Touching up your makeup is one of those things most of us do in a rush, usually in a bathroom with bad lighting, and a lot of the time we end up making it worse. We add powder on top of oil, or more concealer on top of creases, and by the end of the night our whole face looks heavier than when we started. A good touch-up is mostly about doing less, and doing it in the right order.
I’ve seen a lot of makeup get through a long day, and a lot that didn’t, so I’ve got a pretty good idea of what’s worth touching up and what’s better left alone. This is how I’d do it.
1. Look first, then fix only what’s wrong
Before you reach for anything, take a proper look in good light. Most of the time it’s only two or three spots that need attention, like your nose, the center of your forehead and maybe the corners of your eyes. Everything else is usually fine. If you touch up your whole face out of habit, you end up adding product to areas that didn’t need it, and that’s what makes makeup look heavy by the end of the day.
2. Take things off before you put anything on
If your skin is oily or sweaty, press a blotting paper or a clean tissue onto it first and let it sit for a second. Don’t rub. This lifts the oil and sweat so you’re starting from a clean base, and it often fixes the problem on its own. Adding powder or foundation on top of oil without doing this is what makes things go patchy.
3. Use a damp sponge on cakey areas
If an area looks dry or cakey, press a slightly damp sponge over it. Squeeze out nearly all the water first, you want it barely damp. Pressing, not wiping, melts the makeup back into your skin and smooths it out. It works really well around your nose and the sides of your mouth, where makeup tends to build up.
“A good touch-up is mostly about doing less.”
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