Makeup is fun, and since it needs to be applied with care, it’s something we take time out to do. The slow, deliberate motions, the beautiful colors and mild fragrance and finally your finished face – it’s akin to a good self-care session in your day! But then it is equally important to follow a pre and post makeup skin care routine that will go a long way to protect your skin from all that you have applied on your face.

So you’ve gotten all the right tools and products and are now a pro at contouring and blending. But what about your skin before you apply your makeup and after it all comes off? Are you paying any attention to how your skin feels?

Each makeup product is made of several components, and when you apply multiple products on your face, you are also applying an entire cocktail of ingredients. Not prepping your skin for a pre and post makeup skin care routine or leaving everything on your skin all day and night can both result in accumulated impurities, clogged pores and damaged skin.

So should you skip makeup altogether? Of course not! All you need to do is to follow a proper pre and post makeup skincare routine that’ll keep your skin safe and protected, while also ensuring it stays nourished and naturally glowing. So whether you’re going out with a face full of makeup or completely au naturel, you’re sure to look gorgeous!

So let’s quickly take a look at pre and post makeup skin care routine that you must follow to maintain the pH balance of your skin and not strip it off the natural oils.

Pre and Post Makeup Skin care Routine

Prepping your skin before applying makeup is an important step for multiple reasons. One is that it helps the makeup sit better on your face, giving it a more wholesome look and making it appear less like you’ve applied something. However, the more important benefit is that it helps to create a protective layer between the makeup and skin, ensuring the skin is insulated from all the ingredients in your makeup.

Pre Makeup Routine

Cleansing your skin

Cleansing your skin is the most important part of a pre-make-up routine because you need your skin to be wiped off the accumulated dirt, grime and oils. If your skin is dry you can do a double cleanse where you massage your face with a facial oil, wipe off with cotton pads soaked in warm water and then use a gentle cleansing face wash preferably that is chemical-free. Creamy cleansers are ideal for dry skin. You can opt for foaming cleansers for an oily skin. For sensitive skin, opt for a face wash that has tea tree oil or peppermint oils because these work well to clean the accumulated oils.

Exfoliate your skin

Once or twice a week, or before special occasions, indulge in some exfoliation. This step gets rid of the dead skin cells on the surface of the skin and reveals fresh, younger skin underneath. It offers a smoother surface for the makeup to go on. You can use a homemade scrub with ingredients like oatmeal, sugar or orange peel. While at it, give your lips a scrub too, which helps tackle discoloration.

Opt for a DIY

If you haven’t slept well or have been spending too much time in front of a screen, you may have a puffy undereye area that can take a lot of effort to conceal with makeup. Instead, spend some time by placing some cold cucumber slices or chilled tea bags on your eyes for 10 minutes. These have a soothing and anti inflammatory effect and reduce puffiness. 

Seal with a toner

Once your skin is clean and fresh, it’s time to apply toner. Toners close pores and gives your skin a tight, firm look. Avoid toners with alcohol and go for natural ingredients like rose water, aloe vera, tea tree oil and other natural ingredients. Soak a cotton pad in the toner and rub it gently all over your face. Wait till the toner has dried up before moving to the next step. 

Look up the toners from Juicy Chemistry. They have a varied range of toners suitable for most skin types. You can use the code PRATIBHA to get a discount when you shop at Juicy Chemistry.

Prepping the base

If you use a face serum or face oil, now is the time to apply it. A face oil gives your skin that dewy, plump look and keeps it hydrated all day long. This step is recommended if you have dry skin. After applying the serum, wait for it to get completely absorbed before proceeding to the next step. Once the serum has been absorbed, apply your favorite moisturizer all over the face.

Moisturize your face and neck

Moisturizing your face is crucial step that shouldn’t be missed, since not only is it essential for long term skin health, it also helps your makeup sit better on your skin. Instead of massaging the cream into your face, pat it in – this gives your skin look rosier and brighter by drawing the blood to the surface of the skin. Wait for at least 5 minutes so the moisturizer has time to really sink in. If your moisturizer does not have SPF, apply a broad spectrum sunscreen after moisturizing and let it get absorbed completely. If you are stepping out, apply the sunscreen at least 30 minutes before you step outdoors.

Don’t forget your lips!

Lipsticks and lip glosses can be extremely drying to the delicate skin on the lips, so be sure to apply a lip balm. Keep it non-tinted so that it doesn’t interfere with your lip color. And if you are set for all chemical-free products, do give the awesome range of lip tints from Daughter Earth a try. Guess what? They double up as a lint tint that stays long, and can be also used as blush. Made with completely chemical-free ingredients, these are a boon to the skin and also they are totally vegan.

Want a discount? Use the code Pratibha15off to get some love!

Get ready to prime

The next step is priming, which can be considered a bridge from your skincare routine to your makeup. A primer fills in the pores and creases, smoothens out your skin and also increases the life of your makeup. A primer prevents makeup from caking up and filling up in the lines and creases of your face.

Now your skin is ready for your makeup! Once you are all done and ready, spritz your face with a rose water mist. This extends the glow of your makeup and refreshes your face instantly. Go with 100% natural rose water free from chemicals.

At the end of your day, no matter how tired you are, you absolutely must take off all your makeup. Leaving it on while you go to bed is a sure fire recipe for clogged pores, breakouts and infections thanks to all the dirt, sweat and pollutants that have accumulated through the course of the day. Follow a proper post makeup skincare routine to get rid of every last trace of makeup and keep your skin fresh and healthy.

Post Makeup Routine

Wipe off that make-up

As you can guess, the very first step is to take off all your makeup. Choose an oil based cleanser for this, or go with natural oils like coconut or olive. Simply massage your face gently till the oil lifts off all the makeup. Follow up by wiping with a soft face towel. Another gentle alternative is micellar water that is ideal for sensitive skin. Never rub the eye area – use enough product and wipe gently to get rid of waterproof eye makeup.

Cleanse your face

Once the makeup has been removed, it’s time to wash your face with a water based cleanser. This gets rid of any traces of leftover makeup as well as all the dirt, sweat and grime your face has collected during the day. Rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water that will open up the pores and clean them out thoroughly.

Spritz a toner

Pat dry your face and apply a toner. This step helps restore the pH level of your skin after all that makeup. A good toner will help firm up the skin and get rid of any built up residue. If you notice any makeup on your cotton pad after applying the toner, it is a sign that you haven’t gotten rid of all your makeup successfully. Wait for the toner to dry completely before moving to the next step.

Apply your night serum

Apply a face serum to provide some much needed nourishment to your skin. Choose a serum to target any specific skin issues you may have, like extreme dryness or hyperpigmentation. The end of the day is a good time to apply serum, especially for those with oily skin. Let the serum take its time to sink into the skin completely.

Use an under-eye cream

Your eyes and lips need equal care before you call it a day! Choose a light under-eye cream, dab with your fingertips around the eye area and massage gently till the cream is soaked in completely. While you are at it, dab a bit of a lip balm to keep the lips moisturized too.

When buying makeup, try to get products that are ‘non-comedogenic’ or ‘non-acnegenic’. These won’t clog pores or cause breakouts and will minimize any damage to your skin. Together with the right products and a consistent skincare routine, you’ll have lovely skin whether you wear makeup or not! And that is all that you need to follow in your pre and post makeup skin care routine.

‘This post is a part of Blogchatter Half Marathon.’