Summer officially started on Sunday, June 20th, but outside has been all the way open for some time now (especially in Georgia). Not just essential places of business like the grocery store, doctor’s offices, post offices, etc., but your favorite brunch spot is open, the cigar bar and hookah lounge is open, and Sunday Funday is in full effect. If you are like anybody else, you have a closet full of outfits and shoes waiting to see the light of day. Kudos to you if your clothes that were purchased before 2020 still fit, and a big ass Nene Leakes eye roll to everybody else that has to buy new clothes because you actually lost weight in 2020. Anyway, a dope ass outfit is only complete with a beat face. It’s like serving the potato salad without the sprinkle of paprika on top, or washing the dishes without wiping down the stove and sweeping the kitchen floor afterward.
According to the US Coronavirus vaccine tracker, only about 54% of the population has received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. We probably (definitely) won’t ever reach 100% of individuals receiving that first dose, so it’s safe to say that I am not the only one still wearing a mask in public places. And just because I have a mask on doesn’t mean my face isn’t beat underneath. I have been through enough disposable and reusable masks to know what makeup techniques work best when I am trying to preserve my beat. I have learned that it’s more about the technique than the specific products so that your makeup doesn’t end up in your mask. I can only speak for myself, but if I want my makeup to last ALL DAY like a Disney Princess in the hot Florida sun, these are the steps that I follow.
Primer
Set your primer (yes, set your primer) with translucent powder
Foundation (make sure you spray your brush or sponge with setting spray)
You can also add a little powder to your foundation to make it last longer
Concealer (under your eyes)
Set your concealer with setting powder
Banana powder
More setting powder (whole face)
Setting spray
Then add any extras such as highlighter, bronzer, blush, eyeliner, etc.
Finish with setting spray
I know these are a lot of steps, but I only employ them on special occasions where I am surrounded by small groups of vaccinated individuals and I will be mask-free. I also tend to fill in my brows after I apply primer but before foundation, and I stay away from “dewy” products. Like I mentioned before, these steps work for my super oily skin, so feel free to play around and adjust as necessary. If you need a visual tutorial to walk you through everything, beauty influencer Jackie Aina has a great tutorial on smudge-free makeup, and I have provided another from Maya Galore.
Check out the videos and let me know what you think! Are you ready to reveal that full face under your mask, or are you going for a fresh face?