Ok, so before you start being judgemental towards the topic, let's all try to be open-minded and above all, tolerant. We are living in the 21st century now and as much as some of you may utterly hate to admit it, wearing makeup is no longer just a "women's thing".
Makeup is used for whole variety of reasons. But generally speaking, in everyday life people tend to use makeup either to freshen up and give themselves a more healthy and flushed look, or to correct or improve the way their facial features look. The skin on the face is really gentle and that is precisely why we should always take proper care for our complexion and overall facial skin. Acne, whiteheads, blackheads, scarred tissue, discoloration, dispigmentation, uneven skin tone, ingrown hairs, pimples, rashes. These are issues we all face throughout our lives and makeup is an excellent way for dealing with them.
Naturally, being men, most of us would like to avoid dewy/overdone/caky makeup and would probably go for the more subtle matte look. Being a fan of M.A.C. products, I took the liberty of gathering a few things in the image set for you to inspect and get acquainted with. I want to guide you through the makeup routine for men, aiming at a subtle natural look.
Makeup Routine:
1. Moisturizer
Why? It is of vital importance to always use a good mositurizer before applying any makeup onto your face. A moisturizer will prepare your skin for further makeup application and most importantly, will make your makeup last longer. One should always moisturize their facial skin, regardless of what time of year it is.
What? Dependeing on the type of skin you have, you may want to consult with a dermatologist, but generally, if your skin does tend to get oily throughout the day, you should go for water-based moisturizers and respectively, if your skin tends to dry out, go for oil-based ones. It is a bit tricky when it comes to combination skin (oily T-zone & dry/normal cheeks) but my personal advice is, go for water-based, as they will give you a better matte look. Another thing you should keep in mind about moisturizers is that some of them have SPF. Going for an SPF moisturizer is an excellent choice, as sun protection is vital in the fight against aging and saggy skin, dispigmentation and skin cancer. However, be wary of High SPF if you have an oily skin, as the higher the SPF in a moisturizer, the more oil-based it is.
How? You can apply a moisturizer using your hands & fingers (Sanitize before doing that!), as it sinks into the skin pretty fast. Another thing you can use is a sponge, though it will absorb a large amount of the product. A way to avoid that is by damping your sponge first and then apply your moisturizer. And last, but definitely not least, you can use a primer/foundation brush (not as fast, but truly more comfortable and less messy).
2. Concealer
Why? Concealers are highly pigmented substances, generally used for covering areas of seriously damaged skin (active acne, acne scars, dispigmentation, undereye circles etc). When choosing your concealer, aim for about two shades LIGHTER color, as generally damaged skin tends to be darker. Hence, in order to achieve truly great results, a concealer should always be 1-2 shades lighter than your natural complexion.
What? Concealers are great for covering undereye circles, pimples, discoloration and acne scars. They tend to be quite thick and offer great coverage. When it comes to consistency, they are semi-liquids/emulsions & rather thick.
How? You can apply concealers using your finger (be gentle when applying under the eyes, as the skin there is extremely gentle and may get damaged easily; use ring finger as this way you will avoid applying too much pressure), or a concealer brush. Concealer brushes are really tiny, steeply-cut or flat, rather hard bristled.
3. Foundation
Why? Foundation is generally the base of your makeup. It evens out your skin tone, gives you a healthier appearance and covers imperfections. When choosing your foundation, please, match it with your natural skin tone. This way you will blend it out a lot easier and won't have to apply as much on your neck, as when it is a different shade from your natural skin color.
What? There are three types of foundations. Creamy, liquid and powder ones. Creamy tend to be oil-based and thicker. Liquid ones are more subtle and are usually applied more easily. Powder ones do not offer great coverage, but truly give a matte look. As for consistency, different brand offer different consistency foundations, but generally if you are looking for medium-full coverage foundations, go for thicker ones such as creamy foundations. Naturally, there are foundations that are buildable (you can apply multiple layers of foundation, thus improving the coverage). If dealing with such ones, it is truly of no importance what the consistency is, as long as you blend it out and avoid accumulation at certain spots, leading to a caky look.
How? It is simple. Fingers, sponge (damp it first!) or a brush. Personally, I believe using a brush is the least messy & most hygienic way among the aforementioned ones, but ultimately, it is up to your preferences.
4. Pressed Powder
Why? Pressed powders are generally used for setting your foundation/makeup. They can make your foundation last longer and you may reapply press powder throughout the day, without worrying over your makeup becoming too obvious or caky.
What? Pressed powders absorb oil, so if you are an oily skin person, or your skin is combination type, this is an excellent way of avoiding oily spots on your face. Simply apply pressed powder and you will regain that matte finish.
How? Most pressed powders come with a circular puff and personally it is a good choice to apply this kind of powder with a puff. Sponges and fingers are out of the question. An ideal way of applying pressed powder is by using a powder brush. Powder brushes are large, round, soft and fluffy, they have large surface and can pack powder onto their bristles. Simply grab your brush, roll it in the powder and with circular motions, start from your nose or cheeks and draw the lines OUT. You may want to apply a second layer on spots where you get extra oil (forehead, nose, chin).
5. Lip Balm
Why? A lip balm (or Lip Conditioner) is a nice tool in the fight against chapped lips. For more information, refer to "Lips Alert!" (an article from 14th July 2010).
How? Most lip balms are in roll-up containers (see picture material) and are easy to apply. Of course, there are those that your require one to use their finger in order to apply it onto their lips.
I hope you found this article useful. Oh, and by the way, I am planning writing an article on drugstore makeup for the same look, but cheaper prices.
A~
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