Tips for Applying Makeup on Dry Skin

Whether you are going with a minimal makeup appearance or trying out the current TikTok trends, your dehydrated skin mustn’t get in the way. Makeup on dehydrated skin can appear irregular even with the most expensive cosmetics if they are not tailored to your skin type. So when your oil glands don’t produce enough sebum to keep your skin moisturized, it is essential to choose skin care products that do the work externally. Valerie Aparovich, certified cosmetologist-aesthetician, biochemist, and Science Team Lead at OnSkin, says that “the skin can become overly dried for several reasons: certain medical conditions, physiological imbalances, avitaminosis, UV damage, unsuitable skincare routine, cosmetic products containing harsh ingredients, dry climate, and more. The skin becomes dehydrated, the integrity of the lipid barrier and its defensive functions decrease, flakiness, exfoliation, and irritation occurs, and small fissures on the skin surface may appear. Hence, makeup cosmetics for dry skin must not only contour and conceal defects but also hydrate your skin to achieve a dewy, luminous finish.

How To Apply Makeup To Dry Skin

Have you ever observed that your complexion appears more aged after applying makeup? This is typically a typical dry skin woe. As the foundation and concealer draw out the scarcely available moisture from your skin, you end up with a pallid, furrowed appearance. A straightforward remedy to this issue is to prime your skin with hydrating products before you start your day’s cosmetics.

Here’s a step-by-step guide to applying makeup to dehydrated skin to ensure it lasts long without flaking. But first, let’s get into how to prime your epidermis before you apply cosmetics.

Prep Your Dry Skin Before Makeup

1. Cleanse Away The Dirt

Begin your skin routine with a mild cleanser that delicately removes grime and impurities without depleting your skin of its natural lipids. But first, verify the ingredients of the cleanser you intend to use. Sodium lauryl sulfate and sodium laureth sulfate are two of the most frequently used cleansing agents by manufacturers that you should avoid. They are too abrasive on the skin, strip away its natural lipids, and dry it out. The healthful alternatives are gentler surfactants like lauryl glucoside, coco glucoside, and disodium cocoyl glutamate. Also, using cleansing foams is preferable as they are gentler and perform better to soothe the skin than cleansing solutions.

2. Exfoliate Away Dead Skin

While many may advise against using a scrub on dry skin for fear of irritation and redness, a moderate scrub helps improve your skin’s texture.
The safest exfoliation solution for dehydrated skin is enzyme peels. They are benign and gentle, contain no acids, and assure tolerant exfoliation without agitating the skin. The recommended frequency is once a week. Enzymes are warmth and moisture-friendly. So, doing this kind of exfoliation while you are having a bath and covering your face with a film will enhance its efficacy.

Beauty experts recommend mild exfoliation to obtain a clean base for seamless makeup. Exfoliation removes the top layer of dead skin that can make your face appear dark, fatigued, and aged.

3. Hydrate With A Toner

Hydrating toners work to remove residual dead skin and add the much-needed hydration to parched skin. Toners also enhance the absorption of products that you may apply afterwards.

Among the most beneficial ingredients you need to pay attention to in toners is aloe leaf extract (an excellent moisturizer with regenerating and anti-inflammatory properties), pea extract (a powerful antioxidant with hydrating properties), and Echinacea angustifolia extract (an ingredient with moisturizing, rejuvenating, and anti-inflammatory effects).

4. Dab An Eye Cream

This is an essential measure to prevent your eye makeup from creasing or gathering up in your fine creases. Eye moisturizers maintain the eye area hydrated and reduce the appearance of fine lines.

5. Moisturize

Opt for a face cream or moisturizer that is crafted to care for dehydrated skin. Creams with 24- to 48-hour hydrating potential make for an excellent selection. Use products with Aloe Vera as this succulent plant species is rich in antioxidants and their humectants can bind moisture to the epidermis. Focus more on areas that are prone to flaking, such as the cheekbones or the corners of your mouth.

Sonia Anastasia, a beauty Youtuber, shared her personal experience and advice on how she prefers to apply cosmetics on her dehydrated skin. She states, “Put on moisturizer, like double and triple on the moisturizer again, when it comes to patchiness on your face.” She further suggests how a primer can make a world of difference, stating, “The primer is also not making my textured skin any more texture-full at all, it’s just making it nice and glowing and healthy-looking (i).”

8-Step Tutorial To Dry Skin Makeup

1. Prep With A Primer

Start your makeup by applying a cream or gel-based primer. These serve the dual purpose of generating a clean canvas and securing moisture into your parched skin. With a flawless primer, you can now apply your makeup without the worry of creasing.

2. Layer A Foundation

Invest in a lightweight, hydrating formula. Many skin experts suggest that a translucent foundation that gives your skin a luminous effect is more suitable for dry skin than one that provides a neutral finish.

You can even forego the foundation and test out a tinted moisturizer or a serum that has a more moisturizing impact on your parched skin.

While applying the foundation, use a soft airy brush or a moist sponge to blend the product. This ensures greater foundation distribution and prevents your dried regions from showing up.

3. Conceal Your Dark Spots

Avoid layering too much concealer in one place, as it can dry out those areas. A good technique to make your flaky regions less visible is to apply an extra dosage of moisturizer and then gently cover them with a concealer.

Read Also: Secrets for Shiny and Strong Nails

4. Apply A Cream Blush

We suggest you abide by the crème blush if you have sensitive skin. These products seamlessly disperse into the foundation and give you natural, rosy-hued cheekbones.

Blush creams are also excellent for dry skin as their velvety composition moisturizes the desiccated zones on your cheekbones instead of emphasizing them (as some powder bronzers and blushes do).

5. Use A Cream Eyeshadow

Before applying a creme eyeshadow, apply a small quantity of eyeshadow primer to your eyelids. This ensures the eyeshadow lasts longer without flaking. Also, try combining crème eyeshadow with your fingertips for a smoother appearance.

6. Highlight Your Features

Highlighters can work wonders on dry, lackluster skin, giving it the perfect amount of radiance for a luminous, youthful appearance. The optimal choice for dehydrated skin is a cream-based illuminator that dissolves into the skin and doesn’t dry out after a while.

Use a cosmetic applicator or your fingertips for greater control while applying the product. Focus on the elevated features of your face, such as the cheekbones, the nose bridge, and the cupid’s bow. Always commence with a modest quantity of product, integrate, and then build up as you deem appropriate.

7. Apply A Moisturizing Lipstick

These products are a blessing when you want to transform your dry lips for a picture perfect alluring appearance. Tinted lip moisturizers can do the job equally well if you’re on a limited budget.

8. Set The Look With A Setting Spray

As a concluding addition to your dry skin makeup, apply a setting spray that gives your skin a lustrous texture. Various products in the market are now customized to nourish and hydrate parched skin. So do your research and select the correct one. Look for a lightweight formula that contains natural moisturizing ingredients like seed oils and aloe vera gel.