Good Foundation

The key to great makeup is to have a good foundation to start with. A good foundation begins with taking care of your skin. Yes, everyone has different skin types, but there are 3 basic step that anyone can follow to take care of their skin. CLEANSE, TONE AND MOISTURIZE!

When cleansing your face it is important to be gentle, especially around the eye area because this is the most delicate skin on your face. When cleansing my face I use circular motions to help remove oil, dirt and makeup. I use an oil free cleanser for sensitive skin because my skin tends to be naturally oily and is easily irritated. For cleansing my face I alternate between a cream cleanser and an exfoliating scrub.

Whenever I use a toner or astringent I only use a small amount on a cotton ball or pad. A toner or astringents get deep into your pores to remove excess oil, dirt and makeup. It also helps to prevent future blemishes. Toner or astringent may not always be a necessary step for everyone. It can be drying sometimes so it is important to use as little product as possible. I use it mostly after I have been wearing makeup.

The last step to my daily skin regimen is moisturizer. I use a moisturizer that is oil free and contains an SPF of 15. No matter how fair or dark you are it is important to protect your skin from the sun. When applying moisturizer I only use a small amount because as I have stated earlier my skin is naturally oily. I apply moisturizer to my forehead, brows, cheeks and chin. I avoid applying moisturizer to my nose because it is the oiliest part of my face. I also avoid the eye area because this is the thinnest area of skin on the face and would absorb the product and cause my eyes to appear puffy.

Taking care of your skin is the most important step to applying makeup. The more you take care of your skin, the less makeup you will need to apply. This skin care regimen has kept my skin smooth and blemish free. I very rarely have pimples or breakouts. (knock on wood LOL). One last tip: it is a good habit to remove your makeup before going to bed. You can do this by  wither washing your face or using makeup remover wipes. But if you forget every now and then it's not a sin! LOL ;)

One Love

Nikea