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How To Wear Makeup With Face Mask
Two years into the pandemic, it seems like masks aren’t going anywhere anytime soon. Despite having fewer reported COVID cases, back-to-office arrangements, and fewer travel restrictions, it’s not yet safe to go mask-free. Face coverings still offer the most protection against the transmission of droplets. If you’re still shopping for more face-covering options, we round up the best reusable face masks here.
So, how does one try to look cute while complying with basic safety protocols? If you’ve been asking this question yourself, then you’ve come to the right place. Wearing makeup with a face mask may seem odd, but it’s doable.
We’ve spent recent years coming up with different ways to rock the mask-on look in a hygienic, stylish, and stress-free way – after all, we’re already going through a stressful health crisis, our looks should be the least of our worries.
This is our guide to building the easy and simple mask makeup that you can replicate day to day. Read on to find out how you can do it!
Should your makeup routine change when you wear a mask?
If there’s one thing I’ve realized, it’s that my makeup routine and skincare routine truly changed during the pandemic. As in, sometimes I don’t wear it at all, since I stay at home for weeks at a time.
So when I do go outside, I either go all-out glam or the bare minimum that doesn’t leave me looking like a zombie. No in-between.
But now that we’re slowly assimilating into almost-normal society, I’ve found that I really needed to create a regimen that I could do daily.
Is Wearing Makeup With a Face Mask Possible?
It definitely is! As I said, it’s all about finding the right combination that works for you. The sweet spot is a makeup look that:
- Freshens up your face
- Lets your skin shine
- Transfer-proof
- Is easy to do every day and doesn’t take up a lot of time
I’m sure the vast majority of us have a lot on our plate, especially because of COVID. Whether it’s balancing online classes and your chores or remembering to walk the dogs, we often have little time left to ourselves. This can lead to stress, less sleep, and an overall more haggard appearance. That’s why your makeup look needs to freshen up your face and open up your eyes. Not only does it make us look healthy, but it can also boost confidence, which reduces feelings of stress.
The second most important thing to consider is the tendency of masks to irritate the face. Maskne is already a problem both with and without makeup – don’t exacerbate the problem with even more potentially irritating cosmetic products. That’s why we recommend going for makeup with skincare benefits, or better yet, minimal makeup that lets your skin shine through. Layers upon layers of full coverage foundation are out. Minimal, hydrating tints are in.
Another good thing to consider is the smudginess of your makeup. Our products tend to transfer when we wear masks, which can be annoying! This can be remedied with a setting powder or a setting spray which can increase the hold of our makeup for longer.
The final thing to consider is your daily schedule. It’s wonderful when you have a whole hour or two dedicated to putting on makeup, but the reality may not be so simple! That’s why we highly recommend crafting a routine that is effective but quick. For me, about 20 minutes is good enough, but your mileage may vary.
How To Do Your Makeup While Wearing Face Masks?
Without further ado, here’s how you can continue wearing makeup and looking bomb AF even with a face mask on.
1. Prep & Primer
If you’re wearing a face mask, it’s safe to assume you’ll be heading out and about. The summer sun is no joke, so be sure to apply a safe amount of facial sunscreen before you leave.
Beforehand, you must also prep your skin with moisturizer/face oil and primer in order to keep it plump throughout the day. Any makeup artist or skincare expert will confirm that skincare is an important part of any makeup regimen.
Others use sheet masks before putting on heavy makeup, so if it’s a full glam kind of day, go the extra mile with your skin prep. This will save your skin in the long run from dryness or clogged pores. With face masks in the mix, we all know how easy it is for sensitive skin to start breaking out. Extra protection is key.
If you don’t have the time for sheet masks but still want your skin to stay extra hydrated, pop a sheet mask on the night before! This will keep your complexion smooth and plump the next day.
2. Use Non-Comedogenic Foundation
Wearing a mask can lead to a variety of skincare problems, one of them being acne. Foundation often causes clogged pores when we don’t pay extra attention, especially in problem areas like the chin, cheeks, or nose.
One tip that can save you from breakouts is to go for a more natural look. Instead of wearing makeup that’s on the heavy side, ie. full coverage foundation with concealer, try using foundation or a BB cream only on key areas where you would typically use concealer. This way, you can keep your blemishes covered without the risk of clogging your pores. Plus, you won’t have to worry about your makeup transferring onto the mask.
Similarly, if you’re confident about letting your skin take the limelight, try going the no-foundation route and instead apply only concealer on key areas. A little makes a huge difference – as long as you know where to put it. (Think of how just a tad bit of product on your eyebags can make your eyes bright.) Be careful not to apply more concealer than is necessary because it might cake.
If you need extra coverage, try applying tinted moisturizer that matches your skin tone on problem areas instead of your whole face.
