While heavy coverage and a matte finish has reigned supreme over the beauty world for many years, something more natural this way comes. For the past couple of years, dewy and youthful complexions with luminous finishes have crept onto catwalks until flawless skin is suddenly all around.
And this new natural isn’t all about makeup either. Nowadays makeup artistry is less about piling on foundation to cover up flaws and more about prepping skin until it’s fresh and beautiful all by itself, applying just the sheerest of bases to even out colour and give complexions an ethereal glow.
But fear not! Flawless complexions are not the reserve of models and celebrities alone. Simply follow our guide to skin care, prep and makeup to find out how spring-ready perfect skin can be yours.
Care
To get your skin looking the best that it can be, your skincare routine must be rigorous and consistent. That means cleansing morning and night and no going to bed in your makeup! For the best and easiest routine, follow the old adage: cleanse, tone, moisturise. Practice double cleansing; go over your whole face with a makeup removing wipe then use a cleanser to make sure your skin is squeaky clean. Follow up with a cleanser and moisturiser to leave skin soft and smooth. Practise this routine day and night and you should see results in no time.
Prep
The modern complexion is not about slapping on makeup to unprepared skin, no matter how much you’ve cleansed. At this season’s Fashion Weeks around the world, makeup artists were reported to spend more time on prep than they did on the makeup itself. Prepping is all about creating a smooth, hydrated base so start with a hydrating exfoliator then apply your moisturiser as normal. If your skin is older or dryer you might want to use a serum or oil at this point for a little added moisturiser or just move right on to applying a primer. Primers are crucial to prep because they give you a smooth base on which to apply makeup as well as refining pores and acting like a barrier between your skin and any dirt or makeup that might cause you to break out.
Makeup
Don’t worry, flawless doesn’t actually mean flawless. No matter how many pictures you see in magazine, no one really has flawless skin (just clever makeup and a lot of photoshopping). If you can head out with no makeup on then good for you but if you feel like covering up dark circles and blemishes then that’s fine too. Being a Glow Girl is all about being comfortable in your own skin! If you do want to apply makeup opt for a light and sheer foundation and illuminating concealer, rounding off with a touch of highlighter under your brow and on your cheekbones for the perfect dewy finish.
