Yes, finding a foundation you love that is a perfect match is a huge step for flawless looking skin, but that doesn’t mean you should skip the prep-work. Prepping your skin correctly can take any face makeup to its peak performance. We aren’t just talking primers, even though they are a crucial step. Prepping starts in the very beginning of the daily skincare process, or as early as the night before. Think of how nicely your makeup goes on after a facial, so you get the idea.

Start off with exfoliating. Nothing is worse than patchy dry skin with makeup on it. In fact, if your skin looks good, you actually don’t need to use as much product. Exfoliate in the morning or the night before for a smoother outcome. Make your life easier by using CLINIQUE Pep-Start 2-in-1 Exfoliating Cleanser. Next, use a toner to balance out your PH. A new trick I learned from a makeup artist is drenching yourself with MAC Fix Plus. I have yet to try this, but many people swear by it.

At this point, you would probably just rush ahead to the moisturizer, but I suggest using a serum because it will hydrate your skin deep down in the pores. One with hyaluronic acid Vitamin C is ideal. Also, don’t forget your lips and eye area. Now that your skin is nourished, go pick out your outfit to give all the products a few minutes to absorb before you start applying your primer and foundation. 

Aline Agopian