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makeup with a face mask
makeup with a face mask
Makeup while wearing a face mask – necessary or overkill?
I really love masks. I’ll probably be wearing them forever, at least in some vein. Now that I think about it, I cannot believe I used to sit on airplanes with a stranger thisclose to me, breathing all over me, and I didn’t even care. It’s unbelievable, really.
Since I’m in it for the long haul, (and really, so is everybody else since we have no idea when this situation will end,) we might as well figure out ways to make the best of it. When I first started wearing masks back in April, makeup was completely off the table. Just having the mask on my face felt stifling and awful, and I felt like that’s all people saw anyway, so why bother? I knew that my eyes and eyebrows were visible, but it seemed like nobody was looking at them. All people were looking at was the mask, silently judging its existence on my face one way or the other.
Now that my face mask is just another part of my wardrobe, I am starting to veer back toward my usual grooming norms. So basically brushing my hair, wearing a little makeup, and donning outfits that are a bit less Olsen-homeless-chic, if you know what I mean. But it hasn’t all been easy. Masks are quite different than any other accessory I’ve worn before, so they took some getting used to and I faced my share of problems, pun intended.
My face has not seen the outside of my house in nearly 5 months, and it likely won’t for the foreseeable future. This is what I’m working with now. And I actually like it.
Read on to see how I’ve been doing my makeup when I’ll be wearing a face mask. It’s simple, comfortable, and uses minimal products. Let’s begin.
How to do your makeup behind your mask - the wearable way. An easy, everyday look that just makes sense. Click To Tweet
The Problems with Mask Wearing
Just when we thought we had our makeup routines perfected to the T, mask wearing comes along and presents a whole ‘nother host of problems. From makeup smearing all over our masks, to itchy skin, greasy skin and dreaded “maskne,” there are lots of issues to mitigate. This makeup routine has solved all of these for me.
Goals For This Makeup Look
highlights & accentuates parts of your face that are visible
won’t make you feel oily & gross under your mask
won’t clog your pores, irritate your skin, or cause “maskne”
protects your skin from sun damage and prevents a “mask tan”
Shop The Products
The mask shown in the photo is from Old Navy. I have a full review on those if you are interested. Teaser: I love them! To read the review and see more photos of the masks, just click here!
How To Get The Look
Face
apply moisturizer + sunscreen // This is the most important part, so don’t skip this step! Some days, this is all I do. I find that applying a liberal amount of moisturizer helps to create a barrier between my face and the mask, reducing irritation. I like CereVe Moisturizing Cream because it is thick and emollient, but it absorbs into the skin really well and leaves behind a silky, non greasy finish. I feel like it helps reduce friction on my face, which lessens itching, dry spots and irritation.
Follow up the moisturizer with, guess what? More moisturizer! I’m using the Up&Up Morning Facial Moisturizing Lotion here, though you could use the CereVe version if you’d prefer. Sun protection is important regardless, but it’s especially helpful in making sure your skin tone stays even all over. I apply this mainly on my forehead and around my eyes, and a little on my nose and on the tops of my cheeks. Overall, I try to keep products beneath the mask to a minimum, so I avoid going to heavy with the sunscreen under there.
CereVe Moisturizing Cream ||
AMAZON TARGET WALMART
CereVe AM Facial Moisturizing Lotion ||
AMAZON TARGET WALMART
Up&Up Morning Facial Moisturizing Lotion ||
TARGET
spot conceal & add a touch of powder if necessary // Next, I’ll add dots of concealer only to areas that need it. I like to cover any blemishes on my forehead and brighten up my undereyes just a tad. The goal is to go as light as possible to minimize transfer, so definitely no tiger stripes of concealer today! I just blend that in with my fingers and follow up with a light dusting of powder to keep everything in place.
Maybelline Fit Me Concealer ||
AMAZON TARGET WALMART
L’Oréal True Match Powder ||
AMAZON TARGET – FAIR TARGET – LIGHT
TARGET – MEDIUM TARGET – TAN TARGET – DEEP
apply bronzer // Bronzer is what really brings the look together. It makes it look complete, rather than “half a face of makeup.” I apply my bronzer along my hairline, brushing it over pretty much my entire forehead. Here’s the sneaky part: I also apply the bronzer on top of my cheekbones, where I’d usually apply blush and highlighter. The color peeking out the top of the mask makes you look healthy and vibrant but not overdone, such as if you had a sparkly highlighter sticking out from under your mask.
