Easy Everyday Makeup Looks
A Simple Morning Skincare Routine Before Makeup
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Makeup sits better on skin that is clean, comfortable and protected. A short routine before you start can do more for how your face looks at noon than an extra product in your makeup bag. This guide covers four steps that fit into a busy workday morning, with the order that keeps everything from pilling or sliding.
None of this needs a long shelf of products. You need a cleanser, a moisturizer, a sunscreen and, if you want one, a single targeted serum. Everything else is optional.
Step one: cleanse gently
Start with a gentle face wash that does not leave your skin feeling tight. Use lukewarm water, since very hot water can leave skin dry and irritated. Massage the cleanser on with your fingertips, rinse well, and pat your face dry with a clean towel instead of rubbing.
If you wore little or no makeup the night before and your skin feels fine, a splash of water in the morning can be enough. The goal is a clean surface, not squeaky skin. A face that feels stripped usually gets worse through the day, and makeup clings to dry patches.
Step two: moisturize while skin is slightly damp
Apply a moisturizer within a minute or two of drying your face, while the skin still feels a little damp. A lightweight lotion or gel cream works well under makeup because it absorbs quickly and does not leave a slick layer. If your skin runs dry, choose a richer cream and use a little less of it.
Spread it in thin layers rather than one heavy coat. Pay attention to the areas where makeup tends to cling, such as around the nose and the corners of the mouth. Give the moisturizer a few minutes to settle. If your face still feels wet or sticky when you reach for foundation or tint, wait a little longer, or you will see streaks.
Step three: sunscreen is the step that counts
If you do only one thing in this routine, make it sunscreen. The American Academy of Dermatology recommends a broad-spectrum, water-resistant sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher on all skin that is not covered by clothing. Broad-spectrum means it protects against both UVA and UVB rays.
Apply it before you go outdoors, and give it about 15 minutes to settle before sun exposure. When you are outside, the usual advice is to reapply about every two hours, and right after swimming or sweating. A makeup day is no exception, which is why many people keep a powder or stick sunscreen in a desk drawer for the midday top up.
A tinted sunscreen that contains iron oxide can also help protect against dark spots, according to the AAD, and it doubles as a light base if you like a skin tint look. If you wear a skin tint, check that it does not replace your sunscreen unless it states an SPF and you apply enough of it.
Step four: wait, then start your makeup
The most common reason makeup pills or slides is applying it too soon. After sunscreen, wait a few minutes. Touch your face with a clean fingertip. If it feels tacky, give it another minute. Then apply your tint, concealer and cream color with fingers or a damp sponge, which blend easily over a moisturized surface.
If you use a primer, apply it after sunscreen and keep it thin. Primers are optional, and many people find a good moisturizer does the same job.
Where a serum fits
A serum is a lightweight product with a targeted purpose, and it goes after cleansing and before moisturizer. Some people use one to address fine lines, dullness or dryness. It is an optional step, and there is no need to add several. Pick one, use it for a few weeks, and see whether you notice a difference before you add anything else.
Introduce one new product at a time. If you add three at once and your skin reacts, you will not know which one caused it. Test a new product on a small area, such as the inside of your wrist or behind an ear, before you put it on your face. Stop using anything that stings or leaves your skin red.
Adjust the routine to your skin
Oily skin usually does best with a gel or lotion moisturizer and a sunscreen labelled lightweight or oil free. Dry skin prefers a cream and a gentle, creamy cleanser. If your skin is sensitive, choose products without added fragrance and keep the list short, so a reaction is easy to trace. Combination skin can use a light lotion everywhere and a little extra on the dry patches.
Common mistakes to skip
- Skipping sunscreen on cloudy days or when you work mostly indoors near a window.
- Rubbing sunscreen in so thinly that it gives little protection. Cover the whole face, including ears and the sides of the neck.
- Applying makeup the instant moisturizer goes on.
- Changing three products in one week.
Keep it to five minutes
Lay out your products in the order you use them, near the sink or mirror. Cleanse, moisturize, sunscreen, wait, then makeup. If time is short, keep the moisturizer and sunscreen and skip the rest. A short routine you do every day will do more for your skin than an elaborate one you drop after a week.
What you'll need
- A gentle cleanser
- A lightweight moisturizer
- A broad-spectrum sunscreen, SPF 30 or higher, water resistant
- A clean towel
- Optional: one targeted serum
- Optional: a powder or stick sunscreen for midday