Lots of people aren't sure what baking your makeup means, which is okay. Thankfully you don't have to put your makeup in the oven, nor even go into the kitchen. Your makeup might crease throughout the day, or even start to disappear after you've worn it for a long time. If you find this to be relatable, then you can bake your makeup to make it more long-lasting could be the solution you've been waiting for! Even if you don't have this problem, baking your makeup will brighten up your under-eyes exponentially and bring your makeup game to another level.
We'll go through the step-by-step process of how to bake your makeup and cover everything you'll need to know so that you can do it by yourself. The celebrity makeup artist Lisa Aharon gave us her expert opinion on this technique and her professional advice!
Who's the Expert?
With experience catering to clients such as Rachel Brosnahan, Gwyneth Paltrow, Anna Kendrick, Camila Mendes, and Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Lisa Aharon is based in New York.
Step 1 - Prime and Prep
Nailing this first step will affect how your makeup turns out, so take your time and don't rush yourself. Properly priming and prepping your skin for makeup not only makes it stick better, but it looks better too. Apply your moisturizer, eye cream, primer, and every other product you regularly use before starting to apply the actual makeup to your face. Aharon says that eye cream is her go-to product for keeping her under eyes looking as attractive as possible.
"Keeping the under-eye area moist and hydrated is crucial to avoid the appearance of dry, crepey skin," Aharon claims. "Prep is everything, so make sure to let a generous amount of eye cream set in before your first layer of concealer. Freck Beauty's So Jelly Cactus Eye Jelly with Plant Collagen ($28) is a fantastic lightweight option. If you prefer a creamier consistency, Joanna Vargas's Revitalizing Eye Cream never lets me down. The more your skin looks hydrated, the better it will look and feel with makeup on (and off, too)."
You can use your favorite eye cream during this step, but I recommend trying Aharon's recommendations. Her career as a celebrity makeup artist means that she has experience with a wider variety of makeup than most people ever will, which means you know that a makeup brand is good if she's praising it.
Step 2 - Apply Foundation
Once your skincare applications and treatments have been absorbed into your skin, you'll need to apply foundation across your entire face. Use different products at your discretion. Choose the perfect one based on the coverage you want. I use the Pinnacle Foundation Brush from Anisa ($30) to apply Cle de Peau Beaute's Radiant Fluid Foundation ($130). Blend the foundation across your whole face in a circular motion until you're happy with the coverage. Make sure that you evenly distribute it and appear symmetrical without any uneven areas.
Step 3 - Apply Concealer Under Eyes
Concealers can be applied in other places, but applying concealer on your undereye area is essential if you want that spot to look brighter, well-rested, and rejuvenated. I use Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Concealer ($38) in the inner corners and beneath my eyes to conceal my dark circles. To make sure it appears natural and isn't applied too thickly, I lightly tap the concealer in with a concealer brush. Aharon's advice is that the creamier your concealer is, the better! She says "Creamy concealers, usually medium to full coverage, work wonders under a heavy coat of loose powder." Once the concealer has been applied, you can blend out the makeup with a clean finger or with a brush. This spreads it out and prevents caking, distributing it evenly beneath your eyes.
Step 4 - Get to Baking
To bake your makeup means applying a setting or translucent powder over certain spots across your face that are more likely to crease. You'll wait five to ten minutes after applying your powder to let it bake. Once it's been properly baked, dust off whatever remains of the product. The results are an awing and perfect finish that will still be there at the end of the day!
Leaving the powder on your face for five to ten minutes lets it "bake". It mixes with the heat your body temperature provides before setting with the rest of your makeup. You can apply your eye makeup while this is happening, add mascara, define your brows, or take care of anything else you need to get done while you're waiting. Five minutes might seem like a long time with nothing to do, but the time will end quickly once you're preoccupied with something else.
Step 5 - Remove Your Excess Powder
After giving your powder the proper amount of time to bake, remove it with the same brush that it was applied with to smooth out beneath your eyes and brush away any extra or excess powder. It's okay to add more powder if you feel like it's lacking. Lightly mist your face using a facial spray before applying more powder. You can use Tatcha's Luminous Dewy Skin Mist ($20), Rosen's Water Face Dew ($15), or any other similar facial sprays. Using a spray lets the powder adhere to your skin with less trouble. You can apply your blush, bronzer, highlight, lips, and whatever other makeup you want once you're pleased with how it looks.
Step 6 - You're Officially Baked, Gorgeous!
Congratulations, you've successfully baked yourself once you've applied the rest of your makeup. Sometimes naturally oily skin can cause a problem with your makeup once it's been baked. Applying loose powder is messier than when at home and can backfire, so we recommend keeping a powder compact on hand so that you can make minor touch-ups and adjustments to your makeup if your skin starts feeling oily as the day progresses. Try out various powder finishes to find which one suits you the best for baking your makeup. You'll quickly become a pro with a little practice and experimentation!
