What to Use Before Makeup?

Okay besties, let’s get real—what’s the actual tea on what to use before makeup?! I think we all know that perfect makeup doesn’t start with brushes or sponges. Nope! It starts waaay before that with skincare. Yep, you heard me: that glowy, flawless face beat begins with what you’re putting on your skin before anything else even touches your face.

Prepping your skin is literally like the most important step if you want your makeup to blend, stay in place, and look bomb all day. Trust me, I’ve skipped on skincare before when I was younger (ya know, thinking that it wasn’t necessary), and wow…BIG mistake. My makeup used to get greasy or melt off! It’s what I like to call a “makeup meltdown moment”. Don’t worry though—I’m telling you how to avoid that so you can be a baddie without stressing.

So without further ado, let’s talk about the skincare steps and products you HAVE to know and use if you wanna slay that makeup game.

Step 1: Clean That Gorgeous Face! (Yes, Even in the AM)

Look, I don’t care how late you stayed up watching TikToks or if you think your face is clean from sleeping, you still GOTTA wash your face before makeup. If there’s any leftover oils, dirt, or yesterday’s skincare sitting on your face, it’s going to ruin your look. Like…why put a masterpiece on a dirty canvas? We’re smarter than that 😏.

AM Cleanser Options:
– If you’ve got normal to dry skin, go for a gentle, hydrating cleanser like CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser. It’s a safe choice if you don’t wanna feel like your skin got sucked into a black hole of dryness.
– Oily skin fam, you can use something a little stronger, like Youth To The People Superfood Cleanser. It gives you that deep clean but isn’t too harsh.

Now with clean skin, your pores are ready to party 🙌🏼.

Step 2: Toner—The Glowing Hero You Didn’t Know You Needed

Alright, let’s talk toner. Some people skip this step, but I’m telling you—you don’t want to be that person. Toners are kinda like the reset button for your skin. It balances out your skin’s pH and keeps it happy. Plus, it makes sure every last trace of dirt or makeup is gone from your face. We’re talking next-level clean.

Get a toner that vibes with your skin type:
– If your skin feels dry or uneven, opt for a hydrating toner like Thayers Rose Petal Witch Hazel (classic and it smells amazing).
– If you’re more combo or oily, go for something with witch hazel or salicylic acid like Pixi Glow Tonic to keep the shine in check and gently exfoliate.

Apply it with a cotton round and swipe that across your face—don’t be shy! No need to rinse it off after; just let it dry.

Step 3: Serum—Your Secret Weapon for Snatched Skin

Y’all, if you’re still not using a serum, you’re playing yourself. Serums are like the holy grail of skincare. They’re super concentrated with ingredients that can give your skin powers like hydration, brightness, and smoothness. Basically, they target what you want your skin to improve. Depending on your skin concerns, you’ll wanna pick one that handles specific issues.

Here are some common skin goals and what serum you should grab:

Once you’ve found your soulmate serum, apply a few drops all over your face, and gently press it in. Don’t forget your neck! That needs love too.

Step 4: Moisturizer—The MVP of Prep

Yes, even if you have oily skin, you still need a moisturizer. I hear so many peeps say, “But my skin gets oily, won’t moisturizer make it worse?” Nope. Actually, if you skip the moisturizer, your face goes into overdrive trying to make more oil. Instead, give it a moisturizer that balances you out.

What type of moisturizer should you use?

• Dry skin queens, go for a thicker cream like Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel or CeraVe Moisturizing Cream—these will give you a hydration bomb 💧.
• Oily skin fam, reach for a lighter water-based moisturizer like Neutrogena Hydro Boost Gel Cream or La Roche-Posay Effaclar Mat. They won’t add extra clog to your pores.
• Combo skin peeps, it might take a little experimentation, but most combo skin types love Cetaphil Daily Hydrating Lotion. It hydrates without being too much.

Give your moisturizer a couple of minutes to get comfy on your skin before moving on to the next step, mmkay?

Hydration is key. Even oily skin needs moisture so don’t forget this step!

Step 5: Sunscreen—Because Sun Damage Ain’t Cute

Okayyyy, let’s get real: you may think you don’t need sunscreen if you’re staying indoors all day. But guess what? Even the lights in your house and the glow from your screen can mess with your skin (UV rays are sneaky like that). Plus, sun protection is like the ultimate anti-aging hack. No one’s trying to look 5 years older from not using SPF—so don’t skip this!!!

Grab a broad-spectrum SPF 30 or more. 👇🏼 Some of my faves:
– Supergoop! Unseen Sunscreen SPF 40—it doesn’t leave any weird white cast.
– CeraVe Hydrating Mineral Sunscreen SPF 30 is also great if you’re into something more hydrating with natural ingredients.

Apply about a nickel-sized amount all over your face & neck. Yes, that’s more than you think, especially for sunscreen—but trust. Pat it in and let it absorb, then wait a bit before putting on any makeup.

Sunscreen is your everyday protection plan; use it like armor for your face!

Step 6: The Cherry on Top—Primer!

I KNOW we technically said “skincare,” but lemme just sneak this in here because it’s too important not to mention. Primer is like…a ~magical~ barrier that keeps your makeup from sliding off. Plus, it gives your skin that smooth, filtered look even IRL. It really ties everything together.

Pick one that makes sense for the makeup vibe you’re going for:
– If you want a glowy look, use a moisturizing or glow primer like Elf Luminous Putty Primer or Milk Makeup Hydro Grip Primer.
– If you want a matte finish (so no breakouts or oily spots), stick to mattifying primers like Smashbox Oil & Shine Control Primer.

Primer is the last stop before makeup, and it might just save your whole look from becoming a greasy mess halfway through the day.

Quick Recap: Order of Steps

Let me break it down again for you real quick, ‘cause I know that was a lot of info.

1. Cleanser – Get rid of oils and dirt from your face.
2. Toner – Balance your skin’s pH and prep it for the next steps.
3. Serum – Target specific skin issues (hydration, brightening, etc.).
4. Moisturizer – Hydrate and nurture your skin.
5. Sunscreen – Don’t skip this. Protect your face from UV/sun damage.
6. Primer – Smooth and prep your skin for makeup.

Bonus Tip: When to Do Your Pre-Makeup Skincare

Okay, not gonna lie—you don’t wanna rush through this whole routine 2 minutes before slapping on your makeup. Ideally, give your skin a full five minutes to drink all of this liquid magic in. Your skin needs time to soak it up (yes, even the serums). If you’re getting ready for a big event, start your skincare earlier, like after brushing your teeth or having some coffee or whatever.

And that’s basically it, babes! Now you’re ready to have the skin under your makeup look as snatched as the beat on top. Go forth with your bomb skincare routine and make every makeup day a SLAYday 🫶! Trust me, your makeup will go on smoother, last longer, and just look better with a good pre-makeup skincare base. Go forth and GLOW! 💄✨