Beauty...
Be your own
kind of beautiful
Be your own
kind of beautiful
by Molly Sims
The days of a fierce contour and a bold lipstick are far behind us, at least for now. Face masks have taken precedence in our new beauty routines and to be frank, it hasn’t all been smooth sailing. The constant makeup transfer on my mask, the lipstick that never saw the light of day, and the unfathomable “mask-ne” that began appearing along my jawline. Every obstacle seemed to be worse than the next. A simple solution would be to not put on any makeup all-together, but there is still a part of me that yearns for a sense of normalcy. Basically, I wasn’t willing to give up on makeup, so I simply adjusted.
I realized that a full makeup look was no longer necessary. My skin was craving minimal, hydrating, and lightweight makeup. This, my friends, was the golden ticket. While my favorite red and mauve-y lipsticks may be taking a hiatus for a while, it allowed me to focus more on my eyes and brows. Embracing the few visible aspects of my face that are actually seen while wearing a face mask. I’m taking the expression “smile with your eyes” and exemplifying it.
Below is my 6-step makeup routine for when I am wearing a face mask. A simple, yet strategic process that hydrates, glows, but over-all-else, helps to prevent my skin from getting irritated while wearing a face mask.
Face masks are an instant makeup “smudger”. Limit the unwanted makeup transfer by applying a primer to your face. My go-to primers are ones that have a nice, luminous glow such as Laura Mercier Pure Canvas Illuminating Primer. To add an extra hydrating layer, I suggest the Laura Mercier Pure Canvas Hydrating Primer. The extra hydration will help to create a barrier on your skin from getting irritated while wearing a face mask. If you tend to have skin that gets oily— I would suggest a mattifying primer such as the Fenty Pro Filt’r Mattifying Primer.
I have found that foundation is too thick to wear under a face mask, especially for an extended period of time. I started noticing breakouts along my jawline from the suffocation and sweat that was trapped inside. My skin was gasping for air! I switched from a foundation to a lightweight, tinted moisturizer and/or cc cream that contained sunscreen. No more clogged pores.
I typically always reach for my IT Cosmetics CC+ Illumination with Broad Spectrum 50 because I love the subtle radiance and it’s color-correcting ingredients. Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer Natural Skin Protector Broad Spectrum SPF 30 is also a great product that gives just enough coverage while also hydrating for up to 24 hours.
Since your eyes are the only thing visible, have them make a statement. Swipe on your favorite voluminous mascara and apply a shimmering eyeshadow to make your eyes pop. When using mascara, I start from the base and work my way up to create the illusion of longer, thicker lashes. I also use my fingertips to apply my Tom Ford Brut Eye eyeshadow and/or Stila “Starlight” Eyeshadow to create a more flawless blend. A bit of mascara and a bit of shadow on my eyes are the perfect combo for a done-up, but minimal effort makeup look while wearing a face mask.
There is nothing quite sexier than a fierce brow. I do a quick brow fill using my Anastasia Brow Wiz and a subtle swipe of my Beautycounter Brilliant Brow Gel to lock my pesky hairs in place. It’s really all you need for gorgeous looking brows in no time.
Lipstick is irrelevant these days and a tinted lip balm is all the rage. The mouth area tends to be the prime spot where your skin can get irritated and chapped. A hydrating lip balm is the thirst quencher your lips were looking for! Not only will your lips feel soft and protected, but you’ll have a subtle tint on them that will give a flush of effortless color to your complexion. You can find my favorite tinted lip balms here.
At last, give a few spritzes of Anastasia Dewy Setting Spray to your minimal makeup look and let dry. This will keep your makeup in place and create limited transfer to your mask so you can take on the day worry and smudge-free.
