴

Get Great Skin For Stress-Free Makeup Application

If you truly enjoy putting on makeup, it can be frustrating when your skin’s condition undermines the look you’re going for. It’s more than enough motivation to take better care of your skin.

You might even find that the better your skin gets, the less makeup you need to layer on. Now you can perfect that “no-makeup” makeup look — because you barely need to have any on.

Learn More:
Necessity Or Luxury? What Is A Skin Care Fridge And How Is It Used?
How To Make Time For Self Care: Your Cheatsheet
Stress And Skin: Can Stress Cause Itching And Other Skin Problems?

Sources
1 https://www.self.com/story/guide-to-skin-care
2 https://www.self.com/story/basic-skin-care-routine
3 https://www.self.com/story/guide-to-skin-care
4 https://www.allure.com/story/what-is-sensitive-skin
5 https://theskincareedit.com/2016/02/03/how-to-choose-the-right-cleanser-for-your-skin
6 https://www.nm.org/healthbeat/healthy-tips/do-you-really-need-a-skin-care-routine
7 https://www.everydayhealth.com/skin-and-beauty/skin-care-101/get-a-good-moisturizer.aspx
8 https://www.everydayhealth.com/skin-and-beauty/skin-care-101/get-a-good-moisturizer.aspx
9 https://www.nm.org/healthbeat/healthy-tips/do-you-really-need-a-skin-care-routine
10 https://www.aad.org/public/everyday-care/sun-protection/sunscreen/how-to-select-sunscreen
11 https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/12-foods-for-healthy-skin#1.-Fatty-fish
12 https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/12-foods-for-healthy-skin#1.-Fatty-fish
13 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4082169/
14 https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/publications/how-manage-and-reduce-stress