Cakey makeup can be a total nightmare. Whether you’re at work, heading on a date, or have a girls’ night planned, the last thing you want to see when you look in the mirror is makeup that’s dry, cracked and flakey. While foundation is often blamed for cakey makeup, there are a number of things that can contribute to patchy, textured makeup, and lines and creases that look more intense than they actually are. Take a look at the reasons behind cakey makeup, plus how to fix cakey makeup without removing it!
What Causes Cakey Makeup?
Cakey makeup can be caused by an array of different things. Sometimes the reason for cakey makeup is too much product or not the right products for your skin. Other times, it’s your skin itself- it could be too dry or oily or you may not have prepped it properly. One of the most common culprits of cakey makeup is using too much powder to set your face. Not exfoliating enough is another offender, as is using formulas that are too thick. Another common cause for cakey foundation is using too much product, which can lead to uneven application.
5 Tips to Prevent Cakey Makeup
1. Skincare is Everything
Having a flawless face of makeup starts with the proper skincare. You want to have a smooth canvas to paint your makeup onto, and a hydration boost is key! Start by washing your face with a gentle face wash or micellar water. It’s also important to exfoliate your skin two to three times a week to remove dead skin cells and make your skin as smooth as possible.
For dry skin, add a hydrating face serum into your morning routine. For oily skin, a balancing toner may be helpful to remove excess oil. Follow with a lightweight moisturizer and sunscreen before starting your makeup.
2. Apply Less Makeup in Your Creases
When cakey makeup settles into fine lines, it’s not a good look. It makes your skin look dull and like you have full-on wrinkles. If your remedy is to add more makeup to these areas to hide this, you’re not alone, but it’s actually the opposite of what you should do. To help with this, apply foundation all over your face, except the areas that crease. Then, use whatever makeup is left on your makeup sponge or brush at the end to cover these areas.
3. Choose Makeup for Your Skin Type
Using the right makeup for your skin type is key to prevent cakiness, especially when it comes to foundation and concealer. If your skin is dry and you’re prone to flakiness, look for products with hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid, ceramides and squalane. If you have oily skin, try applying a setting powder before your foundation to keep your makeup from smudging and creasing.
4. Don’t Forget Makeup Primer
Makeup primer is a key step to keeping your makeup in place throughout the day. If you have oily skin, use a mattifying primer. This will prevent oil from blending into the makeup and looking cakey. If you have normal to dry skin, look for a primer with hydrating ingredients to help create a smooth, flawless canvas for long-lasting makeup application.
5. Use a Lightweight Foundation
There’s a time and place for full coverage foundation, but you shouldn’t be wearing it everyday. Look for foundations that mimic that skin and look dewy and hydrated. Tinted moisturizers like the NARS Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturizer are a great everyday product that makes your skin look glowy and hydrated. If you’re looking for a little more coverage, the e.l.f. Flawless Finish Foundation is lightweight yet buildable to create your ideal coverage.
How To Fix Cakey Makeup without Removing It
1. Absorb the Oil
Oil often comes along with cakey makeup, so if you experience both of these things, it’s a good idea to keep oil blotting papers on hand. When you notice your skin starts to look shiny, gently blot it with a sheet. If you’re going to be fixing your makeup, it’s important to rid your skin of oil first, or you could end up smearing your makeup and making things worse.
2. Use a Beauty Blender
A beauty blender can help soften and correct your makeup so that it doesn’t look so cakey. Dampen the sponge, then press and bounce it onto the areas of cakiness to manipulate and move things out of the way.
3. Re-Hydrate the Eyes
Under eye creases are a telltale sign of cakey makeup, and to fix this you need to add some hydration back into the skin. Use a moisturizing face spray to hydrate your fine lines and dissolve powdery residue. Spritz it onto a clean makeup sponge, dab it on the back of your hand to get rid of the excess, then lightly press it over your under eye concealer to fix the dryness.
4. Use a Hydrating Face Spray
Once you’ve made fixes to your makeup, spritz a water-based facial spray to refresh your makeup and prevent it from drying out again. If you have dry skin, you’ll probably have to mist more often, as your skin will quickly absorb the spray. Regular spritzing throughout the day will keep your skin healthy and your makeup glowy.
5. Steam Things Up
This only works if you’re at home, but boil a pot of water and when it starts emitting steam, place it in a bowl and carefully let the steam waft towards your face. This will help soften and loosen the foundation, and your makeup will be a lot more emollient. Use your beauty blender to gently move things around, then slightly set with a loose powder afterwards.
If you find your makeup gets cakey more easily than you’d like it to, use these tips to prevent and fix cakey makeup!
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