FOOL-PROOF + FLAWLESS FULL COVERAGE MAKEUP ESSENTIALS
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FRECKLES, BLEMISHES,
POST-INFLAMMATORY HYPER-PIGMENTATION — OH MY!
You name it, I’ve got it.
Or, I’ve had it.
Or, I’m on meds to prevent it.
You get the idea.
I’m no stranger to “imperfect” skin and, judging by the fact that you’re actively reading
a blog post about full-coverage makeup essentials, it seems fairly likely
that you’re familiar with these pesky little issues, too.
And while freckles may be cute,
acne and post-inflammatory hyper-pigmentation? Not so much.
I know first hand how that can leave you feeling discouraged and down on yourself
but the good news? The silver lining, here?
If you’re hoping to cover up those spots with some makeup products that
actually, literally, provide the results they claim they do, you came to the right place.
Some may even go so far as to say you came to the best place.
Because here’s the thing:
The one and only positive side effect that came out of the 3-4+ years
I suffered from acne is the fact that I discovered my love for makeup,
I taught myself how to beat my face to oblivion and, most importantly,
I did allllll the research to find the BEST full coverage makeup products
to disguise never-ending breakouts, camouflage the hyper-pigmentation
and even out a freckly complexion.
(I.E. I spent all my money and time trying to
find the stuff that actually worked so that you don’t have to.
What are friends for, right?!)
ESTÉE LAUDER
DOUBLEWEAR
FOUNDATION
THE SCOOP ||
Ah, Doublewear. The Estée Lauder classic launched in 1997 and has had a cult following of full-coverage lovers ever since. It’s beloved for its intense pigmentation that covers flaws with ease, its budge-proof formulation and its matte finish that minimizes the appearance of pores and keeps oily complexions looking fresh throughout the day.
APPLICATION ||
Doublewear is a heavier formula and I find that it applies best when I take my time and use my fingers and a sponge. First, use clean fingers to apply foundation to freshly cleansed, moisturized skin in a circular motion. Once applied bounce (never drag!) a damp beauty sponge across your face. This step will remove excess product and blend the formula into the skin for a seamless, airbrushed finish. Last and most important step to maximize your Doublewear application? Set the liquid foundation with your favorite translucent powder - I can’t live without Laura Mercier
MY SHADE ||
Pebble + Desert Beige
GIORGIO ARMANI POWER FABRIC LONG-WEAR FOUNDATION
THE SCOOP ||
Looking for the staying power, finish and pigmentation of
Doublewear – without the heavy feeling on your skin? The Giorgio Armani Power Fabric foundation will not disappoint. This luxurious, liquid foundation dries down to a velvety-matte finish and disguises imperfections with each stipple of your brush. And, yes, this formula does last all day but-and-however, I do find that it’s lighter consistency allows natural oils to shine through after about 5-6 hours. Nothing a little powder can’t fix.
APPLICATION ||
Bring out your tried-and-true, flat kabuki brush and stipple product starting at the center of your face and working your way outwards. This technique allows you to concentrate your product on central features and minimizes the appearance of product build-up along your jaw and hair line.
MY SHADE ||
6.5
TARTE SHAPE TAPE
CONTOUR CONCEALER
THE SCOOP ||
I use Tarte Shape Tape every day. Every. Single. Day. It’s another cult favorite and for good reason, friends. Creamy and high-coverage, this concealer disguises dark circles, freckles and pimples unlike any formula on the market. The liquid formula blends seamlessly into the skin and dries down to a matte-to-natural finish with pigment payoff like you wouldn’t believe.
APPLICATION ||
For a natural “no-makeup makeup” look use a damp beauty sponge.
For a full coverage beat that keeps dark circles at bay, use a flat kabuki brush.
To cover a blemish, apply a dot of the product on the pimple using your pinky finger then use a precision flat brush (think: petite kabuki) to gently stipple the concealer onto the blemish, without dragging the product and removing the pigment.
MY SHADE ||
Light Medium Honey for face
Fair Neutral for under eyes
CHARLOTTE TILBURY
HOLLYWOOD FLAWLESS FILTER
THE SCOOP ||
Create flawless base for your full coverage foundation with this skin-perfecting primer by makeup deity: Charlotte Tilbury. Charlotte’s Hollywood Flawless Filter is a tinted “complexion booster” that creates the ultimate, lit-from-within glow.
APPLICATION ||
Start with freshly cleansed and moisturized face and use clean fingers to blend the product into skin in circular motions. To bring dry and dull winter skin to life, apply Hollywood Flawless Filter to the entirety of your face before foundation. More on the oiler side? Concentrate Flawless Filter only on the high points of your face using a damp beauty sponge before applying foundation. If you’re looking for a head-turning highlight, try applying the product to your cheekbones with a damp beauty sponge after you’ve applied foundation.
MY SHADE ||
3 Light/Medium
NARS NATURAL RADIANT
LONGWEAR FOUNDATION
THE SCOOP ||
I wore the Nars Natural Radiant Longwear foundation on my June wedding day, in 93-degree heat with 90% humidity and my base looked flawless all night long. (Or, at least until I started happy crying and messed it up. That’s my bad, though!) If that isn’t a testament to its staying power, I don’t know what is.
I adore this formula because it’s lightweight and comfortable on the skin while still managing to cover freckles, spots and blemishes like it’s nothing. And, unlike most full-coverage foundations, the Nars Radiant formula dries down to a distinctly natural finish to mimic the look of dewy, bare skin.
