Our Guide to the Best Skincare Prep for Makeup
Whether youβre a makeup beginner or a true beauty guru, everyone knows that flawless and smooth makeup starts way before you reach for your foundation. That glowy, smooth, long-lasting look we all want to achieve? You can thank proper skin prep for that. Without it, you risk patchiness, creasing, and makeup that fades away quickly. The truth is that your makeup will only look as good as the canvas underneath. Hydrated and well-prepped skin can help all of your other products glide on effortlessly, help to keep makeup from caking, and can even help your makeup look stay fresh from your early zoom meetings to your late-night plans.
Weβre breaking down the ultimate skincare and skin prep routineβso that your makeup looks flawless all day long. Weβre outlining each essential step, from cleansing, to moisturising, to perfectly priming your skin for seamless makeup application. Whether youβre going for a soft, natural look or a full glam makeup look, prepping your skin correctly will make all the difference.
So, before you jump straight into foundation, letβs talk skincare. When you take a little extra time to prep, your makeup routine rewards you with a flawless, lit-from-within finish that lasts. Ready to elevate your routine? Letβs dive in.
Step 1: Cleanse & Exfoliate
A seamless, radiant makeup look starts with a fresh, clean baseβitβs a non-negotiable! When your skin is properly cleansed and prepped, makeup applies smoother and looks more even and glowy.
ο»ΏFirst up: cleanse. Use a gentle yet effective cleanser, like our Holy Hydration! Clean Freak Daily Cleanser, to help remove dirt, oil, and leftover makeup without stripping your skin. A clean face means better product absorption and even better application!
Next: exfoliate if needed! If youβre dealing with dry, flaky skin, an exfoliant like our Holy Hydration! Gentle Peeling Exfoliant can help to remove dead skin, leaving your complexion looking and feeling smooth and prepped for skincare and makeup. If you have sensitive skin, we recommend skipping this step to avoid irritation.
With a fresh, smooth base, your makeup will apply like a dream. Now, onto the next step in your skin prep routine!
Step 2: Serums, Mists & Toners
So, your skin is clean and fresh-itβs time to hydrate! Mists, serums, and toners are the unsung heroes of bright, glowy skin. These lightweight formulas can deliver a surge of hydration, balance your skin, and create the perfect base for the rest of your routine.
Start with a refreshing mist like the Hydrating Coconut Facial Mist to awaken and prep your skin. Next, balance and refine with Thirst Burst Pore-fecting Toner βit helps remove any lingering impurities while keeping skin feeling smooth and nourished.
Now for serums! If you have more sensitive skin, we recommend starting with only one serum, as two may be too harsh on your skin. If youβve used toners before and think your skin can easily handle two products, grab our Holy Hydration! Triple Bounce Hyaluronic Serum hydrates, while Holy Hydration! Thirst Burst Drops Brightening Serum boosts radiance. A must-try tip: Let each layer fully absorb before applying the next to avoid pilling. Trust usβyour skin (and your makeup!) will thank you later.
Step 3: Face Moisturiser
Like starting out your prep routine with clean skin (a non-negotiable), face moisturiser is a must in your makeup prep routine. Why? Because hydrated skin = better makeup. A good moisturizer can help to lock in all the hydration from your mists, serums, and toners while creating a smooth, plump-looking base that helps foundation apply seamlessly.
If your skin craves hydration, Holy Hydration! Face Cream is your go-to. Packed with niacinamide, plus hyaluronic acid and peptides, it nourishes and replenishes for that bouncy, healthy-looking glow. If your skin prefers something more lightweight, look to Holy Hydration! Gel-Yeah Moisturiser for refreshing and plumping hydration.
No matter your skin type, moisturizing is a must to help prevent dry patches, creasing, and fading throughout the day. Let it fully absorb before moving on to SPF and primer and watch how seamlessly your makeup applies!
Step 4: Sunscreen
Say it with us: Sunscreen isnβt just for summerβitβs an everyday essential! Protecting your skin from harmful UV rays helps prevent sunburn and premature aging. But did you know SPF can also double as a makeup prep step? The right sunscreen gives you a smooth finish, hydrates, and even acts as a primer, helping to curate your makeup the perfect base.
For a radiant, priming SPF, try Suntouchable Whoa Glow SPF 30βit gives skin a lit-from-within glow, while helping to protect against UV rays. For fuss-free makeup wearers who want a lightweight, invisible finish, reach for Suntouchable Invisible Sunscreen SPF 30 to smooth your complexion and grip makeup for long-lasting wear. Need on-the-go protection? Suntouchable Invisi-Stick SPF 50 offers mess-free, clear SPF in a convenient stick packaging. No matter your pick, SPF is a not-to-miss prep step.
Step 5: Face Primer
Often overlooked, a hydrating primer is *actually* the key to ensuring your makeup applies seamlessly, stays in place, and looks fresh for hours. It creates a smooth-looking, even base, helping foundation, concealer, and all other makeup products adhere better while helping to prevent creasing, fading, or slipping throughout the day.
After all of your skincare prep steps, a primerβs job is to tie it all together and make your makeup look clean, even, and long-lasting. If you struggle with dryness or need a long-wearing grip, Power Grip Primer hydrates while keeping makeup firmly in place. For those looking to blur the look of pores and achieve a silky, airbrushed effect, the Liquid Poreless Putty Primer smooths skin texture for a flawless finish. No matter your skin typeβoily, dry, or combinationβchoosing the right face primer can elevate your look and enhance longevity.
So, youβve locked in all your skincare prep stepsβ¦ now itβs onto makeup! Need a hand tackling an easy, everyday glam look? Head to our guide to soft glam makeup to get the scoop (and the steps!) to achieve a soft glam makeup look.
