No matter how much we might wish otherwise, few of us are born with perfect skin. We all have some type of imperfection or skin condition that leaves us with a less than flawless complexion – at least in our own eyes. When you’re a teen, it’s usually acne and clogged pores that rear their ugly head. As you age, fine lines, wrinkles and dark spots are the usual culprits. A good skin care routine can help improve your complexion, but there are usually a few stubborn spots or marks that just won’t go away.
But even if you have a breakout or a few wrinkles, it’s still possible to look like you have a flawless complexion. With the magic of makeup, you can fake it – all it takes is the right products and techniques, and you can look like genetics gifted you with perfect skin.
Creating the Perfect Foundation
The first step is starting with the right foundation primer. A good primer helps create a barrier between your skin’s natural oils and your makeup so your foundation lasts longer. It can also smooth out the texture of your skin so foundation applies more easily too. Dermalogica’s SkinPerfect Primer SPF30 is ideal for mature skin because it contains silicones to help fill in fine lines, wrinkles and enlarged pores. Its pearl powder and minerals also help give your complexion a more luminous, radiant look so it works wonders on dull skin. Apply it over your usual moisturizer for the perfect pre-foundation canvas.
If you have oily, acne-prone skin, you should start with a product that absorbs excess oil from your skin so it doesn’t break through your foundation. Dermalogica’s Clearing Mattifier works well for teens and those with oily skin because it contains botanicals that help regulate oil production so your skin stays matte all day and your makeup lasts longer. It also has silicones to fill in enlarged pores and fine lines and salicylic acid to treat and prevent acne. After washing your face in the morning, apply the mattifier to spots that are prone to oiliness and breakouts before putting on your foundation.
Have Breakouts? Lighten things up a bit.
When you have active breakouts, you may be tempted to pile on full coverage foundation to hide all the red marks. But heavy makeup can actually accentuate your acne. You’re better off using a concealer just on breakouts and keeping the rest of your foundation light. Dermalogica’s Concealing Spot Treatment is perfect for acne prone skin because the tinted formula not only covers up redness and discoloration but contains sulfur and zinc oxide to fight acne-causing bacteria and salicylic acid to prevent clogged pores. For the most coverage, apply the treatment to breakouts and allow it to dry for a minute before gently blending it into your skin with clean fingers.
When it comes to foundation, choose a formula that works with your skin type and provides as little coverage as you can get away with. For mature skin, Dermalogica’s Cover Tint offers a hydrating formula with light diffusing agents to soften the look of fine lines and wrinkles. It also contains skin care ingredients like ginseng, purslane and hydrolyzed pearl that help firm and smooth the skin. The Cover Tint provides medium to buildable coverage so it can cover most of your skin’s imperfections on its own – apply it with a sponge for lighter coverage or use clean fingers for maximum coverage.
If you don’t have many discolorations or imperfections to hide or have acne prone skin and cover your worst spots with a concealer, you can use a lighter coverage foundation. Dermalogica’s Sheer Tint is a lightweight product that evens out your skin tone without looking cakey or heavy. It also has light diffusing ingredients that soften imperfections like large pores and fine lines. Apply it with clean fingers after cleansing and moisturizing as normal.
Once you choose the right makeup products and get the techniques down, achieving flawless skin will become second nature – and unlike magazine cover models, you won’t need the help of photo editing software to fake it.