Glowy and Flawless Skin with Minimal Makeup Coverage? Here’s What You Need to Know to Achieve it
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Time to read 5 min
It's easy to associate smooth, flawless skin with piling up layers of makeup in hopes of covering every flaw we can find. If you're also one of those who carry out this type of technique, then you may have already figured that this beauty quest only ends with your skin looking cakier and blotchier than ever! It's 2024 and minimal makeup is IN — we are no longer going to be trapped in this loop of makeup mishaps!
But to be fair, there are still a lot of people who rely solely on the amount of makeup to achieve full coverage, especially when they suffer more obvious skin troubles. Believe me, I have been there when I was struggling with severe acne and had to cover it all up with makeup to give my self-confidence a lift. Only to discover that the wrong technique will only make my skin imperfections even more obvious.
So, after countless research, YouTube videos, and trial-and-error runs, here are some things that you may have probably overlooked during your face makeup routine. Knowing this stuff will definitely change your makeup game — no looking back ever again!
Never Skip Skincare Prep
Master the Magic of Spot Concealing
Feel that Second Skin with Lightweight Foundation
Use a Sponge or a Dense Brush
Don't Forget to Set Your Makeup
Video Tutorial: Minimal Makeup Look
Here's a quick video I found that can also serve as a quick visual guide on the proper techniques of base makeup application. It's with celebrity makeup artist, Mary Greenwell.
Never Skip the Skincare Prep
We all know that skincare is very important, but apart from the goal of bringing our skin to its healthiest state, skincare is also an essential part of the makeup prep. This is to ensure that you get the best out of your makeup products. Think of this as starting off with a clean canvas — every shade would have a richer payoff and they’ll adhere closer to your skin.
- Hydrate: Use a lightweight moisturizer for your makeup prep as this will allow your skin to fully “cooperate”. Picture it as a way to condition your skin by smoothing out any dry patches that can potentially affect the finish of your foundation or concealer. Also, just remember to not over-moisturize as if you’re doing it for your night skincare routine because those are two totally different things. One lightweight moisturizer should suffice for this step.
- Prime: The essence of a primer in achieving glowy and flawless makeup is pretty much self-explanatory — to create a silky smooth base for your foundation. But the real key here is to get one that's tailored to your skin type. Look for a mattifying primer if you've got oily to combination skin, and a hydrating primer if you've got dry skin.
Master the Magic of Spot Concealing
Back in around 2013, when the beauty scene was yet to be as colossal as it is today, I had the chance to attend exclusive makeup classes from professional Korean makeup artists and I was so in awe of how they make light dabs of concealer look so flawless — one proof that it’s not really about the amount you use, but the technique you apply. This is when I learned the art of spot-concealing.
Spot concealing involves applying just a small amount of fully pigmented concealer right onto where exactly the blemishes or dark spots are using a precision tool. This technique is mainly about targeted coverage to ensure that only the areas that need extra attention are concealed. This leaves the rest of the skin looking natural and radiant.
The importance of blending the edges out is quite crucial in spot concealing because this will allow for flawless camouflage. So to master the magic of spot concealing, you need a blendable high-coverage concealer that matches your skin tone and a high-quality brush or sponge applicator tool.
Feel that Second Skin with Lightweight Foundation
If your only concern is a couple of acne spots or blemishes, then you can already stop at spot-concealing. But if you need a wider area to cover, say you’ve got redness, uneven skin tone, or dull skin, you’ll need the help of a foundation. But this time, we’ll skip that thick and heavy full-coverage foundation and choose a lighter formula instead.
Lightweight foundations don’t necessarily mean that they have sheer coverage. Many types of foundation offer medium to full coverage while having a lightweight formula that allows the skin to breathe. They utilize pigments using advanced technology to deliver great coverage without feeling too heavy — no need to add several layers just to achieve full coverage!
Use a Sponge or a Dense Brush
Without a doubt, using the proper tools makes a whole world of difference in terms of makeup application. A dense brush applicator melts the product into the skin and buffs it, resulting in an airbrushed finish. A premium quality sponge does the same, but this gives you another option of using it damp for a more luminous finish.
These types of makeup tools, along with the proper application technique, make your face makeup products more efficient as they allow for better control over product distribution. This not only saves the product but also prevents the makeup from looking streaky or cakey on your skin.
Don’t Forget to Set Your Makeup
Seal the deal — always, ALWAYS, set your makeup. After perfecting your base and achieving that coverage you want, you’d want to lock all that goodness in! Setting your makeup brings all the face makeup products together and boosts its longevity. The setting involves two essential steps.
- Finishing/Setting Powder: Setting your makeup with finely sifted powder is not merely a final step but is also a transformative step that can affect your overall look. The key is to lightly dust the powder on the areas prone to shine first, then the remaining powder on the brush on the rest of your face. Give it a light swirl to blend everything seamlessly and this will give your skin a nice, natural veil that'll last for hours.
- Setting Spray: This will serve as the final touch as it acts as a sealant that will prevent your entire makeup, most specifically foundation and concealer from smudging and fading. There are a wide variety of excellent makeup setting sprays out there and you can opt for those that match your personal preference. Some are formulated to mattify and some offer a dewy finish.
The Wrap Up
This is the time to break free from layering piles and piles of makeup just to appear flawless and blemish-free! Achieving glowy and flawless skin only takes a minimalist approach — it’s simple, efficient, and saves you a lot of makeup products, too. It really just all goes down to the right choice of products and proper execution of makeup application technique.
Andrea Centeno
Andrea is a writer and editor working in the field of beauty, fashion, and lifestyle for more than 10 years now. In the small gaps between her career as a writer, she styles and curates clothes for personal fashion clients, teaches young kids English during school breaks, and sits down in her mini craft corner to create jewelry pieces. She also has a small online space at shimmerjjang.com where she randomly talks about her favorite lipsticks and eyeshadows, solo travels, and unending skincare journey.
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