Best base products for dry skin
Apr 16, 2015
My major
concerns when it comes to my skin are dry patches, dullness and uneven
skintone. I like light to medium coverage with a natural skin-like finish and I
don’t mind certain imperfections peeking through as long as my skin looks
healthy and touchable. So far these are the best products I have found to help
me achieve this look, and I have tried many!
Step 1:
Charlotte Tilbury Magic Cream. This stuff is expensive and people have given
mixed reviews but for a dry-skinned girl suffering from dry patches, this is a
godsend. I like to slather (yes, slather) a liberal amount all over my face and
massage it in with my fingers. This cream is very thick and rich but my skin
drinks it up instantly. It smooths down all of my dry patches, leaving my skin
comfortable, awake and plump. Instant transformation from shriveled up raisin
to juicy tomato I say. My old favorite for prepping skin before makeup was
Embryolisse but I find CT’s Magic Cream to be even more effective personally.
To me, CT’s Magic Cream = Embryolisse on steroids. I am on my second tub.
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| Charlotte Tilbury Magic Cream: rich creamy goodness |
Step 2:
Estee Lauder Enlighten EE (Even Effect) Skintone Corrector in 01 Light, SPF 30. This is a new discovery thanks to Sam from
the Pixiwoos. Sam also has dry skin so I pay extra attention to her base
product recommendations. This does 2 things for me – it evens out my skin tone
and gives it a nice glow. Tons of products claim to do that but I find this to
be most effective and best suited to my needs in terms of the level of coverage
and glow it provides. The
coverage is next to nothing (ie it cannot cover blemishes, scars, redness or
hyper-pigmentation) but it is just enough to take away the sallowness and patchiness
in my skin so I can use less foundation/concealer afterwards. With dry skin when it comes
to foundation, I’ve learnt that less is definitely more. Unless you want foundation
caking up on your dry patches, thin layers are key. The brightening effect is surprisingly
obvious but there are absolutely no sparkles or shimmers in sight. I have no
idea how it works. To apply, I dot a small amount all over my face and rub it
in with my fingers.
Step 3: Mac
Face and Body Foundation in C2. I am constantly on a quest to find my perfect
foundation and the perfect way to apply it but this is my current favorite. It provides light to medium coverage with a very natural finish. The problem I have with a lot of so-called light coverage foundations is that they don't cover anything yet they are visible on the skin. Stupid huh? This is the opposite in that it covers effectively while being truly invisible on the skin if you use a light hand. What I find exceptional about this foundation is how well it holds up after a long day. With dry skin my problem is not foundation sliding off the skin but foundation gathering on dry patches at the end of the day. This happens to me with several foundations that initially look amazing on the skin (eg YSL Teint Touche Eclat) but not the Face and Body. I find the best way to apply this is to dot a tiny amount on places where I need coverage and dab it in with a wet beauty blender.
Step 4: Cle de Peau stick concealer in Almond. I didn't understand the hoolabaloo surrounding this concealer in the beginning and have walked away several times after swatching it on my hand at the counter thinking it felt dry. One day I had time to kill so I asked the SA to apply it on my face and BAM I was converted. This concealer is amazing because it is highly pigmented so you only have to apply a wafer thin layer to get excellent coverage. Thin layer = less blending required, less creasing and less sliding around. It is actually very easy to blend and "disappears" into the skin while being long lasting. I use it both for undereyes and blemishes. Super versatile.
Step 5: Dolce and Gabbana Powder Foundation in 100 Warm. I have had this powder for almost 2 years and I still love it as much as when I first got it. It is super finely milled, provides excellent buildable natural coverage and smooths over pores and other textural problems. The finish almost looks creamy on the skin. If I have already done step 2-4, I use my Yojiya squirrel cheek brush to dust a tiny amount on my t-zone where I often need a tad more coverage. On days when I am in a rush, I apply this straight after moisturiser (with the same brush on a good skin day and with a buffing brush if I need more coverage) and I can even get away with not using concealer. I also enjoyed using Chanel's Les Beiges powder in 20 but a strange hard film developed over my compact and I couldn't get any more powder out of it and had to throw it away. In comparison Les Beiges gives sheerer coverage and feels a bit less creamy on the skin.
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| Swatches (L to R): CT Magic Cream, Estee Lauder EE cream 01 Light, Mac Face and body C2, CdP concealer Almond, D&G Powder Foundation 100 Warm |
So these are my personal favorites and recommendations for people with dry skin. Key things I have learned to deal with dry skin are a good heavy duty moisturiser as base and thin layers. What are your favorite products and tips?
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