Today I wanted to share my Makeup Prep Skincare routine-Dewy Finish. Once I have a skincare routine that really works well for me, I tend to stick to it for quite a while. I believe skincare products need time to work, so I like to use something consistently before judging.
For example, my skin prep for makeup has been with the same products for most of the year, so I wanted to share some of my favorites for a dewy moisturized base. To begin I want to mention my skin type as this might be helpful; I typically have normal to dry skin.
I often get acne on occasion around that time of the month or if I’m not perfect at removing my makeup. Sometimes I get lazy if I’m up late and will use only a makeup wipe to remove makeup.
Now, since everyone’s skin is different with different skin concerns, my favorites may not be your favorites or work the same for you. However this is my routine for a dewy moisturized base before makeup
For my actual base makeup routine I’ll save that for another post, as that is always ever-changing product-wise, but I like to start with a moisturized base before my makeup application.
I find it really important that I drink plenty of water throughout the day, as I find this makes the biggest difference in my skin. Especially with my lips, I often get asked what I do to prep my lips for lipstick, and most of the time they are good to go if I stay hydrated. When I do need extra moisture I enjoy using the Glow Recipe Plum Plump Hyaluronic Acid Lip Gloss Balm.*
Cleanser
The first step in my routine is to start with clean skin. I like to give my face a quick wash with a gentle cleanser. Currently, I’ve been using the Wishful Get Clean 2% PHA & Sea Moss Gentle Foaming Cleanser*.
This is one of the most important steps for me because I want to make sure I remove any excess skincare from the night before or sweat and oil. This one is pretty gentle and doesn’t leave my face feeling tight and dry afterwards. However I’m not super picky with this step as long as the product isn’t to drying.
Here’s how I do it: I first splash some lukewarm water onto my entire face, then apply a dime-sized amount of the product into my hand. Rubbing the product together in my hands and then gently massage it onto my face for about 20-30 seconds. After that, I rinse the product thoroughly off my skin and pat my skin dry with a towel.
I next apply the Paula’s Choice 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant* by applying a few drops into my hands and then patting it all over my face. Avoiding the eye area with this; you can also apply it with a cotton pad if you have some. I like to let this product have time to soak into the skin before moving on with my next step.
I really like how this product makes the texture of my skin look a little smoother. I’ve noticed it helps keep the pores on my nose looking smaller, as this is probably the biggest problem area on my face. I like to keep the texture of my skin as smooth as possible, as it makes for a nice, smooth base for makeup.
The product itself is a liquid exfoliant, so it’s supposed to remove dead skin cells and unclog pores instead of scrubbing at your face with a typical exfoliant. I will also apply this product at the end of the day if my skin feels congested, as a second step after cleansing my makeup off as well.
I would definitely test it slowly if you have sensitive skin just to see how you react. This product is a little on the pricey side if you get the full-size bottle but lasts quite a while for me; they do have a sample size to try though.
For the next step, I like to go in with a serum of some sort. I do often switch it up once in a while but will use the same item for a month or so. I’ll mention a few of my favorites.
First, what I’ve been using recently is the Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow Niacinamide Dew Drops*. I’ll apply one pump of this all over my face with my fingers. It gives such a healthy glow to the face and provides a nice dewy finish under makeup.
It’s really hydrating, which helps when applying multiple step makeup routines, as some powder products can dry me out if my base wasn’t moisturizing enough. The texture is a little on the thicker side, but it does soak into the skin, so make sure to give every step some time to soak in.
Another serum I like as a second step is the Givenchy Skin Perfecto Serum*. This one is on the pricey side, but I really enjoy it. It’s very lightweight and hydrating. This serum keeps my skin feeling hydrated all day. I go in with one pump of this and gently apply it all over my face.
The last serum I like is the Clarins Double Serum Light Anti-Aging Serum*. It’s another product that hydrates with skin-caring ingredients. This one is pricey too but I really love it, it lasts a while since you only need a little bit for your whole face. I prefer the regular double serum in my night routine, but this light-textured one works better for me in my makeup prep routine. It hydrates and gives a beautiful, glowy radiance.
I’ll often go in with an eye cream if my eye area needs a little extra hydrating; otherwise, I just bring my serum and moisturizer up around the eyes to hydrate. I mostly apply my eye cream products in my nighttime routine.
There are a couple of eye creams I like applying on those dry days. The first is the Bobbi Brown Vitamin Enriched Eye Cream*, which works wonderfully. It hydrates and plumps up the skin, which I find important for a smooth under-eye look. It’s a lightweight eye cream formula and absorbs fairly quickly, which is a plus if you’re going to be applying makeup.
Another eye product I like that pairs well with the double serum is the Clarins Double Serum Under Eye* product. This product is on the thicker side but feels so nice around the eyes. I find a hydrated under-eye area makes the concealer look so good and skin-like versus cakey and dry. Applying one small pump to my ring finger, divide it evenly, and apply it to my upper and lower eye contour.
Once my serum has soaked in I like going in with a moisturizer, I’ve been using this one and this one only for months. Keep in mind I like a super hydrated dewy skincare routine, and this one has a super dewy finish, the Glow Recipe Plum Plump moisturizer*. This gives my skin a super hydrated plump appearance and I just love that for under my foundation. I apply a dime size amount and divide it up onto my face and blend into my face with my fingers, I let this soak in a bit before my last step.
Last but not least and super important in my skincare routine is sun screen, which I’m pretty picky with. I think I might have an allergy to a certain ingredient in some sunscreens as many of them break me out in a rash on my cheeks and feels hot on my face. So I have tried quite a few that just didn’t work well for my skin so I’ve been on a search for an awesome one. Along my journey to find one that works with my skin, I noticed some sunscreens will cause pilling when you go in with makeup, or even without makeup they start to.
However I have found my new favorite and have been using it for about a year and half now? I’m onto my second bottle and it’s the Kinship Self Reflect Probiotic moisturizing sunscreen with SPF 32, so sunscreen with skincare in it. This works awesome under my makeup and doesn’t effect the texture at all for me, it does leave a dewy glow on the skin but you might have noticed in my routine those are the types of products I gravitate towards anyways. It has a little bit of a white cast I’ve noticed but if applying under makeup not that big of a deal.
I apply a thick quarter sized amount of this to my face and neck and blend into the skin and apply the excess to the backs of my hands. If anyone else has the same issues finding sunscreens let me know what you like using in the comments. Just like all the other steps as well make sure you give the sunscreen enough time to soak into the skin before going in the foundation.
That is my entire skincare prep routine before going in with makeup, however once in a while I’ll throw in some extra steps if needed. For example I sometimes will have a puffy face in the morning so I’ll go in with a gua sha or a jade roller to get the blood circulating in my face, doing so with a serum so I’m not pulling at the skin. I’ll also go in with a lip scrub if I have dry lips that day, a couple I like are the Kaja Beauty Pina colada scrub or the lip scrubs from colourpop.
I really do think well-prepped skin makes such a different in the application of foundation. I will create a night time skincare routine post soon as well. Thank you for stopping by my Makeup Prep Skincare routine-Dewy Finish post! Another post you might enjoy next is this soft fall themed eyeshadow look.
