People wear makeup for a lot of reasons. It’s a way to express yourself. It highlights certain facial features. It can boost confidence. No matter the reason, you likely apply makeup with a few goals in mind. If you deal with discoloration, one of those may be to even out your skin.
Unfortunately, knowing how to make that a reality is harder than it seems. Makeup products, application techniques, and best practices all influence how your makeup looks and wears. So, learning the best approach for long-lasting, high-coverage makeup is important. Here are a few tips to try out.
Combat Discoloration With Color Correction
When trying to cover discoloration or melasma, you may go straight to foundation and concealer that match your skin. While that will mostly cover hyperpigmentation, some spots may still show through. If you’re hoping to target uneven skin tone at the base level, color correction is a great option. When used correctly, you may even end up using less foundation and concealer when all is said and done.
Start by analyzing your skin to identify the discoloration you’re dealing with. If you’re dealing with dark purple under eye circles or blue-tinted melasma, you can use a salmon-colored product. For redness, a green or yellow-colored product will do the trick. This works because it’s based on the color wheel. If you determine the color of the blemish you’re trying to conceal, the complementary color on the opposite side will cancel it out.
After you’ve identified the correct color, you’re ready to begin application. Ensure your skin care and primer are already on. From there, you can target the areas that need neutralizing. Use only as much product as you need to have a light layer that reduces the appearance of your discoloration. After that, you’re ready to move on to the rest of your makeup like normal.
Conceal Away With Buildable Coverage
When you have an uneven skin tone, you may naturally gravitate toward high-coverage products. A heavy-duty foundation can conceal everything, but it can also feel heavy on your skin. Luckily, it’s not your only option. Choosing buildable face products may actually be the better choice.
After you’ve primed and color-corrected, your skin is ready for foundation and concealer. But if you simply apply it all over your face in one layer, it can look unnatural. Instead, find a product with a bit less coverage that can be layered on top of itself to create your perfect level of coverage.
You’ll still get the even skin tone you’re after, but you’ll avoid some of the downsides of thick foundation. Then, if you want or need more coverage in smaller areas, you can reach for a higher-coverage concealer. This spot coverage approach reduces the likelihood of your makeup creasing and can help your look last all day.
Ace Application With a Dense Brush
How you apply your makeup is equally as important as the products you’re applying. Each tool and technique offers its own unique application. That includes how much coverage you get. So, choosing the right options for you is key.
When dealing with discoloration and pigmented melasma, dense face brushes made with synthetic bristles should be your go-to. They easily pick up the foundation in one fell swoop without absorbing it, which avoids makeup waste. Then, it’s easy for your foundation to transfer from the brush to your face.
From there, you can blend with the brush until you don’t have brush strokes and are pleased with the application. You can also follow up with a damp makeup sponge to ensure it’s even and pick up excess product. Repeat this process until you’ve reached a result you’re happy with. In the end, you’ll maintain the maximum coverage without wasting product or appearing cakey.
Lock-in Your Look With Pressed Powder
Naturally, your foundation and concealer are the stars of the show because they provide the base of your makeup. That may mean your setting powder is an afterthought. However, choosing the right powder formula can boost your coverage and help you achieve your desired appearance.
After your foundation and concealer are on, you’re ready for powder. And while a loose powder with a big fluffy brush can get the job done, it’s not the best bet for maintaining coverage. Loose powder is typically finely milled and therefore tends to spread out on the face. When paired with a fluffy brush, you’re lightly coating your face in a layer of powder. That’s great for oily skin, but it won’t improve the coverage you get out of your makeup.
Pressed powder, on the other hand, has the opposite effect. It’s typically denser and you can get more coverage from it if it’s tinted. So, find a pressed powder that matches the rest of your makeup. Then, take a dense brush or puff and apply it by pressing the product into your skin. This will prevent makeup from moving, and you’ll have a longer-lasting, higher-coverage finish.
Melasma, who?
Having melasma and other skin discoloration is a normal part of life. That, however, doesn’t mean you have to accept it as fate. Using the right products with strategic application methods can ensure you have makeup you love. And that is well worth the effort.
