What Moisturizer Should I Use Before Applying Makeup?

We’ve all had our mishaps with moisturizers and makeup. A moisturizer that’s too thick or creamy might not let that foundation stay put. Instead it pills up or peels off. Or maybe the makeup goes on fine, but then later flakes or fills in the cracks as the skin underneath starts to dry. A combination of mismatched products can be the bane of your beauty routine. It’s important to identify which ingredients complement each other as well as your skin type to help you achieve that flawless look you want.

Ideally, you should have a regular regimen that includes moisturizing in the morning and evening, and not just slap a bit on before you do your makeup. That way your skin is already supple and you’re not just layering on products in a last ditch effort to do something before you rush out the door. Somewhere in your beauty routine you should be sure to include the often overlooked but ever so necessary step of exfoliation.

There are two ways to exfoliate, and many reasons why you should. You can exfoliate either mechanically or chemically. The former is when you use a facial scrub or material to physically remove the skin’s dead cells from the surface, and the latter involves certain types of acids that aid in dissolving those dead cells and detritus. The purpose of exfoliation is to help along the cycle that our skin goes through naturally in order to reduce build up of skin cells that can clog pores and make the skin look dull. Another benefit to exfoliation is that now you’re not just adding moisturizer and makeup on top of a heap of dead skin cells. Okay, maybe not “a heap,” but whatever words it takes to inspire you to exfoliate!

Another way to make sure your skin is moving steadily through this skin renewal cycle is to keep your skin moisturized. This brings us back to the original question. What type of moisturizer to use? Well let’s talk about what type of skin you’re working with, and take a look at several options that perfectly prepare your skin for that first step of foundation. We’ll also share some ideas on how to keep that makeup looking fresh and how to protect your skin in the process. So with all these considerations in mind, let’s get to it.

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1. Is this normal?

Not sure what skin type you have? If you don’t deal with excessive dryness or feel like you’re always shiny with oily skin, then you’re probably somewhere in the middle with what we call normal skin. However, that doesn’t mean you’re done or dismissed from the discussion! You still need to take care of your face first before you go. As with any skin type, regular exfoliation, cleansing, toning, and moisturizing is a must.

If you have normal skin and aren’t yet at the point where you are particularly concerned with wrinkles (AKA you’re still relatively young), then for you there’s a perfect potion (I suppose I mean lotion, but for all intents and purposes potion seems pretty apt).

Viviane Woodard’s Clean Finish Moisturizer is specially formulated to enhance your skin’s cell turnover while providing deep hydration. If certain creams leave your face feeling sticky, you will love this light blend that smooths over your skin without weighing you down. If you’re an out and about active kind of person, you’ll love how it lets your skin breathe and works perfectly under a light layer of makeup. It also functions fine with any beauty products, so you really can’t go wrong.

2. For the perfect balancing act

If your skin is on the oily side, you may think you don’t need to worry as much about moisture because your skin seems to be working overtime to produce it. However, oily skin is not necessarily an indication of hydration. In fact, it can often be the opposite. You can have any type of skin – oily, normal, combination, or dry – and it still may be temporarily dehydrated. Some symptoms may include skin sensitivity or tightness, but it’s also about texture. If you pinch a piece of your skin and see that it’s kind of crinkly and shiny, it may be silently hollering out for some hydration.

Oily skin is the result of excess sebum produced by the skin’s sebaceous glands. Though sebum protects the skin with its waxy, oily texture, if there’s too much it can also clog pores and cause irritation and acne. Oftentimes in trying to treat those symptoms, those of us with oily skin go overboard and dry ourselves out. The important thing with oily skin is balance. You don’t want to strip away natural oils, but you do want to tackle out of control breakouts and greasiness.

There are a few ways to try to reduce some of the oil on your skin while still maintaining a healthy level of moisture. Some options have to do with what you put in your body, not just on your skin. It’s impossible to alter your genes to give yourself the perfect complexion (well, at least as far as I know it still is, but scientific advancements do seem to move swiftly these days). So in the meantime, try to enhance your body’s own natural process of flushing out your system of toxins. Remember to drink a lot of water, while avoiding an exorbitant amount of trans fats and greasy foods. Having a healthy diet can help your skin to some extent, as can using oatmeal or clay facial masks, blotting papers, and water-based makeup.

Finding the right moisturizer for oily skin is essential. You want to balance and beautify the skin, while controlling the excess oil. Viviane Woodard’s Balancing Moisturizer blends all of the necessary elements into one marvelous mix. It has vitamins, antioxidants, and plant extracts that are especially helpful to keep over-producing oily pores in check. The formula hydrates and heals, while delivering moisture deep down into the epidermis so it can successfully shed the oily dead skin cells. After you smooth it on for several weeks, you’re sure to see and feel the difference in the softness and evenness in your skin. You’ll feel like you have a new foundation from which to work your makeup magic.

3. Don’t leave your skin high and dry

Now that we’ve covered normal and oily, it’s time to give some love to dry skin. Sometimes our skin changes throughout our life, so even if we didn’t start off with dry skin, it may have creeped up on us at a more advanced age. Or, perhaps your skin has always been on the dry side, and you’ve yet to find your moisturizing match.

