Despite wearing facial masks, the love of makeup, beauty, and cosmetics has never ceased to elude American culture. Besides, American women spend an average of $3,000 every year on cosmetics.

During the first quarter of 2020, both the makeup and skincare sectors of the United States’ beauty industries saw significant sales growth. They continued to grow even after the Covid-19 pandemic caused by the coronavirus broke out in March later that year.

Since then, the world thrust into a new reality where wearing facial masks is the ordinary practice, and standing six feet away from other people is the norm. Still, the beauty industry has the second largest revenue after retirement and pension plans as of November 2020.

But many people have wondered what the point of doing their makeup was if they had to wear a facial mask?

In China, Alibaba reported that eye-cosmetic sales increased 150%, month over month, during the week of February 18, 2020.

Makeup is an integral part of American culture and is designed to make you feel empowered and confident. So, here are some mask friendly makeup tips with a step by step guide that will explain different application techniques and hacks to help you get through this particular time in history.

Mask Friendly Makeup Tips

A Step by Step Guide

As you are probably mandated by an authority to wear a mask, you may frequently decide to forgo wearing makeup—especially if you work from home or stay in a lot.

But what happens when the time for you to go out arrives, and you are left pondering about the best ways to apply makeup on a face required to wear a mask?

Do not fret because here is your guide.

Step 1: Apply Hydrated, Tinted Moisturizer.

Face masks can irritate. But by using a heavier moisturizer before makeup application, you create a barrier and avoid chaffing so that the edges of your face mask do not annoy your skin while wearing it.

Step 2: Apply Primer and Setting Powder.

Primer has an incredibly important purpose—it helps you with smooth application and longevity. Primer increases makeup’s lifespan and will help it withstand a face mask’s wear and tear. With primer, there is no chance of fading or transfer.

Use a mattifying primer that grips your makeup in place and set it with loose or translucent powder.

Loose VS. Translucent Powder

Loose powder is just that—loose powder—that comes in different shades.

On the other hand, translucent powder is a powder shade that can come in an either loose or compact form.

While some makeup users have heard of setting powder, others have heard of finishing powder, but very few people know the difference between the two. Here is the breakdown of powders.

Setting Powder VS. Finishing Powder

Designed to hold your foundation in place, setting powder prevents base makeup from rubbing off, fights excess oil buildup, and reduces shine for a long-lasting, flawless complexion. Setting powders come in loosed or pressed forms.

On the other hand, finishing powders are designed for use after you have completed your makeup application. Use finishing powder if you will be in front of bright lights or cameras. Finishing powder comes in loose form, conceals pores, blurs fine lines, and leaves a flawless finish.

Step 3: Apply Light, Non-Comedogenic, Skin-Boosting Foundation.

Using a long-wear, complexion formula foundation, you can conceal any area on your face with light coverage. While people will not see much of your face while you wear a mask, wear a foundation that is not only healthy for your skin but provides your desired coverage as well.

Ensure the foundation you choose has SPF and hydrating serum for sun protection and hydration. You can apply foundation right under the eyes in the eye sockets’ hollow parts to give your eyes a boost.

Step 4: Apply Concealer.

The purpose of concealer is to blur imperfections, cover dark circles, and add hydration.

Apply the concealer below your eyes in the shape of an upside-down triangle. This application technique ensures that you have natural-looking coverage, a brightened face, and attention drawn to your eyes. You can also draw attention to your eyes using a concealer shade that is one to two shades lighter than your skin tone.

Step 5: Highlight and Contour.

You may wonder why you even need this step if your face is hiding beneath a mask all day.

Well, your cheekbones add structure and angles to your face, so it is essential to highlight them. Besides, when you take off your mask, you will surely want to look your best.

While highlighting is not just for the cheekbones (even though it does illuminate them), highlighting is also to draw attention to the eyes as the makeup reflects the light.

Apply your highlighter to your eyes’ inner corners, beneath the arch of your brows, on the tops of your cheekbones, on cupid’s bow, on the center of your chin, and on the bridge of your nose. Light reflects most significantly off these areas of the face.

Once you have finished highlighting, apply contour powder along the sides of your nose (to slim its appearance), along the forehead (next to the hairline), and in the hollows of your cheekbones (to add shape and dimension to your complexion).

Step 6: Brows

Grooming your eyebrows not only shapes your face but also draws attention to your eyes. When you do your brows, you must use a pencil, powder, or even an eyeshadow that is the same color as your hair once you pluck the strays.

To create thicker, fuller brows, brush your brow hairs upward with a spoolie, followed by filling in the scarce parts using an eyebrow pencil a shade lighter than your brow color.

Finish your brows with an eyebrow gel to keep the brows in place.

Step 7: Lashes

First, always make sure to curl your lashes.

Then, using a voluminous or lengthening mascara, wiggle a double-curved mascara wand from your lash base to the tip for visible length and volume. Apply several coats, along with an additional layer or two on the center lashes, to further enhance your eyes.

Mascaras can add volume, length, curl, or all three.

Fake lashes are also an option. Artificial lashes can open your eyes and add dimension to your face. If you decide to try fake lashes, ensure that you choose adequate eye shape ones.

Step 8: Eye Shadow

Eye shadow palettes offer a lot of options and provide different possibilities.

But you must ask yourself: do you look best in warm tones or cool tones? Do you like matte or shimmer?

The requirement to wear a face mask allows you to go bolder and brighter with your eye shadow. So, look for a color palette that compliments your skin tone. Look for long-lasting shadows with minimal fallout, and work on both wet and dry surfaces. Non-creasing eye shadows may also be something to consider.

Use bold, colorful shadows that accentuate your eye color. Developing eye shadow application skills takes time, but by practicing with a makeup brush and learning blending techniques, you should be an eye shadow application expert in no time.

Step 9: Lips

Face masks can irritate the lips, so it is good to use matte liquid lipstick or lip balm.

Long-wearing matte liquid lipsticks can cause dryness, so use a lip balm with SPF on the surface of your lips and avoid lip glosses.

Step 10: Setting Spray

Setting spray is an essential part of the makeup application process if you want to ensure your makeup will not go anywhere.

Setting spray sets your makeup, sealing it in place so it does not smudge or fade. But if you do not want to use a setting spray, applying translucent powder by lightly dusting it over the face, giving is a smooth, matte finish, is also an option.

This face-mask wearing and social-distancing world may have thrust you into having a new sense of reality. Still, a reality that you can always be sure of is the never-failing and empowering effect that makeup can have on your self-assurance, self-esteem, and overall confidence.