sensitive skin skincare and makeup routine

The best makeup tips for sensitive skin

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If you suffer from sensitive skin, you’ll know that makeup can be somewhat of a challenge! After all you don’t want to spend your hard-earned dollars purchasing products that are only going to exacerbate your already compromised complexion!

Unfortunately when it comes to sensitive skin, choosing the right makeup products for your skin’s specific needs, as well as adopting gentle preparation and application techniques, are imperative! To help guide you, below we reveal the top 9 makeup tips for sensitive skin sufferers and the best makeup products for you to try too! Products that will both help conceal and sooth your sensitive skin without any irritation. Sound good? Keep reading!

 

  1. Understand your skin

Before you even consider your makeup, you need to really understand your skin. As well as being sensitive, is it dry? Oily? Combination perhaps? Do you have any specific skin conditions like rosacea or eczema? Are their certain ingredients that cause your skin to flair up? Understanding your skins unique needs will help you choose the right products.

  1. Check ingredients

When selecting makeup products for sensitive skin, read labels carefully. You want to avoid highly fragranced products which are very likely to cause a negative reaction with sensitive skin. Also avoid, drying alcohols, witch hazel, citrus and products that contain a high % of essential oils. Another problem can be preservatives, particularly methylisothiazolinone and methylcholorisothiazoline which are often used to replace parabens, these are known sensitisers when used in leave on products.

Instead look for terms like “fragrance-free” and “hypoallergenic”. This means that the makeup has been tested and proven to be less likely to cause irritation. Also check the label for ”non-comedogenic”. Non-comedogenic makeup is less likely to clog your pores, which can lead to breakouts.

Mineral makeup will be your because bet, because its fragrance-free, hypoallergic and non-comedogenic and it tends to be packed with soothing, skin loving ingredients instead of ingredients that can cause irritation.

  1. Choose the right shade

When it comes to choosing colours avoid products that are too yellow.  Red skin and yellow makeup = orange complexion.  Neutral shades are best for you and will help reduce the redness harmoniously.

  1. Patch test your products

Before applying any new product to your face we recommend patch testing first to check for any allergic reactions or irritation. Either apply the product on an area like the back of your wrist or by apply a very small amount to your jawline.

  1. Make sure your skin is properly prepped

Before diving into makeup, it’s imperative to start with a clean canvas. Use a gentle, sensitive skin cleanser to remove any impurities. Next, it’s time to moisturise. Sensitive skin can be on the dry side too, so it’s important to add nourishment. Opt for a moisturiser specifically designed to sooth and hydrate sensitive skin, this will lock in hydration and create a smooth base for the makeup to follow! We are loving Phytomer’s Douceur Marine Soothing Moisturising Cream. It is beautifully silky in texture, soothing on the skin and visibly reduces skin redness. What’s more, its deeply hydrating without feeling greasy or heavy.

Take only the size of a pea and pat the product into the skin to allow it to absorb slowly and naturally.  You should also add a sunscreen with high SPF for a layer of added protection, this will help prevent sun damage and premature skin ageing like fines lines and wrinkles. We recommend: ELES Luminous Defence Brightening Day Protection 50

ELES - Luminous Defence Brightening Day Protection 50

  1. It’s time to prime

All hail the makeup primer! This product will really be your best friend. A makeup primer will not only help create longer lasting makeup, but it will create a barrier between your skin and makeup reducing the risk of irritation too! Choose a gentle formula. We love ELES Retexturizing Face Primer

ELES Retexturizing Face Primer

To learn more about primers and just how good they are click here.

  1. Go light

If you use foundation, go for a breathable, lightweight liquid formula.

We love the best-selling ELES Liquid Powder Mineral Foundation. It’s silky, mineral-enriched and provides skin with broad spectrum sun protection. It liquid formulated glides beautifully onto sensitive skin setting as a soft, powder finish, however it does not clog skin! Brilliant stuff.

Another option is to look for multi-tasking products that treat, conceal and even tone in one.  A tall ask?  Not when it comes to CC Creams! These miracle formulas are colour correcting.  So instead of applying a thick layer of opaque makeup to cover redness, the CC Cream’s Photonic Crystal Technology “offsets” redness, wrinkles and other skin imperfections, subtly illuminating the skin.  This means less coverage is required, better for your sensitive skin! Try: ELES Luminous CC Cream 20, you’ll be so glad you did!

ELES - CC Cream 20

To add colour or depth to your skin, you can incorporate a blush or bronzer too. You’re best to just choose mineral formulations once again, but make sure you choose powder over cream base. Cream-based products can sometimes clog pores or cause unnecessary irritation.

  1. Less is always more

It’s better to start with a light layer of makeup and build up coverage as needed than to apply too much makeup at once. Too much makeup can irritate sensitive skin and clog your pores.

  1. Remove your makeup at the end of the day.

It’s imperative to remove any makeup from your skin at the end of the day. Leaving impurities in the skin while you sleep will lead to more sensitivity!  Allow your skin to perform its natural repair and regeneration at night by removing all your makeup and the day’s pollutants and you’ll wake up to a much calmer skin. While it may be tempting to coat your skin in rich and protective creams and oils, it’s better to drench it with lightweight moisture that will encourage better cell regeneration and protein rebuilding.

