As much as we rejoice when the mercury rises and we can shake off our winter layers, there’s no denying that hot weather is your make-up’s worst nightmare.
Indeed, even when the days aren’t so balmy, those of us with oily skin may already struggle to keep our dutifully applied foundation and concealer in place throughout the toils of commuting and being sat under harsh air conditioning.
To that end, Vogue grilled Hector Espinal, Fenty Beauty’s Global Make-Up Artist for his expert tips. Having painted Rihanna’s face in many a tropical clime or before an action-packed show under bright lights, he had some pearls of wisdom to share…
Through commutes that feel positively tropical to the rigours of a nine-hour work day, your make-up goes through a lot. Flounder in sweaty, smeared territory no longer, as Fenty Beauty’s Hector Espinal revealed to Vogue his top tips for make-up longevity.
Lock it in with layers
“For me, it’s all about doing thin layers to achieve the desired look,” said Espinal. “So I do Fenty Beauty Pro Filt’r Foundation, then a light layer of Fenty Beauty Invismatte Blotting Powder. Then bronzer and highlight and all of that, then light powder. I lock it in between.” All that powder might sound superfluous, but Espinal enthused that it was the difference between make-up that stays fresh all day, and make-up that’s gone in sixty seconds.
“Make sure you prime the T-zone and set your foundation with powder. Leave concealer for last because that’s the thing most people feel like they want to retouch the most. But set that with powder, too, and also any eye primer or concealer you use on the lids.”
Scrub before you start
If you’ve ever suffered from the dreaded “patchy face” of creased concealer and flakey foundation, skincare may be to blame. “Patchiness is usually down to a lack of exfoliation – just dry patches of skin or dead skin that needs to be sloughed off and hydrated,” explained Espinal. Gentle daily exfoliation with a warm flannel massaged into the skin should be sufficient, or try Dr Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Peel Pads. Pre-soaked with five alpha-hydroxy acids, they slough off dead skin and leave the complexion bright a luminous.
Also, consider your tools. “Sometimes patchiness is an application thing, which I why I like to use a damp sponge to apply make-up as it’s more skin-like. No matter how products you apply, it won’t look good unless your skin is ready. I used to try and skip skincare or do it really quickly, and I always regretted it. Instant regret!”
Matte need not mean flat
Dry skin types may be shuddering at the thought of giving up their hard-won glow. “I was powder-phobic for a really long time,” laughed Espinal. “But sometimes, the humidity takes over in and your skin produces a lot more oil so you need that little bit of powder. It’s a fine line between dewy and sweaty, it really is.”
If you’re powder-averse, heed Espinal’s words. “Keep the T-zone powdered and leave the rest of the face to glow. It’ll make your highlight look shinier!”
Source : Vogue
