Skincare > Makeup

I’ve received quite a few compliments on my skin over the past six months and I think it’s because of my choice to move my focus to skincare rather than makeup.

One of my favourite beauty experts, Christine Cho, shared with me that better skincare was the key to better makeup. Let me explain. The better care you take of your skin, the less makeup you need to use. Also, the better care you take of your skin, the better makeup sits on your face. The application is smoother and the overall effect is better.

I’m currently smitten with the neutral, natural, nude look. Everything blush or soft pink just entices me. The barely-there makeup look actually involves makeup and in some cases involves more makeup than a boldly-there look. My skin can’t handle layers of concealor and foundation and colour-corrector and highlighter and Touche Éclat and mattifiers and setting powders. The mere thought of applying more than two layers of product makes my skin feel clogged. But what I can handle is layers of skincare products – enter the serums, oils, peels, AHAs, BHAs, moisturizers, masks, creams, lotions and potions and I will wear them all. (Stay tuned for a post on my favourite skincare products.)

Focusing on my skincare has allowed me to wear my skin more confidently. The barely-there look has done one thing right for me, which is make me proud of my naturally flushed cheeks and slightly oily lids – it’s made me appreciate my natural skintone. I’d rather work on my uneven skin texture than simply hide it away under layers of liquid colours. Don’t get me wrong, I swear by my foundation (healthy skin allows me to wear a lightweight sheer to medium coverage foundation) and it’s the most comfortable liquid treat I’ve tried. But now I wear foundation on maybe two to three days a week and leave the remaining four to five days completely makeup free. And it’s great. (Note from the future: I now wear makeup once or twice a month!)

The choice to walk out of the house without makeup would have never crossed my mind post-high school but I have done so – to work! – in the last week. And it was great to have no one ask if I was sick or tired. Instead when I revealed I hadn’t an ounce of makeup on, there were only surprised and shocked looks and questions on how I had such great skin. Mission accomplished.

The better care we take of our skin, the better we feel. Our skin is our largest organ and it is part of our first impression. Healthy skin keeps us feeling confident and this confidence is further validated when others reaffirm our radiance. So take the time to go easy on the cover-ups for a second and instead put on a serum or a mask to bring out your natural glow rather than apply one on.

First written by me on madderandshade/wordpress on February 12, 2017

Reposted to this final madder and shade site in 2018