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I’m pretty sure that “makeup tips when wearing a face mask” is a trend on Google this past year when it comes to beauty. Even the skin condition ‘maskne’ was invented during this pandemic.
Many women seek makeup and skincare tips when wearing a face mask. Wearing a face mask all the time is not only annoying but can also impact the skin, causing outbreaks and irritation.
When I started wearing face masks, I stepped up my skincare game and stopped wearing a full face of makeup. What’s the point, right? Although sometimes I do miss a bold red lip when in uniform.
My current makeup and skincare routine works for me and gives me flawless, healthy skin most of the time. Hopefully, this can work for you too!
Makeup tips when wearing a face mask
If you’re wearing makeup, it’s almost impossible not to have makeup transferred onto your face mask. No makeup doesn’t come off a little bit unless it’s translucent.
It’s not for everyone, but I recommend not wearing a full face of makeup when wearing a face mask. Foundations and bronzers are not smudge-proof.
The best thing is to focus on the part showing, which is the eyes and to spot treat any blemishes. Creating a fresh and natural-looking face can be done with fewer items, without the need for loads of foundations and powders.
Before we move on to the makeup tips you need to know when wearing a face mask, we need to talk about skincare first. Your makeup will only look good when the base underneath is good.
This means a proper skincare routine and well moisturised and prepped skin. If you focus on healthy glowy looking skin, there is no need for makeup.
1. Primer
Even though primer can be skipped, I found it helpful to create a flawless-looking base since we’re cutting heavy makeup. Prep your face with a primer that targets your problem areas.
If your skin is dry, use a hydrating primer or a mattifying primer if your skin is oily. The Laura Mercier Illuminating Primer is a fantastic primer to get that dewy look, and it helps your makeup stay put during the day.
The Laura Mercier Pure Canvas line have a hydrating, perfecting and blurring primer available to suit everyone’s skincare needs.
2. Colour correct and conceal
Use a colour corrector and a concealer to spot treat any blemishes and dark circles under the eyes. This is an essential step into creating a fresh, awake looking face.
The Becca Under Eye Brightening Corrector is a great product to conceal any dark circles. This product is very pigmented, and a little goes a long way.
The Maybelline Age Rewind Nude Concealer is a fantastic drugstore concealer. I use this concealer all the time on top of a colour corrector. Using concealer is an essential step into looking fresh and awake.
Don’t forget to set these under the under-eye area with a loose powder like the Nars Reflecting Loose Powder. This will make your makeup last longer and mattify the area. Don’t use too much though!
3. Brows
As a certified brow artist, I can tell you how important brows are to shape the face. Since we’re already only showing half our face because of these face masks, brows are even more important.
My holy grail for brows is the Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Definer. It’s easy to use, and it gives a natural-looking brow. The Anastasia Beverly Hills Pomade is excellent if you’re looking for a product that offers a more defined brow. The pomade is also long-lasting and holds up better when it gets wet.
If you only need to fill in some spare areas instead of drawing on a full brow, the Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Pen is amazing. The pen is waterproof, and the pointy tip lets you create hair-like strokes in minutes.
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4. Eyeshadow
This face mask makeup routine aims to focus on the uncovered parts. Your eyes should be the main character when wearing a face mask.
Add a matte bronzer (or any brown colour three shades darker than your skin tone) in the crease of your eyes and a light nude colour on your lids. It will create depth and make your eyes appear larger and more prominent.
5. Eyeliner
Gel eyeliner is a must if you want your eyes to stand out. Adding a small line near your top lash line will make a huge difference. Good gel eyeliner is the Maybelline Gel Eyeliner, or if you’re looking for a true black, the AMC Inglot Gel Eyeliner.
If you want to take it a step further, try the L’oreal Waterproof Pencil Eyeliner on the inner rim of your top lid. Top this off with a fair amount of your favourite mascara, and you’re good to go!
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6. Powders
Bronzer
When wearing a face mask and wearing a lot of bronzers doesn’t match well together. Bronzers tend to transfer onto your face mask fast. You’ll end up with a dirty looking mask.
If you want to use bronzer, I recommend using a little as possible. The Mac Mineralize Skin Finish or the Make Up For Ever Pro Bronze Fusion are great bronzers for a light sweep of the sun on your face.
The latter is a bronzer that leaves a sheer gel-like bronzed glow on the cheek, making it a perfect bronzer when wearing a face mask.
Blush
Blush is a daily must to give you that rosy healthy look. Without it, I always feel a makeup look lacks colour in the face. Favourite blushes that will work on almost every skin tone is the Mac Melba and Milani Luminoso.
Both blushes have a peach pinky colour that creates perfectly blushed and bright skin.
Setting powder
The final step is to dust your t-zone off with a translucent powder to avoid looking shiny during the day. An important step is taking tissue and pressing this onto your skin to remove any excess product that could transfer onto your face mask.
7. Highlighter
Highlighter is a makeup product that can be skipped when wearing a face mask. But if you like to have a glowy upper cheekbone, check out the Becca Glow Glaze Stick Highlighter.
Do you want a natural, fresh, dewy look? This stick does that! It’s not a shimmery highlighter but more like a shiny balm.
8. Lip gloss
To keep those lips smooth and soft, I recommend wearing lip balm or lip gloss. The Carmex Lip Balm Tube is a must-have for cracked lips! I’ve tried many lip balms out there, but this changed the game forever. It leaves your lips hydrated and with a subtle excellent shiny gloss, all in one.
9. Setting spray
Face mist
The final and most essential steps in this makeup routine when wearing a face mask! Top everything off with a good amount of face mist, like Mac Fix+ and Mario Badescu Rose Water. It will melt all the layers of products into your skin and give you some hydration.
Setting spray
If you want your makeup to stay put and not be smudged onto your face mask, a setting spray is a must. The Urban Decay All Nighter or the NYX Matte Setting Spray are great setting sprays to keep everything last a whole day.
I hope this face mask makeup routine will help you create your own. If you have serious difficulties with your skin or doubt the products you want to use, seek professional advice. Check out this article and this one on how to prevent ‘maskne’ too.
How do you feel about not wearing a full face of makeup when wearing a face mask? I hope these makeup and skincare tips will work for you as it does for me! Let me know in the comments below!
