By Elizabeth Seago, Guest blogger, UV Sun Specialist and F.O.S. (friend of Supergoop!), Seattle, WA
I love dressing up for the holidays. I have practically made an art form of constructing the perfect cocktail party ensemble. And now that I’ve been listening to my own advice and following a healthy winter-skincare routine, it’s time to look long and hard at my makeup routine. And naturally, I’m going to share this knowledge with you.
It goes without saying that the key is to start with a clean face and apply a lightweight layer of UV protection that protects from both UVA and UVB rays. (Just a tip: This does not mean a tinted moisturizer, which more times than not only protects your face from UVB rays.) I love Supergoop!’s ultra-light Save Face Serum which accelerates the skin’s UV repair mechanism while protecting it from UV-induced oxidation and simultaneously moisturizing to strengthen the skin’s natural barrier. It’s a three-for-one product that is the perfect first step.
Next, it’s time to leave the sanctity of your bathroom mirror and head to your local beauty store or makeup counter. Ask one of the experts to help you pick out the right type of foundation for your face; this can be a tinted moisturizer or a creamy, more traditional foundation. The most important thing is to make sure that the tone is correct so that your face looks natural—and not like you got stuck in a tanning bed for too long or, conversely, are auditioning for the next Twilight movie. I took an informal poll and Nars Sheer Matte Foundation seems to be a favorite. If you’d like to weigh in, we would love to hear what your preferred method of coverage is.
Once you’ve got your foundation in hand, it’s important to know where to put it … and that doesn’t mean all over your face. We want a flawless canvas, not one that looks too made up. One of the best makeup tricks I picked up in my travels as a model was to touch up the under-eye area. Use your third finger and pat on foundation for a natural blend that will make your eyes pop. Then you can move onto your touching up around your nose and upper cheek area or anywhere you might have blemishes or redness.
And it bears repeating that if you haven’t properly exfoliated, moisturized, and protected, your lovely new makeup will just sit on top of your skin, making you look like one of those deliciously cakey holiday sugar cookies (good to eat but not to wear). Need a refresher course? Then take a look at our blog on Saving Face during the winter months.
