Whether you experience dry skin seasonally or year-round, you may wonder if it's still possible to create a dewy glow with skincare and makeup products. The good news is that you can definitely boost radiance (and even add actual hydration) with makeup, but it's imperative to know which formulas will suit your needs best, as well as how to apply them. Luckily, we've gathered all the best tips from celebrity makeup artists, so you can get that glow in no time. Keep reading for our step-by-step guide on how to apply makeup to dry skin.
Meet the Experts
- Denika Bedrossian is a Los Angeles-based celebrity makeup artist whose client roster includes Sarah Hyland, Mandy Moore, Jenna Dewan, and Hailey Bieber.
- Kristen Arnett is ahealthy beauty and image expert, celebrity makeup artist, and founder of Oasis.
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Use the Right Skincare
When working with dry skin, it's crucial to prep with the right products before applying makeup to achieve the best results. Celebrity MUA Kristen Arnett provides the following routine: "At night, compress your skin for at least 30 seconds with a warm cloth. Once the skin is softened, you can gently cleanse the face...," she says. "Work the [cleanser] in with light but firm circular motions, using fingertips or your washcloth. Pay special attention to the creases next to the nose and other dry patches. Rinse off, and before the skin has a chance to dry out, immediately follow with a moisturizer or oil to lock in the hydration."
If you're experiencing extreme dryness, adding more hydrating products to your nightly skincare routine can help combat this. "Depending on how dry the skin is, I suggest applying multiple layers (from lightest to most occlusive) about 30 minutes before bed so it can soak in all night," Arnett says.
Byrdie Tip
Whether you're using an oil or cream to moisturize, allow the product to absorb into the skin for a few minutes before moving on to makeup. "Allowing the product to sink in will allow your skin to bind beautifully with your makeup products," explains celebrity makeup artist Denika Bedrossian.
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Avoid Overly Drying Ingredients
It's a good idea to take inventory of your makeup products to ensure that the formulas are hydrating and suitable for dry skin. The first products to check are foundation and concealer, both of which you likely use directly on your complexion following your skincare routine.
"When you have dry skin, it’s so important to allow your skin to bask in moisture," Bedrossian explains. "You'll want to avoid ingredients such as salicylic acid, parabens, and alcohol. These tend to dry out the skin, not add any moisture."
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Opt for Hydrating Ingredients
Hydrating, creamy foundation and concealer formulas are excellent to apply to dry skin after your skincare has fully absorbed: Think of it as keeping the momentum going. Some ingredients to look for in foundations include hyaluronic acid and natural oils, both of which will help your skin retain moisture.
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Practice Application Techniques
As for applying your foundation, Arnett recommends that those with dry skin try stippling. "It’s a quick stamping motion rather than brushing back and forth. Stamping it on gives a better finish and won’t kick up the dry skin as easily," she says. "I suggest using a clean (damp) sponge or a round foundation brush, like one of my favorites, the Sigma F50 Duo Fiber Brush."
Byrdie Tip
When applying makeup, avoid rubbing it into the skin, as this can exacerbate a dry complexion (read: cause more flaking). Instead, gently pat on products, and if you need to blend further, do so in one direction only.
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Know Your Formulas
Liquid, cream, or serum products will be your best friend, as these formulas typically contain hydrating ingredients. Arnett recommends avoiding mineral-based products, as "Minerals are inherently drying on the face, and many cream or liquid foundation formulas use minerals as their main pigment."
You may want to consider opting out of formulas marketed as long-wear, as they can potentially "dry out the skin because of chemicals in the formulas used to achieve that longevity," Arnett says. Additionally, "whenever possible, avoidfragrancein cosmetics because it can add to irritations and cause more dryness," she says.
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Mix Complexion Products with Moisturizer
"I’m a huge fan of mixing foundation with your favorite moisturizer for a glowy, just-from-the-spa complexion," Arnett says, "Just put one drop of oil or a pea-size of cream and about two times the amount of foundation onto a palette or the back of your (clean) hand to create a deeply hydrating, dewy base. Doing this will slightly reduce the makeup coverage, but it’s so worth it. You can spot-conceal where necessary on top of that."
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Have Fun with Eye Makeup
Since dry skin is usually less of an issue on the eyelids, you can apply your favorite powder eyeshadows, eyeliners, and mascaras as usual. However, if you do have dryness in this area or want to keep up with the hydrating theme, use a cream-based eyeshadow or tint instead (Byrdie editors' favorite eyeshadows include picks from Bobbi Brown and Laura Mercier.) When removing eye makeup, it's imperative to do it gently without pulling or tugging.
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Add Radiance with Highlighter
Adding subtle touches of highlight or products that help dry skin look dewy is a great way to create a radiant makeup look. However, be aware that there's an art to applying highlighters and other dewier products, so the shine doesn't stick to dry patches.
"Often, highlighters use too much mica, a type of mineral glitter that’s added to the formula, to give the illusion of radiance, but not enough hydration—and it ends up getting stuck," Arnett says.
Once you've found a highlighter that you like, pinpoint the areas on the face that the light will naturally accentuate (think cheekbones, brow bone, and above the cupid's bow) and lightly tap your cream or liquid highlighter into those areas, blending the product in with your fingers or a fluffy brush to spread it without clumping or streaks. If you're looking for a creamy, do-it-all highlighter, Chanel Beauty earned the top spot on our list of tested highlighters.
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Use Powder Strategically
For final touches, remember that makeup on dry skin usually doesn't need setting powder all over, yet certain areas could use a little powder to help set or mattify. "With makeup, apply powders to set only in areas where needed," Bedrossian advises.
A powder is ideal for setting concealer under the eyes and helping with creasing. You can also apply it around the nose, where skin may tend to get oily. If you use powder only where you need it rather than on your whole face, you'll keep your makeup in place without undoing all the work you just did to create a more hydrated look.
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Finish with a Hydrating Setting Spray
To set makeup on dry skin, Bedrossian touts that a hydrating setting spray or toner spray is the way to go: "I love to finish makeup with theBubble Bounce Back Balancing Toner Mist, which hasniacinamide, to set and add a final layer of moisture," she says."This allows makeup to look natural and make it last." Think of it as one last boost of hydration for your skin to drink up.