Make-up for Dry Skin

So, I have really dry skin, which can be problematic when it comes to applying make-up. I'm sure lots of other people have dry skin to, to varying degrees, so here are some tips I've picked up when it comes to applying make-up on dry skin:

1) Moisturise!
Obvious, but critical. Before you apply any make-up, make sure your skin is fully hydrated. It's best to apply moisturiser in thin layers - Apply a little, wait for it to sink in, apply another layer, etc.

2) Skip a face primer

Most primers I've tried, even those marketed for dry skin, have a drying effect (probably due to large amount of silicones they commonly have). If you have dry skin, your foundation is less likely to slip and slide on your face and therefore you're less likely to need a primer anyway. If you do skip the primer, it could be worth looking for a long-wearing foundation, as you're not getting the boost in wear-time a primer provides.

3) Pick the right foundation

Skip anything oil-free (your skin needs that oil!) or that claims to be mattifying. I'm currently using Mac's Studio Sculpt foundation, which is gel-based, full-coverage and moderately hydrating. Sometimes I mix it with a little moisturiser to boost its moisturising capacity. 

Dry skin can easily make foundation look cakey, so to avoid over-applying, apply in thin layers until you've achieved the coverage you want (I like to buff it in with a stippling brush).

Many people swear by powder foundation, but I'd recommend skipping it if your skin is dry, as it can easily crease and look caked-on.

4) Try a tinted moisturiser

If you're looking for light coverage, a tinted moisturiser may be perfect. It will still probably be necessary to moisturise before applying one, and they vary in the amount of hydration they provide. The best by far, in my experience, is the Bobbi Brown Extra Tinted Moisturising Balm. Bobbi Brown's Extra range is designed specifically for people with dry to very dry skin, and works great on my skin (although this may give an overly dewy finish for those with only slightly dry skin). They also carry a medium/buildable coverage foundation, which would be worth checking out for those with very dry skin.

5) Try cream products

Conventional wisdom says that cream products are better for people with dry skin (blushes, shadows etc), but that doesn't mean you have to shy away from powder products completely. Using only cream products can often be quite limiting - there are plenty of great cream blushes out there (such as Mac's Cream Colour Base in Fabulush - a quirky shade of red with gold shimmer), however cream eyeshadows can be difficult to blend together and to find an equivalent range of shades as the powder ones. 

My typical eye routine involves applying a primer (vital for long-lasting, non-creasing shadows - I find that moisturising means my eye area is sometimes too oily and slippy, so without a primer eyeshadow would crease horribly), then a cream base (such as a Mac Paint Pot) to "lock in" the moisture, then applying powder shadow over that.

6) Bad skin? Shy away from shimmer

Sometimes skin can be very dry/flaky/sensitive, and when it's not looking its best, shimmery products will only highlight imperfections.

7) Exfoliate regularly

Use a gentle facial and lip scrub to exfoliate your skin regularly. People with dry skin will tend to have more dead skin cells and flakiness, which needs to be removed. I've been using Soap and Glory's The Greatest Scrub Of All.

8) The wear-time/hydration tradeoff

The more moisturising a lip product is, the shorter the wear time is (generally). If you don't mind re-applying frequently, products such as the Elf Mineral Moisturising Lip Tints are a good idea. However, if you want something that lasts more than a couple of hours, I would recommend trying out a lip stain/lip balm combination. My experiences with lip stain marker pens have all been horrible - they dry out quickly and tend to look streaky on the lips, but Elf Studio Lip Stains (a liquid formula you apply like a gloss) and Stila Crush Lip and Cheek Stains (liquid also) are really long-wearing and apply beautifully. I would apply the lip stain onto dry, unmoisturised lips, let it sink in and dry down, and then apply lip balm over. Then you can reapply the lip balm as needed throughout the day, in the knowledge that your lips will look as pretty as they did in the morning.

That's all I can think of for now!

:) x x