Many women are likely concerned about their makeup coming off in summer -- all the effort put into careful, beautiful makeup will be wasted if it's ruined by sweat or sebum. Hair and makeup artist Natsuko Nakayama shared some techniques for a makeup base that will give your makeup staying power.
"Thoroughly moisturizing the skin with face lotion and milky lotion is the key to stopping makeup from coming off," Nakayama said.
More than a few people skip moisturizing in summer because the skin tends to get sticky at this time of year. However, the skin is unexpectedly dry in summer due to air conditioners and strong ultraviolet rays. Insufficient moisture upsets the balance between moisture and oil on the skin, which causes more sebum to be produced. As a result, makeup wears off quickly.
To moisturize the skin well, Nakayama said: "Let the milky lotion soak into the skin and lightly press the skin with your palms until you feel it become springy. This is an important point."
If you apply a base cream soon after the milky lotion, they will combine on the skin, which creates irregularities and makes makeup come off easily.
There are various kinds of base creams, including those that shrink pores, guard against the sun or give the skin a matte appearance. Choose the one best suited to your skin condition.
Put an adequate amount of cream on five points of the face -- both cheeks, the forehead, the tip of the nose and the chin -- and apply the cream to the center of each cheek in a circular motion to soak it into the skin. Spread the cream outward firmly.
It's also good to apply more cream to the T-zone and other parts where a lot of sebum is produced, but applying too much may cause your makeup to come off easily. If your face feels sticky, lightly press the skin with tissue paper.
In summer, be careful not to put on too much foundation. Nakayama recommends a liquid or powder type with less oil. First, apply a small amount to the triangle area under the eye (see number 1 on the illustration) with a sponge, in a light patting motion. Be especially careful to apply in areas where you have undereye circles or tanning stands out.
Next, apply foundation to the T-zone and areas near the eyes and mouth (see number 2 on the illustration) as if lightly pressing the skin, so the foundation will adhere to the skin more closely.
Finally, lightly apply the remaining foundation on the sponge around the outer edge of the face in a gliding motion. Apply lightly so there will not be a conspicuous difference with the color of your neck.
A bit of additional effort will also help your makeup last longer: Spray mist over the whole face and then apply face powder using a puff.
When you're outside, "it's important to remove sebum and dirt with tissue paper or other means by pressing them against the face before reapplying your makeup," Nakayama said.
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