Here are five ways to apply "face stuff" (ie. concealer, foundation, powder) without using the whole arsenal of "face stuff" (concealer, foundation, powder).
Tinted Moisturizer or Sheer Foundation: whether you mix your own (a little foundation mixed with moisturizer) or buy one premade (like Laura Mercier's or Prescriptives Traceless), tinied moisturizer gives you a sheer veil of coverage that evens out but doesn't hide your skin. The sheer coverage means that you won't have to worry about finding a perfect match, because an off color will be more forgiving, and renders blending a quick, easy ordeal.
Powder Foundation: if you have oily skin and balk at the idea of applying more moisturizer, then try a powder foundation. Some excellent ones are: Aveda Dual Base Minus Oil, Neutrogena Healthy Defense. None of these go on heavy, cakey or powdery, just light and natural. It's even easier to apply than tinted moisturizer, and the Neutrogena has full-spectrum protection.
Sheer Gel-Cream: just a step up from tinted moisturizer; whether you like one with a dewy finish like Chantecaille Real Skin or Vincent Longo WAter Canvas with a relatively matter finish, it has all the good things about tinted moisturizer (won't cut out your skin's inner glow) but with more coverage that easier to apply selectively.
Cream Foundation: wait... a cream foundation? Sure. The trick is to use a teeny tiny amount, with a formula that blends well and apply selectively. Just dot on problem areas and blend. Use it like a concealer, but one that functions as foundation as well. It's a favorite method of many makeup artists (I believe Kevyn Aucoin and Sonia Kashuk are just a couple examples). What to keep in mind: remember that the product should be blendable, not a heavy, greasy, cakey mess like the cream foundation of yore. You can use either a stick cream foundation, or a more liquid cream foundation in a jar. Good products to investigate: Estée Lauder Minute Makeup, L'Oréal QuickStick (good for oily skin), Sue Devitt Triple C-Weed Whipped Foundation, Kevyn Aucoin Sensual Skin Enhancer.
Concealer & Powder: These other four methods are simple, easy. Two to three minutes tops. This, however, may not be, but if you take the time, master the technique, it's guaranteed goddess. Take a good quality concealer, like the infamous Laura Mercier Secret Camouflage (tricky, but effective) and dust on a layer of loose powder (T. LeClerc, Prescriptives Magic) to set. It's labor-intensive, and you have to know how it works, but for special occasions, it worth it. You'll get the kind of flawlessness that you only see in magazines, without layers of product. Wednesday, November 20, 2002 »0 comments
