Makeup Application Tips for Dry Skin

Oily skin definitely presents problems when it comes to makeup, since the overproduction of sebum from your pores can leave you looking shiny by lunch if you don’t continually blot and reapply powder.  And combination skin makes it extremely hard to choose a singular type of makeup because of the dual nature of skin that is equal parts oily and dry.  So the majority of women would probably love to go for dry skin if given a choice.  But alas, the grass is always greener…you know.  For those of us that deal with dry skin on a daily basis, the alternative seems more appealing.  And yet, there are many ways to prepare for the application of makeup as well as choose cosmetic formulas that will work with your skin to leave your face looking dewy, fresh, and not at all dry.  Here are a few tips for the ladies who want a flawless finish despite their battle with dryness.

1. Choose the right moisturizer.  You might think that you need to slather on the oil in order to keep your delicate facial skin hydrated, but this is something of a fallacy.  While your pores might not produce the same amount of sebum as others, that doesn’t mean you won’t suffer from breakouts if they become clogged.  While you can likely get away with oily moisturizers in a way that those with oily skin can’t, you don’t want to add a lot of shine or use products that will gunk up the works.  What you need is something that will be absorbed without leaving you greasy.  Along those lines, consider La Mer Crème de la Mer to be the best you could do (although it’s a little steep at over $100 per ounce).  On the less expensive front, try Olay Regenerist Deep Hydration Regenerating Cream (approximately $19 for a 1.7-ounce bottle), which both consumers and testers rave about.
2. Exfoliate.  Sometimes dry skin is just dry.  Other times, it’s flaky.  If you suffer from the latter, skip the harsh scrubs, which can cause minute tearing in the top layers of the skin (leading to premature wrinkles) and opt instead for a cleanser that contains hydroxy acids to aid in gentle exfoliation, and use a battery-operating facial cleansing brush (one that rotates rapidly) to slough off excess flakes.
3. Stay out of the sun.  Dry skin does not cause wrinkles; the sun does (well, that and aging).  But dry skin can exacerbate the problem because the lack of hydration can emphasize any wrinkles that do appear (where as natural oils in skin tend to minimize the look of wrinkles).  The point is, women with dry skin need to be extra vigilant about avoiding the sun in order to stave off the wrinkles that will be more visible on their faces.
4. Prep skin.  In order to give your makeup the best chance to work its magic you need to prepare the palette.  Try a smoothing primer for dry skin, like Clarins Instant Smooth Perfecting Touch (about $28), to even skin tone and create the base for flawless makeup application.  With this one a little goes a long way so start small and add if you think you need it.
5. Choose the right makeup.  With this one you’ll likely have to try different brands to find the one that not only works with your skin condition but also matches your color palette.  Here you should not be afraid to splurge a little, since it will almost certainly make a difference in your ultimate result.  For that reason, many women prefer Chanel’s Vitalumiere foundation (about $60 in department stores), on top of which you can confidently layer a powder blush (no shimmer, it will only emphasize fine lines or other imperfections), eye makeup, and even a light, loose powder if you prefer a matte finish (or alternately, other cream makeups).

Contributed by Carol Montrose