Disclosure: This post was created in sponsorship with Olay. All opinions as always are 100% my own.
Lately on my Youtube channel, some of you have been noticing that my makeup has been looking extra glowy lately. It has! I mean, it’s largely due to me needing to turn down the air so the loud buzzing doesn’t get picked up in the background of my video. The lack of air conditioning and fan then causes me to sweat as I film—which you might see as a “glow.” But there is a way to get that look that doesn’t require perspiration. Let’s break it down!
First things first, if you want your makeup to look even better, it starts with your skincare. You HAVE to have the basics down of cleansing + treating + moisturizing (with SPF during the day). I have posts in my archives you can read (I’ll leave links at the end of this post) that will get you there. Without proper skincare, girl, there is no proper beat.
So we’ve quickly established that skincare is your first step in getting that beat down. Making sure you’re using the right moisturizer not only for your skin type, but also for the season and weather is another huge piece towards having people yell “girl, your makeup is BOMB” at you all day. If you watched me on The Real earlier this summer, you’ll know my love for Olay Luminous Whip with SPF 25 runs deep. I like that it’s lightweight, helps to even the skin over time, acts like a primer for your makeup, and of course the biggest thing is the SPF in it that DOESN’T MAKE YOUR SKIN LOOK ASHY. It’s the perfect first step in your glowy glam.
Next you want to make sure you’re using the right type of foundation for your skin type and needs. A lot of the newer foundations work on most skin types, so you want to look for the ones that promise a skin-like finish. This summer I’ve been rotating between the new Dior Face & Body (comes in 40 shades with great options for darker skin) and Cover FX Power Play (also comes in 40 shades with great options for darker skin). Both give me the medium coverage I like without looking cakey so I get a look that looks like my skin. I also love Cover FX Total Cover Cream and Cover FX Custom Cover Drops (you can even mix the Olay Luminous Whip with SPF 25 with this to create your own custom skincare-makeup mix) throughout the year.
There are also full coverage foundations that provide a skin-like finish as well such as Dior Undercover, BECCA Ultimate Coverage Foundation, NYX Total Control Foundation (with four drops)—to name a few.
I like to highlight and contour to add dimension back to my face—I’ll leave links at the end of this post so you can get more info on that.
Again, I can’t stress enough how important picking the right moisturizer to go with your makeup is. Pick a too-heavy moisturizer and it can mean your makeup won’t make it to lunch time. This is why I LOVE how lightweight Olay Luminous Whip with SPF 25 is.
Now let’s talk eye makeup. The key to that gorgeous neutral glam for the eyes is to pick a mix of matte and shimmery neutrals that complement your skin tone. I like a reddish-brown like MAC Sable (and sometimes MAC I’m Into It) for my crease, a matte beige for all over my lid like MAC Soft Brown, a deep aubergine like MAC Signed, Sealed to define my crease and outer V as well as smoke out my bottom lash line, and then I pick a shimmery shade—either a gold, bronze, or cranberry to use as an accent on the lid. I also love a good jet black liner to define my eyes—be mindful though of how you apply your liner and the color you use if you have a smaller eye. You don’t want to use a dark shade to line all the way as that will make your eyes look even smaller. Try only lining the outer corners of your eyes OR use a lighter colored liner. To top off my neutral eye glam, I love a good fluffy lash: you can either max out on the mascara or try a fake lash. I LOVE the Absolute New York AEL019 lashes but if I want over the top glam, I’ll use the Koko Lashes in Venus.
Finishing it all off, you need blush and lip color. When it comes to blush, the darker your skin, the brighter the blush shade. Don’t be nervous—our rich skin tones need the bright pigments to show up beautifully on us. The right blush shade will awaken your skin, make you look bright and alert, and really finishes your look. I’ll leave links below to more posts you can read on blush. Since this look is neutral glam, I like to go for a glossy pinky-brown or brownish-pink or even a pretty glossy coral. Those sort of colors make amazing nudes for darker skin tones—the darker your skin the deeper the browny-pink (or pinky-brown). A glossy nude I love is Anastasia Beverly Hills Lipgloss in Sepia and a glossy coral I love is LORAC Alter Ego Gloss in Flower Child.
So that’s that, folks!
Leave a comment below if you’d like to also see this in video form or if you have any questions.
Remember the right makeup look begins with the right moisturizer. You can snag Olay Luminous Whips with SPF 25 HERE at Walmart!
Additional face beat info:
The Moisturizer Switch-Up: How it Can Help Your Skin & Makeup
Diorskin Forever Undercover Foundation
BECCA Ultimate Coverage Foundation
Dior Face and Body Foundation review
Cover FX Power Play Foundation review
Cover FX Custom Cover Drops posts
Why ONE Foundation May Not Cut it for Women of Color
Why I Now Highlight and Contour Every Time I Do My Makeup
50 Shades of Blush for Dark Skin
How to Start a Skincare Routine
What NOT to Do if You Have Oily/Very Oily Skin
Sis Lorac Free Spirit is a lavender shade. What’s the name of that gorgeous color in the pic
Author
Ugh, I stay doing that because I own both colors…lol. Free Spirit is actually pink. The coral shade is Flower Child.