Natural Makeup Series: Foundation Routine (Matte)

I'm a fan of natural makeup! Before we start doing such cool look, I would like to explain two ways on how you can make a smooth and flawless base before applying the colors.
You can either do a matte base or a dewy base.

1. Matte - Matte has been around since then. This is a good preference for those with oily skin, as it obviously absorbs excess sebum in the face. It also curtails a clean, smooth, and flawless canvass if the right products are used. Most of the makeup products we see in the market are intended for achieving a matte, oil-free look, making them really easy to access. There are liquid foundation creams that mattify upon application although their consistency can be creamy. In short, no one wants an oily face so people try to get rid of it as much as possible. Sebum functions as a natural lubricant of the skin and has a weak bactericidal action, but too much of it can attract bacteria and germs which cause acne. Powder only does the real trick and nothing more than that.

2. Dewy - the newest makeup fad in town! Although highlighters were invented and have been around for so long, the dewy skin look was re-introduced by Koreans recently. The rise of K-POP and K-DRAMA allowed us to take a thorough look of Korean women's makeup look which consists of a fair, flawless canvass with minimal amount of dark colors. A dewy base gives you a glowing skin that reflects when hit by the light. No, I'm not talking about oily skin here. Grease makes your face dirty and dark, but this kind of glow will simply cause your skin to radiate. However, this look tends to be a little picky. This may not work for oily skin (it will aggravate the oiliness even more, producing more grease. Yikes.) or for those with bumpy skin, although the bumps can be concealed. The light-reflecting feature will work best on clear skin. BTW, regardless of your skin tone or skin color, you can still make a dewy base. What we need to work out here is to make the high points of your face reflect in the light.


MATTE LOOK - EASY STEPS ON HOW TO MAKE A MATTE LOOK

Most of you are very familiar on how to make a matte look. That's great! Kung sa bagay, iyan naman palagi ang ginagawa nating base lol.
Here is how I actually do mine:

Materials/Products Needed:
* Concealer - Essence 3 in 1 Concealer (can be bought in SM department stores for less than P200)
* A Liquid Foundation - I recommend Max Factor Long Lasting in Soft Beige (Maybe a bit costly but it has the best coverage and holding power so far) or any Ever Bilena/Careline Liquid Makeup Base
* Powder - Maybelline Cake Foundation
* Powder Brush
* Foundation Brush - I use the Elf brand

Steps:
1. Using your finger, swipe an ample amount of concealer in beige/skin tone hue. To conceal redness, dab the green shade around the pimple/red spot then top it off with the beige shade. For undereye circles, use the orange/pink shade to counteract the dark cast then top off with the beige shade. Use a tapping/patting motion (tap-tap-tap) when applying with a finger.
Rationale: Instead of blending it out completely, tapping/patting on the spot allows the concealer to set on the spot itself, thus concealing it completely.

2. Squeeze a pea-size amount of liquid foundation at the back of your hand. Blend it a little then dip the foundation brush. Apply the cream on the face, filling the surface completely. Control the amount.
Rationale: Hands or sponges can be used to spread the foundation, but brushes work best in covering large pores and smoothing out rough spots. Sponges can be too harsh for the skin as it produces friction (if you rub it vigorously).

3. Lastly, apply powder. Use a brush to spread it all over the face. Make sure to cover the oiliest spots such as the sides of the nose and the T-zone. To make a long-lasting coverage, moisten the brush (or a sponge if you still prefer) before applying powder.

Retouching tips: Simply re-apply powder when retouching. Girls with oily skin tend to grease up easily after only a few hours so make sure to keep a pocket foundation.
Extra tips (:p) : To help with oily skin, avoid greasy foods as much as possible! While it is unavoidable to eat fried foods, please reduce your intake if you love your skin :) Wash face at least 3x a day with a good facial wash or a mild soap. Pond's has a good oil-control facial wash which helps reduce oiliness throughout the day. If you're using that variant, wash your face only twice a day as it can be drying if overused.

Ta-dah! We're finished!


***** If you reached this part, I really thank you for reading my first article :3 *********
Next post will be covering the dewy foundation routine. Pictures will be coming soon!
Bye!!!! Maraming salamat po sa pagbabasa.

- Maria