Festive Makeup Picks: The Flawless Base #DitsyDecember

 

Today I start a brand new 'series-in-a-series' on Dainty Ditsy called 'Festive Makeup Picks'. Basically, for three days of #DitsyDecember I'll be focusing on makeup for the festive season. Whether it's the flawless base, classic smokey eye or a killer bold lip - I've got you covered. I'll be talking you through how I go about achieving the 'pick' through the techniques and processes I use and some products I employ.

So, let's get started with today's look - the flawless base...

 

1. Firstly you want to make sure you moisturise your skin, so that anything you apply to it applies as well as it can. If you apply makeup to a dry and dehydrated face - you can't expect good results! You also may want to prime the skin (my personal favourite is Benefit's POREfessional). This I find to be an essential step for achieving that flawless finish, helping everything apply better and stay on longer. I find a little goes a long way, as sometimes applying too much can actually have an adverse effect and in fact make your slap more likely to slip off!
2. Then you want to 'colour correct'. By this I mean applying other colours to areas of the skin which are over-pigmented with unwanted tones such as red, purple and yellow. To do this I like to use my MUA Pro Base Colour and Correct Palette and apply each shade accordingly. I also like to use the lighter peach colours to highlight my facial structure and make certain areas more prominent for contouring later.
3. Next comes the big part - foundation. This is the stage at which most people would usually begin their facial makeup though it actually comes later for that flawless finish. Of course foundation is very much a personal preference and everyone will have their own favourites so of course choose what you want here. The key thing I suggest is application. I personally am a big advocate of using brushes in your makeup routine, as I feel you can get the best effect, whatever it is you desire - light or heavy - and it actually doesn't take much time at all. My favourite is the Real Techniques Buffing Brush and I really just do what this says on the tin - I dip my brush in a pump of foundation deposited on the back of my hand, and dab some on each area of my face. I then quite literally buff it into the skin using circular motions and tacking extra care in all the nooks and crannys in my face such as my nose.
4. After applying foundation, leave it to sink into my skin for a little while. This helps whatever you apply on top sit better on the skin and avoids cakey-ville. In that time you could perhaps do your brows, or eye makeup etc. Then come back to your base and carry on with the next step - concealer. For concealer I like to employ a few different ones in different areas and for varying jobs. I like to use a heavier concealer (such as Collection Lasting Perfection) on general facial blemishes as this provides the fullest coverage, whereas a lighter concealer with more light-reflecting properties (such as Rimmel Wake Me Up) works much better under the eyes as it both illuminates and sits a lot lighter on the delicate eye area. Personally, I like to use a combination of both a brush (such as the Real Techniques Setting Brush) and my good 'ole fingers to dab in that concealer.
5. Then, an essential step in preserving that base - powder. Of course this isn't for everyone, as for those with dryer complexions too much of this stuff may only leave your skin looking dull and drab. On the other hand, those on the oiler end of the spectrum may just cite this as a lifesaver. I guess that's how beauty works, right? Whatever your facial situation, even a little powder can do wonders in helping your killer base stay on longer and also really 'finish' it off.
6. Finally, a setting spray. This is again more of a preservation step as opposed to one that adds to the base in any way, but in my opinion, is still one to be highly regarded. Applying your base is only part one of the challenge, keeping it on all day/night is part two. There's no use having flawlessly applied face makeup if it's all going to slip off halfway through the night! I find a setting spray (my personal fave is the Urban Decay All Nighter one) really acts as that final 'glue' keeping everything in place.

So that's part one of 'Festive Makeup Picks' - complete! I hope you enjoyed the start of this new series-in-a-series and I'll see you same time, same place tomorrow for part two...