When any beauty-related thing becomes too overwhelming, it's normal to want to take a step back. If you've always had an intricate, full coverage makeup routine, for one, craving a minimalist reset isn't out of the ordinary. Trying to wear less products than usual is one way to do this, and it's much easier than it seems! Scroll ahead for all the basics tips you should know, from wearing less foundation, concealer, and more!
How to wear less: Foundation
1. Stick to a consistent and effective skincare routine.
The reality is, the more comfortable you are with your bare skin, the less foundation you'll be tempted to wear. This is where your skincare routine comes in—you want to make sure the products you're using are directly addressing your concerns and not making them worse. Check if you have all the basics (cleanser, moisturizer, and sunscreen), and if you're experiencing more serious concerns like acne, consult a dermatologist to find the right treatment for you.
2. Use a more lightweight product as your base.
Foundations are often very pigmented, which is why most formulas (especially full coverage ones) tend to feel "heavy" for some people. To combat this, you can try mixing a bit of face oil or moisturizer with your foundation to thin outt the consistency and achieve a sheerer finish.
Skin tints, tinted moisturizers, and tinted sunscreens are also worthy alternatives to foundation that feel lighter on the face. These usually contain more skin benefits like SPF as well, so it's a win-win!
Active Skin Tint SPF 35, P499, ISSY & CO., Lazada
3. Spot conceal instead.
Some people tend to forget that foundation is for evening out your skin tone—not covering blemishes. So if you have just one pimple to cover, you can get away with just wearing concealer on that area and leaving the rest of your complexion makeup-free. The same goes for your undereyes! This way, you're addressing your concern with as little product as possible. The secret to pulling this off, of course, is having a shade that matches your skin tone perfectly!
Flawlezza Creamy Matte Liquid Concealer, P245, VICE COSMETICS, Shopee
How to wear less: Undereye concealer
1. Color-correct before you conceal.
The natural discoloration on our undereyes can be difficult to cover with just concealer. Instead of piling on more product, though, turn to color theory to make things easier. For undereyes with a bluish or purplish hue, apply a light veil of orange or yellow color corrector to neutralize the color and then apply your concealer on top. Or, you can simply use a concealer with a peachy undertone to immediately cancel out the blues in a single step.
2. Change your application method.
Remember the "triangle" method you used to see everywhere on YouTube on Instagram? Well, you don't actually need that much concealer to cover your dark circles. British makeup artist Isamaya Ffrench's technique is our favorite: She only applies concealer on the crease where the "darkness" meets the rest of the skin (the area below your inner corners) and avoids putting the concealer beyond the outer lashline to maintain a natural effect.
How to wear less: Powder
1. Prepare your skin for makeup with the right products.
Tired of having to touch up with powder? You might want to adjust your pre-makeup routine.
If you have oily skin, not moisturizing beforehand will make your oil glands produce more oil to compensate the lack of moisture. Applying a lightweight moisturizer, a serum, or even a hydrating sunscreen before any makeup can help with this! If the oil is persistent, use a shine-controlling primer on the greasiest zones of your face to keep it from coming through.
Studio Fix Mattifine 12hr Shine Control Primer, P2300 (30ml), MAC, Lazada
2. Apply powder only on specific areas.
Unless you need your makeup to be indelible, you don't have to cover your entire face with powder to make your glam last. You only need to set the areas that: 1) Develop the most oil, 2) Crease, and 3) Have visible texture (e.g. large pores). For most people, these would be the T-zone, the undereyes, and anywhere else with concealer.
Focusing powder on these places won't just lead you to use less product in general, you'll also maintain a semi-glowy finish that registers more natural in real life!
Mattifying Loose Powder, P220, CARELINE, Shopee
3. Use a setting spray instead.
If your main concern is making your makeup stay on, a generous spritz of setting spray can replace powder altogether. You'll love this technique if you have dry skin and want to avoid that cakey look and feel!
The Porefessional: Super Setter Makeup Setting Spray, P1950 (120ml), BENEFIT, Lazada
How to wear less: Lipstick
1. Create a base with lip liner.
Just like foundation, having a good base for your lipstick will work to your advantage. Lining your pout with lip liner, for example, can enhance your natural lip color and shape while providing base that'll make your lipstick shade stand out. No more applying several layers for a full-looking pout! Some people even just wear lip liner alone, which is something you can try, too!
2. Use a lip stain or gloss instead.
If it's the feel of heavy lip color you want to avoid, switch to lighter formulas that will provide color sans the other drawbacks of lipsticks. Lip tints are your best option if you're after long-lasting pigment, lip glosses if you love a plumping shine, and finally, tinted lip balms if you want a natural stain and a light yet nourishing feel.
Lip Slip in Unplug, P399, HAPPY SKIN, Shopee
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