Note: My makeup artist set this foundation with a heavy duty finishing powder (The Velvetizer Translucent Mix-In Medium) to ensure that the foundation didn’t budge throughout the day. If you tend to have an oiler complexion, I would try another foundation this list instead of this one because I think it may enhance your natural oils unless you set and reapply powder throughout the day.
APPLICATION ||
I find this formula applies equally stunning with either a kabuki brush or a damp beauty sponge.
MY SHADE ||
I wore Aruba on my wedding day (my tan was NEXT LEVEL) but Barcelona is truer to my everyday shade.
ELTA MD
BROAD SPECTRUM
SPF 41
THE SCOOP ||
Step one to a flawless base? Keeping your freckles and pigmentation at bay, babe! The EltaMD Sunscreen is my #1, holy grail skincare item because it’s the first sunscreen I’ve found that doesn’t break me out and/or sting upon application.
The physical SPF is formulated with sensitive skin in mind and is gentle enough to wear on your skin post procedure. Bonus? It’s tinted and offers an ever-so-subtle wash of pigment to even out skin tone even on no makeup days.
APPLICATION ||
Cleanse, moisturize and apply serums and eye cream. Let skincare dry for 1-2 minutes, then apply a quarter size amount to the entirety of your face with clean hands. Work the product into your hairline, down your neck and onto your décolletage for maximum sun protection.
MY SHADE ||
OS
BECCA UNDER-EYE BRIGHTENER
THE SCOOP ||
Cover up the evidence of your night out on the town (or in on the couch a la Netflix binge) with this pearly under eye brightener. The cream formula disguises dark circles with a subtle rosy pigment and energizes the eyes with a light-reflecting finish. The brightener settles into a tacky finish, providing the perfect base to keep your go-to under eye conceal in place all day.
APPLICATION ||
Apply a moisturizing eye cream to prep the skin. Wait 1-2 minutes then use your ring finger to gently dab and blend the product into the skin. I always start at the inner corner of my under-eye and work my way out, towards my hairline.
MY SHADE ||
OS
NYX PROFESSIONAL MAKEUP
DARK CIRCLE COLOR CORRECTOR
THE SCOOP ||
Another dark circle color corrector? Yep. Unlike the tacky Becca Brightener, the NYX Dark Circle corrector is an extremely lightweight formula with a soft peach pigment that provides an ultra-smooth, moisturized base for your under-eye concealer.
In fact, it’s so lightweight that sometimes I apply a few dabs under Joey’s eyes before special events to even out his skin tone a little bit and he never complains.
And trust me, if he could feel the product on his skin, he’d let me know. Hehe.
APPLICATION ||
Apply a moisturizing eye cream to prep the skin. Wait 1-2 minutes then use your ring finger to gently dab and blend the product into the skin. Bonus? This color corrector works well both beneath concealer and layered on top! If I’m heading out for dinner after a long day of work, I’ll just dab a layer of this product on top of my concealer to touch up and reenergize my eyes.
MY SHADE ||
Light or Medium
IT COSMETICS
YOUR SKIN BUT BETTER
CC+ CREAM WITH SPF 50+
THE SCOOP ||
This ultra-moisturizing formula is my go-to for fall and winter because of its buildable, medium-to-full coverage, high-pigmentation and dewy finish.
Aesthetic benefits aside, this CC cream provides unmatched, anti-aging skin benefits. The creamy, full-coverage formula is crafted hydrolyzed collagen, peptides, antioxidants and niacin to turn back the hands of time with each wear. Big bonus? It’s formulated with SPF 50+ to keep your skin protected from harmful UV rays, all day long.
APPLICATION ||
Complete your morning skin routine. Wait 1-2 minutes, then use your clean fingers to blend the CC cream into your skin in circular motions. The warmth from your hands will melt the product into your face for a truly seamless finish.
Finish the application by bouncing a damp beauty sponge across your face to blend out excess product and/or add a touch of extra coverage to any problem areas or dark freckles.
Set CC cream with a translucent powder to ensure long-lasting wear.
MY SHADE ||
Medium
CHARLOTTE TILBURY
AIRBRUSH FLAWLESS FOUNDATION
THE SCOOP ||
The hype is verrrrrry much real with the Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless foundation. It’s got the pigment and staying-power of Doublewear, the natural-matte finish of Power Fabric and a lightweight wear that’s truly unlike any of the full-coverage favorites listed above. As far as liquid foundations go, Airbrush Flawless is by far the most comfortable wearing formulation on my list.
That said, I have combination skin and I’ve noticed that this formula does allow my natural oils to come through after 4-5 hours of wear. I personally don’t mind a little shine but it’s something to keep in mind if you have an oily complexion.
APPLICATION ||
The Airbrush Flawless formula dries quickly so I find the best way to apply is to use flat kabuki brush to buff into skin, working in small sections at a time. Use circular motions to ensure a seamless blend.
I spray my kabuki brush with Mario Badescu Rose + Aloe Water to add moisture and make the formula a bit more malleable during application.
Once applied with the kabuki, I bounce a damp sponge across my face to diffuse any strokes and create an airbrush finish.
MY SHADE ||
I ordered a 7.5 and it’s the perfect match when I’m aggressively self-tanned. Realistically I’m probably a 5.5 or 6
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