Eyes
define eyebrows // We all know that eyebrows are important because they “frame your face.” But I say they’re even more important now because they frame your eyes, what is the only part of you that’s actually in the field competing against the mask. Would you rather people see you or just see your mask? Shape and fill in your brows as you normally would. I’ve been going for a more au naturale style lately, but that’ll change at some point, inevitably.
Anastasia Dip Brow ||
SEPHORA MACYS AMAZON
apply eyeshadow primer // I’ve said this before, but my eyelids are quite oily. I always wear eyeshadow primer to prevent oils and sunscreen from running in my eyes, because that’s just the worst. Milani is my favorite right now. It is similar to Too Faced Shadow Insurance if you are looking for a less expensive alternative. I just smear it all over my eyelids, nothing fancy here.
Milani Eyeshadow Primer ||
AMAZON TARGET WALMART
simple winged eyeliner // – I like pairing winged eyeliner with my masks. My eyes are already a bit close together, and I feel like the wings elongate my eyes making them look more in proportion to the mask. FYI, if you haven’t tried NYX Epic Ink Liner, you are truly missing out! It’s the best pen-style liquid eyeliner I’ve found at the drugstore and I’m on my like, 4th tube.
NYX Epic Ink Liner ||
AMAZON TARGET WALMART
finish with mascara // Mascara is always a must. Use whichever one makes your lashes look the biggest, fluffiest versions of themselves! Or you could use false lashes, but I’m way too lazy for that on an everyday basis.
L’Oréal Lash Paradise Mascara ||
AMAZON TARGET WALMART
optional “eyeshadow” // I will often add some bronzer to my crease for some extra definition around the eyes. Nothing too crazy; just a little something. Totally optional.
Finishing Touches
basic lip balm // Comfort and cleanliness are key when it comes to what’s under your mask. Any products that are pigmented or sticky are a no-go for me. However, my lips are so used to having something on them at all times that wearing nothing leaves them feeling chapped. I apply a layer of basic, old-school Chapstick and that keeps my lips comfortable for hours. In case you’ve forgotten, since Chapstick has been out of style for so long 😅, the texture is lightweight, slightly waxy, and not sticky at all. Strawberry flavor is my favorite.
Chapstick Multipack ||
AMAZON TARGET WALMART
weatherproof your eyebrows // If you have unruly brows like me, this step is a must. If you have a brow gel, that’s great. I don’t have one at the moment, so I simply spritz some hairspray on a spoolie and brush through my brows.
(If you’re wondering why I don’t have a brow gel, well, it’s because I’m thrifty and I don’t want to buy it 😆. Can’t you tell from my fancy spoolie, née an empty eyebrow pencil?)
Spoolies ||
AMAZON TARGET WALMART
Aussie Mega Hairspray ||
AMAZON TARGET WALMART
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That’s all for today!
If you love this post, be sure to check out this one ➢ Old Navy Mask Review | Are Old Navy’s face masks worth buying?
If you find this post interesting, informative, or just plain entertaining, tell me about it in the comments below! And don’t forget, sharing is caring. Share this post!
Till next time. ♥︎
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FTC- Not sponsored by any brands mentioned. I purchase all products myself. All opinions are my own. Some links may be affiliated.
I feel like drugstore eyeshadow palettes try really hard, but the high end palettes still run circles around them! I can’t wait until the drugstore has awesome eyeshadow palettes like the UD Naked and Chocolate Bar but they just aren’t there yet. I’m sticking to high end for now.
Lovely post xo
Kristen
I totally agree, Kristen! Glad you enjoyed 🙂 xo
I agree about the eyeshadow primer. My eyelids are oily and it’s so hard to find a primer that keeps my eyeshadow on all day without looking crazy. Urban Decay Primer Potion is the only thing that works for me. It’s spendy, but gotta get what works!
I know what you mean! My eyeshadow doesn’t stand a chance with the wrong primer, and only one high-end primer makes the cut – Nars Eyeshadow Base. I hear ya- gotta get what works! Thanks for reading! 🙂 xo