From The Straits Times    |

From desiccated dame to dewy-skinned damsel? Yes, please! Image: 123rf.com

Let’s “face” it, griping and grumbling from our greasy complexioned friends aside, there’s more mattifying stuff on the market than there are solutions for dry skin.

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Even worse, the flaking that’s par for the course for parched skin can make foundation application seem well nigh impossible. Happily, faking flawless skin with makeup needn’t be a futile endeavour, if you follow these top tips and tricks:    

TIP #1. Forestall flakiness by going back to basics, starting from the shower. The best thing you can do to prevent peeling? Exfoliate, exfoliate, exfoliate – but be smart about selecting your scrub.

3 tips to applying long-lasting foundation without flaking  drying! BIORE.png

ALSO READ: Tackle oily, dull and congested skin with these powerful ‘pore-ducts’

Proceed with caution if you have very tender skin, as the debriding properties of “natural” exfoliants like apricot seed kernels may prove too astringent for your particular skin type; when in doubt, ask for a sample for patch-testing before committing to a purchase. Your cleanser of choice should boast the itsy-bitsiest beads possible; for a purse-friendly buy, try Biore’s Facial Foam Scrub for its super-soft suds and gentle polishing power.

TIP #2. One down, two to go. Once you’ve stepped out of the shower, seal in all the goodness by topping up immediately with an industrial-strength hydrator. Reach for a plumping primer with moisture-locking properties; I’m obsessed with the jiggly jelly texture of Urban Decay’s new Rehab Makeup Prep Hot Springs Hydrating Gel, which is superb for smoothing out any lingering flakes. Massage a generous glob over your serum(s), using careful circular motions to buff away bits of dull, dead skin. 

TIP #3. You should be plenty pleased with how mighty good your skin is looking now. On to foundation proper. First, an important note about formulation: Steer clear of powdery talc in your cosmetics, which can come off as chalky on already bone-dry skin.

Instead, reach for richer balms that do double-duty as an emollient shield over your sensitive skin; I’m obsessed with the voluptuously velvety texture of Mac Cosmetics’ Pro Longwear Nourishing Waterproof Foundation – now available in an eyepoppingly extensive 24 shades – which glides on like a dream for a perfectly polished finish.

Oh, and invest in a flat brush for lacquering on your makeup base; the sleek bristles tempers tugging and tearing of your skin. And you’re done: Flake-free and fabulous for the day ahead. You can thank me by sharing this story with your beauty buddies. Jiayou!

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