Hi My Lovelies,
I have detailed my 9-step flawless base below, have a read and let me know what you think or if you picked up any useful tips.
Mwah, GemKen x
Follow the steps below to recreate my perfect base!
Step 1- Prep Spray
The prep spray I use is the Urban Decay Vitamin B6. This spray gives your skin a quick hit of vitamins and calms any redness or irritation.
✔ Absorbs oil
✔ Minimizes pores
✔ Reduces redness
✔ Soothes skin
Urban Decay Vitamin B6 £23.50 available here.
Step 2 – Primer
Primer preps your skin for the perfect foundation application.
✔ Fills in fine lines
✔ Smoothes over pores
✔ Increases the lasting power of foundation.
How to use? Apply a pea sized amount of primer with fingers to places where you have visible pores or tend to have issues with makeup not staying on the skin.
My go to ‘on a budget’ primer has to be Maybelline Baby Skin Instant Pore Eraser. It is super comparable to Smash Box Photo Finish at a fraction of the price.
Maybelline Baby Skin Instant Pore Eraser £7.99 available here.
Smash Box Photo Finish £26.00 available here.
I do like Smash Box Photo Finish although due to the packaging its so hard to get the product out when your over 1/2 way through the bottle. At £26 per bottle you want to be using every last drop! Would I buy it again? Honestly- no, not after finding Maybelline Baby Skin Instant Pore Eraser which is less than a third of the price!
Another primer in my favourites is the Benefit Porefessional. I adore this slightly tinted primer, its super soft creamy texture really does leave a smooth blurred finish on the skin. A cheaper dupe I have tried and tested is the KIKO Skin Trainer CC Blur, another slightly tinted primer that also creates a smooth facial complexion with less visible pores.
Benefit Porefessional £26.00 available here.
KIKO Skin Trainer CC Blur £19.50 available here.
Depending on your skin type, different primers will suit you better. Be sure to have a skin consultation and get your skin analysied so you are using a primer that is right for your skin type. This also will help you find the correct cleanser, toner, mosturiser, serums, foundations etc. Knowing your skin type will benefit your fleekyness!
Step 3- Foundation
I use a combination of foundations for both day & night time. I will describe to you guys my ‘night out‘ mix that works for me and my skin.
Urban Decay All Nighter Foundation (My Shade is 4.5) £29 available here.
MAC Studio Sculpt (My Shade NC40) £27 available here.
For nights out I mix 2 pumps of Urban Decay All Nighter with a small squirt of MAC Studio Sculpt NC40, I find the coverage and lasting power of these foundations mixed incredible. I pump the Urban Decay foundation on to the back of my hand & squirt some MAC on top, mix it up and apply to each area with a flat brush. Starting with a third of my face (one cheek, half my nose & jaw line) apply with flat brush and blend with a stippling brush in circular motions, once blended move on to other areas of the face repeating the application process.
Step 4- Concealer
I have always applied concealers after foundation. If you have any pimples, red scarring or imperfections, sometimes you may find that your foundation just isn’t full coverage enough, this is when I find its best to lightly apply concealer over the top.
My best tip so it doesn’t go cakey is to use the smallest point of a beauty blender, apply the concealer and lightly dab on to the specific area.
I love the consistency and coverage of the Urban Decay Naked Skin Weightless Concealer . I recently wanted to buy an extra light shade to use under my eyes for brightening but the shades were mostly sold out so I purchased one for concealing spots and blemishes.
From my Snapchat and Instagram stories you guys will have seen how my skin has broken out due to severe lack of sleep (jet lag, sleeping 3-4 hours max per night). So I have been using the Urban Decay Naked Skin concealer over my foundation on the problem areas. I would say the consistency is comparable to Maybelline Age Rewind Concealer (£8.99), but the coverage is hella better.
Urban Decay ‘Naked Skin’ weightless concealer £19.00 available here.
Step 5- Cream Contour
The cream contour palette I use is from Make-up Studio in the shade light, I purchased it from Paddy McGurgan’s Makeup Pro Store £37.50 also available here.
See image below to as a guide to where I put light & dark shades on my face. I apply with two flat brushes, one for light shades & one for dark shades.
Once applied, take your damp beauty blender and dab the contour, pushing the product into the skin. Never rub your contour as this will remove the product from your face leaving you patchy. After patting the product into my face I like to set the areas.
Step 6- Setting Powder
I set the dark areas of contour with the bottom three powders mixed from the Anastasia Beverly Hills The Original Contour Kit (Powder) in shade ‘light- medium’.
Anastasia Beverly Hills The Original Contour Kit £39 available here.
For the Highlighted areas of contour I like to set with, WAIT FOR IT…
Primark P.S Setting Powder £2.50 (recently rebranded to P.S Banana Powder €4)
I found this amazing dupe for Ben Nye last year and I’ve been obsessed ever since, can you believe its under a fiver and from PRIMARK!?
How to use?
I pour some product onto my hand, using a damp beauty blender I lift the product and apply it to the lightest contoured parts of my face
If I am after a super matte long lasting finish for my night out I will bake my face for about 5-8 minutes with the Primark Setting Powder before dusting off with a fluffy brush.
Step 7- Bronzer
MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural- Give Me Sun!
I love, love, love Give Me Sun!, it is my ideal shade of bronzer with a cute summer peach undertone. In the airport on the way to Dubai I picked up MAC Mineralize Skinfinish in the shade Dark Deep to try, its more of a golden bronze. I haven’t used it yet so I will keep you guys updated.
Mineralize Skinfinish both shades £24.50 available here.
Step 8- Highlighter
My holy grail highlighter is MAC Soft & Gentle. I am OBSESSED with it, i can never get away from it.
MAC Mineralize Skinfinish, Soft & Gentle £24.50 available here.
During my Dubai trip I picked up the new Too Faced Love Lights highlighter in the shade ‘Blinded by the Light’ (£25) and to be honest the pigment payoff isn’t quite as good as MAC.
How do I apply highlight? To intensify my highlighter I squirt my brush with setting spray before coating it with the product. Apply to top of cheekbones bringing it around your temples and don’t forget your cupids bow! I dab the product on, pushing it into my skin instead of using a fan brush, this is just my own preference and i find it gives a more popping highlight!
Step 9- Setting Spray
The one product which is used mainly throughout (Steps 5, 6 & 8). Setting spray ups your makeup game giving it serious staying power. My favourite setting spray is the Urban Decay All Nighter Setting Spray.
Urban Decay All Nighter Setting Spray £23.50 available here.
Close your eyes, hold your breath and spritz your face 5-6 times with this magical potion and your makeup will last all night!
Voila!- there you have it- my perfect, flawless base with a banging highlight.
Additional Tips & Tricks
✔ Don’t be afraid to mix foundations together to find the right shade, coverage and durability for your skin.
✔ Apply foundation in sections to prevent adding too much, no one wants a cakey face- just the fabulous frosting!
✔ Wash your beauty blender before you start with your makeup, squeeze it dry in the sink, squeeze it again in a towel and then when it comes to needing it just spritz it with setting spray.
✔ Don’t be afraid to ask for samples of any product especially when it comes to shades of foundations.
✔ Urban Decay All Nighter oxidises meaning it will change colour on your skin after a few minutes of being pumped from the bottle, bear this in mind when selecting your shade.
✔ Don’t test foundation shades on your hand, use your jawline.
✔ Check the shades in a natural light.
Love this 💜
Thanks Carla! x