We adore Phytomer’s Night Recharge Youth Enhancing Cream. Perfectly silky and soothing it literally envelopes your skin in nourishment and comfort and helps boost your skin’s renewal as you sleep so you’ll wake up to calmer, plumper skin by morning. Obsessed.

Phytomer - Night Recharge Youth Enhancing Cream

Beauty Collective - flawless foundation

10 quick tips for mastering flawless foundation

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Ever wondered why some peoples skin looks soo darn perfect but no matter how hard you try yours never seems to have that same flawless finish, even though you’ve invested in a foundation that promised to deliver beautifully photo filtered skin? The thing is its not just about your foundation choice, it’s also about how you prep your skin, as well as apply your makeup too!

Keep reading as we reveal our top 10 tips for achieving that flawless makeup base every time – your secret weapon for a smooth, radiant complexion.

 

  1. Invest in quality

When it comes to foundation, quality matters. Its best to save your pennies and splurge on a reputable brand. High-quality foundations tend to have better coverage, longevity, and are less likely to clog pores and cause blemish breakouts!

 

  1. Choose the right type

From mineral to traditional formulations, matte foundation to tinted moisturiser, oil-free to liquid, powder to stick and more, there is a foundation out there for every skin type and need, but with so many options on the market, it’s not always easy knowing which is likely the best for you! Understanding your skin and its needs will help dictate what foundation type you should go for.  Oily skin? Your best to choose a matte foundation, skin feeling a little dehydrated and dry? Give a tinted moisturiser or BB Cream a go. And just to complicate matters there are traditional and mineral formulations too! For more information on choosing the right makeup base for your skin click here.

  1. Select the right shade

You’ve heard about this new foundation you really want to buy, but you’ve noticed there are numerous shades to pick from which definitely feels like a very daunting task! First things first, you want to choose a foundation shade that has the same undertones as your skin. Either ‘cool’ or ‘warm’. If you have a warm complexion go with a shade that has yellow undertones, if your complexion is on the cool side, a foundation with a pink undertone will be best (to tell which undertones your skin has, look at your veins on the back of your arms. People with blue or purplish-looking veins usually have cooler undertones. If your veins, on the other hand, look a greenish colour, then you have warm undertones.

Next select a couple of shades that you think are a close match to your skin colour. Forget testing them on your arm and test directly on the face instead, swiping the shades side-by-side down your cheek towards your jawline. The shade that seemingly disappears is the one you want!

  1. Prep your skin

Now you’ve chosen your foundation and shade, it’s time to get applying, but before you do it’s VERY important to remember that correct skincare preparation is key when it comes to mastering flawless foundation, why? Because it allows the product you’re applying to sit perfectly on your skin!

So first things first, you need to cleanse, tone and moisturise your face to ensure it is both hydrated and smooth. These steps not only help makeup application but also promotes healthy skin in the long run.

 

  1. It’s time to prime

Even though you might well have followed a rigorous skincare routine, your complexion can sometimes still be a little uneven, so a makeup primer is a must! A makeup primer provides the perfect base for seamless foundation application free of any patches! This is because a primers main job is to fill the open pores of your skin and smooth it in preparation for your foundation, it will also help your makeup to last longer!

Choose a primer that addresses your specific skin concerns, whether it’s hydration, mattifying, or colour-correcting. Our top picks include;

For dry to sensitive skin

If your skin is a little dry, opt for a multi-functional face primer that will keep makeup in place, while hydrating, firming and plumping the skin with a gentle blend of nourishing botanical oils. Try the ELES Retexturizing Face Primer. Not only does this soothing, lightweight serum feel like actual silk on your skin, it basically helps protect, condition, smooth and blur out skin imperfections too! Want to look like a filtered goodness, and have makeup last the distance, try this!

ELES Retexturizing Face Primer

For combination to oily skin

If your skin tends to be on the oilier side, we recommend opting for the ELES Pore Perfecting Face Primer. Not only does it keep makeup in place it also combats shine, absorbs excess oil and also reduces the appearance of pores to keep your foundation looking smooth and flawless! Genius!ELES Pore Perfecting Face Primer

  1. Using the correct makeup tools are important too

Your fingers are great, but investing in the right makeup tools can take your foundation game to the next level. This is because the key to a truly flawless base is mastering the art of blending. Foundation that isn’t blended well can look heavy and imperfect.

Get yourself armed with a few good brushes and a Beauty Blender, they will help you achieve that much more desired airbrushed effect. Plus a beauty blender will enable you to reach every contour of your face. Try; ELES Pro-Blender Sponge

ELES Pro-Blender sponge

  1. Build up gradually

Less is always more when it comes to foundation. Start with a small amount and build it up gradually to avoid a cakey appearance. Remember, you can always add more, but it’s challenging to take off excess product once it’s applied.

 

  1. Conceal with care

While foundation does a great job of evening out your skin tone, it might not cover all imperfections entirely. Use a creamy, pigmented concealer to spot-treat blemishes, dark circles, and redness. Gently blend the concealer with a brush or beauty blender for a seamless finish.

  1. Set, set, set

Now it’s time to lock your masterpiece in place with a light dusting of translucent powder. This step helps control excess oil and keeps your foundation from budging throughout the day. Remember, moderation is key to avoiding a flat and powdery look.

Beauty Collective ELES - HD Translucent Powder

  1. Don’t forget your neck

Last but not least, always blend your foundation down your neck to ensure a seamless transition between your face and body.