Makeup is a great tool for enhancing your best features and expressing your unique personality. However, with mask mandates still in place, it can be tricky to wear makeup when going out in public. Masks cover sensitive areas of the skin like the cheeks, lips, and nose, making them more prone to friction and irritation.
Getting makeup smudges under your mask can be uncomfortable and unhygienic. Furthermore, it quite defeats the purpose of beautifying your face when most of it will be under a piece of cloth most of the time, making it feel like your efforts and your makeup products are all for naught.
If you want to stay protected from the coronavirus without avoiding makeup altogether, fret not—we’ve got you covered, so to speak. Here are some practical tips to keep your face mask from spoiling your makeup.
Moisturize and cleanse your face
Whether you wear a mask all day or just for a few hours, it can still result in a buildup of oil, moisture, and debris. Apart from sweat and extra sebum, bacteria can accumulate behind your mask, causing breakouts and other skin issues.
The first step in your makeup routine should always be to cleanse your face thoroughly. Use a good foam or gel cleanser to purify and refresh your skin while effectively eliminating excess oils and dirt. Then, to improve your skin barrier, apply a non-oily, water-based, lightweight moisturizer.
Avoid using too much moisturizer and forego any heavy products or face oils. Remember, oil can break down your makeup’s formula, making it dissipate or smudge easily. Also, with a slippery texture, it will be harder for makeup products to sit on the surface of your skin and dry evenly.
Switch to tinted sunscreens or moisturizers
Get rid of your foundation, at least for now. Even the most expensive one can smudge and leave an ugly mark on your face mask, no matter how long-lasting or waterproof it claims to be.
Instead of foundations, opt for a tinted moisturizer or sunscreen since they are lighter and less pigmented. You can then use concealer to cover dark spots and undereye circles. A BB cream can work well, too, depending on its formulation.
Never skip primers
A good primer is essential to keeping your makeup smear proof, especially if you have naturally oily skin. It evens out skin texture and prepares it for a smoother makeup application. Primers also allow the products to stick better.
Moreover, applying primer helps ensure that your makeup will last all day—no transferring or smudging! Try a multifunctional primer, which can also be used as a moisturizer, to avoid layering too many items.
Finish with a setting spray
If you intend to wear a mask for a lengthy period, finishing your makeup with a sufficient amount of setting spray to hold everything firmly in place is highly recommended. This will make your makeup more sweat-resistant and less likely to transfer to your mask.
Also, choose setting sprays or mists with hydrating, oil-free ingredients. These can prevent your makeup from flaking or looking thick and cakey.
Pay extra attention to your eyes
Skip the heavy lipsticks and glosses that will surely leave smudges. With more than half of your face covered, it’s best to concentrate on your eyes and brows, which often are the ones visible.
The good thing is there’s so much you can do to play up your eye makeup. From geometric eyeliners to colorful eye shadows, you won’t run out of makeup styles to explore. Make sure to stock up on staples such as pencil or liquid eyeliners, brow tints and pencils, shaping gels, eyelid primers, eyeshadow palettes, mascara, and volumizing brushes.
Experiment with different color schemes, shadows, and angles, and take it a step further by harmonizing with the color and texture of your face mask. Since masks are here to stay for a while, treating them as fashion accessories won’t hurt.
Choose matte over dewy products
Earlier, we said that ditching your foundation is a good step to preventing your makeup from smudging. However, if you feel that your skin needs extra coverage, go for a matte formulation.
To successfully wear foundation with a mask, use it sparingly and choose a matte, transfer-proof product to combat moisture buildup. A small amount of high-quality foundation goes a long way on the nose, cheeks, and chin. Because most of your face is already covered, try to be as minimal as possible with your application.
Also, it’s best to select a foundation with properties that protect your skin from aggressors like pollution and blue light from electronic devices.
Keep your skin and masks clean
At the end of a busy day, your skin deserves to breathe. So, be especially diligent in cleansing your skin and removing all of your makeup before going to bed.
Moreover, if you’re using cloth masks, be sure to wash and dry them properly. Don’t ever reuse your masks two days in a row. It’s also important not to wear masks that haven’t dried completely. This is not only unhygienic; your makeup can easily transfer to damp cloth, as well.
The Takeaway
Remember, even the coronavirus should not stop you from feeling good and looking glam. Despite face masks being part of the new normal, you can still use cosmetics by making simple changes to your beauty routine.
Besides, no one should have to give up the joy of wearing makeup in these uncertain times. Whether you’re looking to create good makeup looks for virtual meetings or a quick fix for running errands, makeup can be an effective confidence booster. As long as you choose the right products and prioritize skincare, you can continue serving looks amidst the pandemic.
Article by Pia Rodriguez