While it may sound like the name of a Greek goddess, xerosis is the medical term for dry skin, and it happens when you’re not naturally producing enough sebum to moisturize your face at the bare minimum. When the skin lacks moisture in its outer layer it could be due to or exacerbated by certain factors like cold and dry air, excessive washing, or conditions like psoriasis or dermatitis. Habits like smoking, or not consuming enough water can also worsen the situation. Dry skin becomes more common as we get older, so don’t despair, you’re not the only one!

Dry skin can give you a flaky, itchy, and irritated surface, which makes makeup that much harder to apply. Applying foundation in these situations often accentuates the negative, almost like you’re running a highlighter across every wrinkle and crack to call attention to it. As with all skin types, you can’t completely change what nature gives you, but you can care for it in a way to make it as smooth, supple, and soft as possible. That way your makeup can glide on and stay put.

If you’re in search of a solution for dry or aging skin Viviane Woodard’s Enriched Moisturizer is the holy grail of hydration. It dives deep into the skin to deliver antioxidants and nutrients that are designed to deal with dryness, and can combat damage caused by environmental factors. You’ll enjoy the water-based but creamy feel to this moisturizer as it quenches your thirsty skin and gives it a lustrous look once again. In other words, buh-bye dry!

See Related: Natural Exfoliator Skinodyssey™ with Glycolic Acid

4. Wake up your skin, and yourself

We often think of moisturizers as coming in the form of creams and lotions, but let’s remember that other wonderful way to moisturize…the spray, the spritz, the mist! Water is life, and there’s nothing like a spray to brighten your day.

A moisturizing spray is one more delivery system to bring back some life to your listless skin. And when it comes to makeup, you can use it both before and after you apply.

If you incorporate the spray into your cleanse, tone, and moisturize trio of skin treatment, then you can insert it before that last step of moisturizing lotion. Just wait a couple moments after you spray, so that it’s all absorbed. Then you can apply your moisturizer and wait again a few moments before starting your makeup routine. You just want to give a minute or more for all that moisturizer to really make its way in before you break out the foundation. Some makeup artists suggest starting with the eyes during this time so that shadow and mascara don’t mess up the foundation, but any which way you work it, just make sure you start with a slightly tacky buy not sticky or slippery surface.

In my opinion, the great thing about a moisturizing spray is that it’s lightweight enough to moisturize and not mess up makeup that’s already been applied. Sometimes after you’ve made it through to the afternoon, both you and your face are feeling a little over it. Your skin may start to look dull, or maybe some of what you’ve applied has fallen through the cracks (all too literally). This is a great time for a quick spritz of that spray to brighten your skin and recharge your day. A few pumps can prep your skin for some straightening out of any areas where there may have been makeup mishaps. It gives new life to the foundation you have on your face and lets you add a little more on if that’s what’s called for at the moment.

Not all face sprays are created equal, however. You want to look for ingredients that actually help hydrate the skin and aren’t just comprised of fillers and fruity smells. While those may be nice aromatically and wake you up a little by virtue of spraying you in the face with water, they won’t necessarily moisturize your skin. Viviane Woodard’s Intensive Hydration Mist is a magnificent blend that boasts the hydrating rockstar, hyaluronic acid. The body naturally produces hyaluronic acid, a clear substance that works as a cushion and lubricant in connective tissues and joints, and does so by retaining water and locking in moisture. When you give the skin an extra dose of it, you help it along with this important regenerative work. As a bonus, this particular spray also contains antimicrobial elements and antioxidants. Basically, it’s a must have in your beauty bag.

5. It’s prime time, and you’re the star

The skin needs moisturization, protection, and if you’re wearing makeup, a little preparation. In this case preparation means readying your skin for the next step.

For the best results, you want to apply your makeup over a layer of primer that helps minimize the appearance of pores, and provides a smooth surface over which you can spread your foundation. This is a step that a lot of people skip, but if you want to wear your look all day long, it really helps to minimize the shine and help keep makeup in place.

If you love trying DIY skincare recipes, there are actually a lot of options out there when it comes to primers. Here’s an easy one to try where all you need is aloe vera gel and almond oil:

There is at least one thing missing from this DIY primer, though, and that is something to protect you from the sun. If your makeup doesn’t have sunscreen, making sure your primer does is a smart move. Luckily Viviane Woodard’s Retexturizing Face Primer checks off all of the must-have beauty boxes. It fills in fine lines, protects your face with SPF 20, and leaves your skin with a silky soft finish that’s the perfect canvas upon which you can work your makeup magic. Plus it’s formulated without parabens, gluten, oil, or fragrance. It’s a great final step in your skincare routine before moving on to do your makeup.

As you can see, which moisturizer you should use before applying makeup depends on your preferences and skin type, and there are great options like moisturizing sprays you might want to add into the mix. Try to remember to give your skin some added protection with SPF, and you’re well on your way to enjoying another beautiful day, looking gorgeous as usual.

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For over 60 years, Viviane Woodard has represented “The Purity of Skincare”. We are the leading beauty brand for water-based skin care products and promote the importance of good skin hydration. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest for skin care tips, product discounts and more.