How to: Get Luminous Skin With Barely-There Looking Makeup

Fri, 11 May 2012 11:55AM

Before we can even begin talking about perfecting the dewy skin that we saw on the runway at MBFWA ’12 – albeit a slightly (ahem) toned down variation for everyday life – we need to go back to basics and start where it matters most. Our skincare.

Y’know, so we can look at little something like this:

Understand your skin concerns

When it comes to creating a light-reflective, luminous base, you first need to gain a proper understanding of your skin tone and identify your concerns. Better still, next time you head to have a facial or skincare consultation, get them to do it for you. Gone are the days when we thought it was just wrinkles and lines that made us look older – age spots, sun damage, redness, acne damage and hyperpigmentation all play a part in contributing to a dull and uneven skin tone. Hyperpigmentation, or pigmentation is usually present in small or large patches found on your hands, neck and face. It’s created from a build-up of melanin in your skin, and can commonly be referred to as “light-traps” which, in a nutshell, absorb the light in your skin. So what we need is for our skin to reflect light, and banish imperfections for good.

Invest in good quality skincare

Finding the right product to do this can sometimes be a tall order. Fortunately, good quality doesn’t always have to come with a hefty price tag, particularly when the product is of the multi-purpose variety. We like L’Oréal Paris Youth Code Luminosity Extraordinary Serum, $35.95, from pharmacies and department stores.  Not only does it gradually fade the appearance of skin imperfections, it moonlights as an illuminator and primer, creating a glowing makeup base for one of those delightfully dewy foundations we’ve been banging on about.

Play up your high points

If you’re short for time, one of the easiest and quickest ways to brighten up any makeup look is to play up your high points. Following on from applying your serum base, you can add an almost instant glow by dabbing an illuminating product along your cheekbones to act as a highlighter, then also patting a little under your brow bone for a really luminous finish.

So Primpettes, do you suffer from any of these skin concerns?

Do you have a skin-perfecting product you swear by?

What about highlighting – have you managed to master it?

Hayley x

Posted by: Hayley Bennett

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Tags: doutzen kroes, glowing skin, highlighter, loreal paris, luminous skin, serum, skincare, youth code