Long wearing makeup is about light layers that are expertly applied and the right products for your skin type.  Both will play a factor in how you makeup will wear throughout the day. For me, every makeup application begins with skin that is well hydrated and cared. This will help with the longevity of the makeup. I like to advise my clients to gently exfoliate their face and lips the night before because it helps with the way your makeup is applied. Also note, that if your moisturizer is oil-free, your foundation should be too. Science 101 told us that oil and water don’t mix. So when you apply an oil-based moisturizer and a water-based foundation, the oil in the moisturizer will break-down the foundation.

Regardless if I’m doing a smoky eye or a more natural look, I begin with the eyes. This allows time for the moisturizer and primer to sink into the skin and set. It also allows me to see what the skin’s doing before I apply foundation. Some shadows can be crumbly and if it falls into the foundation, it can be quite difficult to remove and you end up disrupting the foundation.  Be sure to use waterproof liners and mascaras so that if you cry, there won’t be any smudging.

Using a primer or modifier is a must. It acts as a barrier between your skin and your makeup and also gives you a smooth surface to apply your makeup to. It also helps to extend the wear of your foundation. I reach for a mattifyer for oilier skins because I find that they have more oil-absorbing properties then primers do.

For foundation, I tend to reach for the products that are long-wearing and/or silicone-based. Nine times out of ten, I reach for a silicone-based foundation because it’s long wearing, water-resistant.  It feels like nothing when it’s applied on the skin and looks natural. Start with a thin application and build-up coverage only in the areas that need it. Cream blushes are great for extending the wear of your powder blushes. I like to layer a similar colour of cream blush under powder blush for added longevity. That way, when your powder blush starts to fade, you’ll still have a bit of a flush on your cheeks. The key here is cream to cream and powder to powder.  Follow these tips and your make-up should last and last!