Dry Skin? You Can STILL Wear Matte Foundation!
That’s right. You can wear matte foundation with dry skin! It’s all in the prep, baby! I’ve been keeping matte foundations in heavy rotation this year. Especially in the summer. So I’m here to spill the beans on how I achieve a smooth, radiant finish with matte foundation. Despite sometimes having crocodile skin.
Moisture is EVERYTHING!
Applying moisturizer daily is a norm for me. Surprisingly, moisturizer isn’t a staple in everyone’s routine. I get it. You’re busy. But trust me. Adding a moisturizer to your skin will only help you in the long run! Here’s why.
Moisturizer will practically save your life! It’s essential for adding moisture to the skin, obviously. But it’s also great for locking in moisture, protecting your skin barrier and smoothing texture. Which is why moisturizer is so important!
Hydrated skin is healthy skin! Moisturized skin looks smoother, more supple, plump and radiant. Who doesn’t want that?! Simply apply a little moisturizer after washing your face before you apply your makeup. Your foundation will apply more smoothly without those dreaded flakes and dry spots. Lately, I’ve been in love with the Garnier SkinActive Soothing 3-in-1 Moisturizer. It’s ultra rich and nourishing yet it aborsbs quickly without feeling greasy. Perfect for a smooth foundation application!
For the best results, allow your moisturizer to fully absorb before applying your makeup. Give your skin a minute or two to fully soak it in!
Use an Illuminating Primer as a Backlight
Dry skin is usually dull skin. And dull skin and matte foundation don’t mix! Matte foundation formulas are designed to help control oil and keep skin matte. Aka flat with little to no shine. You definitely don’t want to make your dry, dull skin look even more flat.
So here’s where a good illuminating primer comes in.
Applying an illuminating primer before your foundation will add a radiant glow to your skin. As a result, you’ll still look smooth and radiant even with matte foundation. The oil controlling properties will dull the excess shine of your primer and moisturizer for a natural skin like glow. Versus a flat, cakey finish.
One of my favorite illuminating primers is the NYX Honey Dew Me Up Primer & Serum. It’s a nourishing primer formulated with honey, collagen and chunky gold flakes that melt seamlessly into skin. Delivering a stunning radiant golden glow that keeps skin from looking flat and dull under matte foundation.
Even More Moisture!
There technically is a such thing as too much moisture. But that’s a hard limit to reach when you’re trying to pull off a matte foundation with dry skin. So pile it on, honey!
Some of us require a little extra moisture. Which is normal around this time of year. It’s getting colder and cold weather can make skin exceptionally dry. Adding an extra layer of moisture is ideal for extra dry skin and my mature ladies. The moisture boost further helps to smooth skin texture and often helps to plump and fill fine lines and wrinkles. So your matte foundation doesn’t slip through the cracks and make you look cakey.
My current go to is the PÜR Cosmetics 4-in-1 Correcting Primer. It’s a soothing, hydrating formula packed with coconut water, aloe and probiotics. It leaves skin looking supple, plump and certainly hydrated. It feels so good! Like a drink of water on the skin.
Glow, Baby, Glow!
This one is completely optional. You don’t necessarily need an illuminator to pull off a matte foundation. Unless you want to skip the primer. Or you just want to glow like a goddess. I don’t mind going the extra mile. So I usually apply a cream illuminator after applying my primer and before matte foundation.
Simply blend an illuminator of your choice along your cheekbones, down the bridge of your nose, under the brows and the center of your chin. You can do this before or/and after applying your matte foundation for maximum radiance. The added glow helps you keep that natural skin glow we normally have but sometimes mask. Adding the illuminator allows the high points of your face to take center light. Giving your matte foundation more depth and dimension for a natural looking finish.
I can’t get enough of the new Black Opal Illuminating Sticks right now! They’re creamy, easy to blend and set to a powdery finish that works well under and on top of foundation for a stunning glow. You can apply a sheer layer for a “lit from within” kind of glow. Or layer it on to strobe like a diva.
My Regular Routine
If I have extra time, I like to start off my day with a good mask or exfoliant. Like my holy grail Peter Thomas Roth Cucumber Gel Mask or Kate Somerville ExfoliKate Intensive Treatment. Skin always looks best when it’s free of toxins, impurities and dead skin cells!
Next, I follow up with my usual skincare routine. Including moisturizer, of course! Then, I’ll either apply an illuminating or hydrating primer. Depending on what my skin needs. I opt for a hydrating primer if I’m feeling extra dry or pulling out an ultra matte foundation. Typically, I’ll wear an illuminating primer.
Finally, I’ll swipe an illuminating stick on the high points of my face and lightly blend before applying matte foundation. The result is a smooth, radiant finish that doesn’t look dry or cakey. This is the exact routine I used to pull off the Maybelline SuperStay Foundation here.