Make Your Makeup Last

Health/Beauty Articles

Make Your Makeup Last

When you take your time to put on your makeup in the morning, the longer it lasts before you have to duck into the bathroom to fix it up, the better. At school, you have too many things to worry about as it is without adding the state of your face to the list. Here are a few tips that will help you spend less time on your face - and money on the makeup you use to re-apply!

Your Cheeks

Exfoliate! Those scrubs with little tiny beads that feel like grains of sand work wonders for your skin, scrubbing your skin clean so that your makeup has a smooth, even, surface to start with.
Moisture is essential. Dry skin is flaky, which makes your makeup flake up. Use lotion daily that is light, oil free, and has an SPF of at least 15 to keep your skin hydrated.
Cream, silicone based foundations last longer than liquid. Blot it on with a sponge instead of wiping it on and only use it in the spots that you really need it.
With blush, powders are better than creams but a gel cheek tint is the longest lasting of all.

Your Eyes

Prepare your eyelids before you apply your eye shadow with the thinnest layer of foundation. Not only will your eye shadow last longer, but it won't crease either.
Powder shadows last longer than creams. Use a neutral color from your lashes to your eyebrow bone, apply liner, and then apply your eye shadow color of choice (another shade of neutral if you choose).
Use eyeliner with a smudger so that if your eyeliner smudges throughout the day it will look more natural.
Waterproof mascara will last longer than regular. Apply two coats, allowing the first to dry before applying the second. If flaking is a problem, use an eyelash primer first.

Your Lips

Exfoliate your lips, too. You can use your toothbrush when you're brushing your teeth or a specialty product made exclusively for that purpose.
Layer foundation beneath your lipstick.
Use a neutral lip liner to outline and fill in both lips.
Use one layer of lipstick and blot.
Tinted lip gloss on top of lipstick lasts longer, adds shine, and makes touch ups easier.
Matte colors are longer lasting than cream or gloss.

Your Nails
Before you polish your nails, clean and dry them thoroughly and apply a base coat. When your done, add a top coat to seal it in.
If you paint more than one layer of polish, make sure they're thin as they resist chipping longer than thick coats.

When You're Finished…

Spritz a cool toner over your face (hold it far away from your face for the lightest sprinkle) and use a big makeup brush or a powder puff to lightly dust your face with a translucent powder. This helps you ‘set' your makeup and gives you a little sparkle and glow to finish out your look.

Recommended Products

These are just a few products that are built to last. Using them won't guarantee that you won't need to touch up throughout the day, but using these together and layering your makeup in thin coats will keep you looking fresh and natural.