Alright, babes… let’s talk Pre-Makeup Skincare, because, trust me—you can’t just slap on your foundation and hope for the best. Your makeup will only look as good as your skin does underneath, so let’s get that glow going before we even think about anything with pigment, right? 💁♀️✨
Maximum glowage and a flawless face start with what you do before picking up your brushes. You wouldn’t make a sandwich without buttering the bread first, right? Makeup is basically that sandwich. You’ve gotta butter up your face with the best skincare layers, so everything lays smooth and STAYS smooth.
Your skin is like, “Feed me, Seymour!” before you throw on any makeup. Skincare before makeup isn’t just about hydration—it’s about giving your skin what it literally needs to get through the day while looking 🔥 AF. If you wanna avoid cakey makeup and, like, that dreaded flaky foundation situation, stick with me, ‘cause I’ve got you covered. Ready to find out what to put on your face before makeup? Let’s gooo!
Step 1: CLEANSE BABES, CLEANSE!
Yesss, I know this sounds basic, but listen up. Cleansing is like the first commandment of makeup prep. You gotta make sure you start with a fresh, clean canvas. When I say clean, I mean getting all the dirt, old makeup, oils, tears from binge-watching Netflix (hey, no judgment)… every bit of it. Nobody wants to apply primer on top of yesterday’s mascara smudges, okay?
Grab a cleanser that works for your skin type, and make it count. If you’ve got oily skin, something gel-based or a foaming cleanser can help. If your skin’s more boujee and delicate (like mine, lol) a creamier, gentler option usually does the trick.
Just don’t overdo it; we don’t want dry, angry skin before foundation. Oh, and if you’re feeling fancy, toss in a double cleanse for that extra clean feeling. 😎
Step 2: TONE IT UP
Toners are having a moment, and if you’re not using one yet, where’ve you been?! A good toner balances out your skin, restores your pH, and gives it that lit-from-within glow right from the start. Thankfully, toners have totally matured from the ✨burny✨ acne days (RIP to our teen skin struggles). There are toners now that can hydrate, exfoliate, and even soothe redness.
Swipe it on with a cotton round or just pat it in with your hands if you’re feeling lazy (pro tip: the warmth of your hand helps the product absorb better).
Toning just sets the stage for everything else that’ll come, and you would NOT wanna skip setting the stage, would ya? Be the Beyoncé of your skincare—never let your prep be off-key.
Step 3: SERUM = YOUR SKIN’S BFF
Serums are the underrated queens in this saga. They’re super lightweight but HIGHLY concentrated with all the good stuff. Think of them as your secret weapon for snatching everyone’s wig once your skin hits the light. Want brightening or hydration? Acne-fighting or firming? There’s a serum for whatever your skin mood is today.
For me, I’m obsessed with a good vitamin C serum; it just wakes my skin up and makes everything 100 percent brighter. Also, pro-tip: Don’t forget nighttime prep matters too. Use a nice serum with niacinamide if you’re dealing with acne or blemishes. You’ll wake up in the A.M. and look hella fresh, promise.
Step 4: MOISTURIZE OR YOU’LL REGRET IT
So, if you’re skipping moisturizer, like, JUST DON’T. Even if you have oily skin—you still need to lock moisture in. It’s like—who wouldn’t wanna have soft and plump skin before laying down that makeup magic? 💧
If you’ve got oily skin, go with a lighter moisturizer or a gel-based formula; for my dry-skin fam, you’ll want something way thicker and creamier to really lock in that moisture. But either way, moisturize like it just saved your life. Like, already swiping that dewiness across your face while you’re reading this, right? Perfect.
Hydration is LIIIIIFE when it comes to makeup! A fully hydrated face is Peak Glow Vibes.
And yes, even if your foundation’s got some hydration components—it’s still NOT enough. Layer those products and give your skin the moisture marathon it deserves. 😘
Step 5: SPF AKA THE NON-NEGOTIABLE
Okay, if there’s one part of this whole routine that literally no one’s allowed to argue with—it’s sunscreen. YES, even if you’re inside on the couch squeezing in eight straight hours of browsing TikTok. UV rays don’t care where you are, and sunscreen is basically that one thing you need every day.
Here’s the tea: Sun damage equals early aging, wrinkles, and who even needs any of that? Honestly, SPF is Doctor Skin-Saver at this point. Just get one that plays nice underneath makeup. Some sunscreens are already so light and barely-there, they won’t mess with your base at all.
If you’re wearing makeup but not sunscreen, say goodbye to that flawless skin in the future—trust!
There are tinted and non-tinted options, but what’s important is you’re protected. So, get you some SPF at least 30+, and stop pretending your foundation or primer with SPF will carry you through the day—it won’t, sis. 😅
Step 6: PRIME TIME BABY!
Now for the fun part 👉 Primers are like that filter you use to smooth out your selfies, but IRL. One thing’s for sure—if you’re not using primers, you’re missing out on making your foundation sit like buttah. It legit blurs everything like magic, especially if you’ve got pores on pores or texture that likes to pop up for a cameo appearance. No thank you, texture—not today.
You’ve got a couple of different vibes you can work with here:
- Pore-filling primers will blur the heck outta those pores and give you the same smoothness as a Snapchat filter.
- Hydrating primers if you wanna keep the dewy momentum going.
- Mattifying primers ‘cause oily skin needs a boost too! Something like a mattifying primer helps keep the oils in check all day, especially if you’re struggling with that midday shine.
Primers also extend the life of your makeup big time. So basically, they’re the glue that holds everything together—why wouldn’t you do it??
BONUS TIPS: EXTRA PREP STUFF ONLY REAL ONES KNOW
Okayyyy, you’re really about that pre-makeup skincare life? Let me throw in some more mixer tips for my skincare-obsessed queens out there.
- Exfoliation: Once or twice a week, don’t forget to exfoliate, babes! Getting rid of dead skin is the ultimate glow hack, but don’t go nuts. Over-exfoliating is a rookie mistake. Invest in a gentle scrub or a toning exfoliant, and let your cells turn over like the queens they are.
- Face Mists: Spritz a face mist for extra hydration mid-prep or just before you get blending. Something with rose water or aloe will instantly perk up your skin, or try one with a little hyaluronic acid for some extra dew.
-
Eye Cream: They say eyes are the windows to the soul, but honestly, it’s also the first place your concealer can crease if you’re not careful. Use an eye cream to hydrate your under-eye area and keep things smooth and YOUNG. Get one with caffeine for an instant I-Sleep-For-Eight-Hours look (even if you only got four—you trickster, you).
And seriously… if stress and coffee have blessed you with some extra under-eye bags, an eye cream can really help with that puffiness, so keep one handy.
THE FINAL LOWDOWN: IT’S ABOUT THAT GLOW-UP 🌟
And there you have it!! After all this skincare prep, you best believe you’re ready for makeup that’s gonna SLAP. Your foundation will go on smooth, your skin will stay hydrated, and you’ll be shining brighter than your highlighter, BELIEVE it.
So get on it, sis! Skincare before makeup isn’t an extra step—it’s THE step. It locks everything in place, makes you glow from within (and yes, with makeup on top), and we’re all about making that makeup look flawless no matter how many selfies we take. Go forth and glow. And DM me when you’re radiating 💁♀️✨ I’m always here to hype you up!
PS: Don’t forget to hydrate IRL. But like, with water—not just moisturizer LOL.