3. Eyes On You
One benefit of wearing a face mask? It can make your eyes pop. Try to focus on your eye makeup whenever you’re out and about. Eye shadows or eye mousse are great for giving your face a splash of color, breathing life into your complexion.
Look for inspo online so you have a variety of hues, textures, and styles to work with every day. By far, this is my favorite part of my makeup routine because it’s where you can really play with the beauty products you have. For example, you can match your eye colors to your face mask palette or your outfit.
I also love putting a shimmer on my inner corners because they’re a quick way to instantly look more awake even when I’m wearing simple eye colors during the day. At night, I prefer long-wearing bold eye makeup to make the eyes stand out.
4. Out Of Time? Skip Eyeliner, Use Mascara
When you don’t have a lot of time to carve out your eyes, ditch the complicated eyeliner and use mascara instead.
Eyeliner can actually be trickier to apply – plus, they tend to close the eyes while mascara opens them up. Of course, there are many different eyeliner styles that can also make you look more awake, but for a quick touch-up, mascara is perfect. It’s also a lot harder to mess up.
Lengthening mascara is also ideal if you really want to draw attention to your peepers – clear gel on both the top and bottom lashes is a must. Pair it with a lash curler and you’re all set. We’ve compiled some of the best eyelash curlers here.
Another hack to look gorgeous even with minimal makeup is to get eyelash extensions. There are plenty of affordable options suitable for different types of lashes at your local beauty salon. By getting fake lashes, you’re also able to make more time for other parts of your makeup routine that you would normally spend on mascara.
5. …Or Go for a Dramatic Eye
We’ve all seen Julia Fox’s dramatic fox eye look that went viral. While it’s not exactly our go-to style, there is definitely room for a dramatic eye if you’ve got enough prep time. Don’t let wearing a mask discourage you from going all out!
6. Don’t Forget the Brows
Brows help you convey a certain tone/emotion in your makeup, which is especially helpful when the lower half of your face is not visible to others. Eyebrows are a vital step when you’re doing makeup with a face mask.
You can go for eyebrow soap or tinted brow gel for a sleek and clean look. Pomade or brow powder can help fill in the gaps and give your eyebrows the desired shape and length. On the other hand, a thin brow pencil can help add realistic hairs to your brows for more definition. Brow tattoos are also great if you spend a little too long on your eyebrows.
7. Use a Longwear Blush
Blush can change your facial structure in many ways. Apply it at the top of your cheekbones if you want an angular look. On the other hand, putting blush on the apples of your cheeks gives you a rounder and more youthful face. Applying it on the nose also gives off a sunkissed look.
Choosing a longwear product is also important. A lot of the time, I prefer powder for the quick application, but I’ve noticed that the powder has a tendency to come off easier. Cream blushes are trickier to apply, but they’re great for instant pigment. Both powder and cream have long-wear varieties.
I’m also really enjoying 3-in-1 mousse products lately. These lifesavers serve as lip stain/lipstick, blush, and light eye makeup in one. You buy one product, and you’ve got half of your makeup regimen covered. Perfect for those days where wearing face makeup seems like a chore.
8. Gloss or Lipstick?
Now that we’ve got the first half of your face covered, it’s time to go to the lips! We might think that wearing a face mask means ditching lipstick or lip products altogether, but I still love putting them on. They’re a great boost of confidence, even when most of the time you’re the only one who gets to see them. This sentiment is echoed by Los Angeles makeup artist Carola Gonzales, who told the Wall Street Journal, “Makeup is part of what makes you feel good. It gives you that confidence.”
First things first: prep your lips. Similar to how we prep our skin before applying makeup, lip balm and lip exfoliators serve as a primer for smoother lipstick/lip stain/lip gloss application. Light exfoliation after a moisturizing lip balm also helps remove flakes that can show when you apply lipstick.
Nowadays, long-wear lipstick or matte lipstick is no longer my go-to. This is because my lips tend to get dry or dehydrated easily – even more so with face masks. That’s why I love gloss, even though it requires more reapplication.
However, if you want to avoid lipstick smudges on your mask and chapped lips aren’t a problem, I say go for the matte lippies. This is even more vital if you’re fond of wearing bold lip colors which can rub off on masks.
9. Ready? Set!
No one wants to keep retouching their makeup, but that might be a necessity if you’re wearing a mask outdoors. To avoid the inconvenience, make sure to properly set your makeup so all the beauty products stay intact.
Pressed powder or translucent powder is perfect for setting cream-based products or liquid foundation. Also, don’t forget to spray a healthy amount of setting spray after you’ve completed your look.
Final Note
While these aren’t hard-set rules, the above tips can be a great jumping-off point if you’re looking to improve your masked makeup game.
We hope this blog has been helpful! As always, don’t be afraid to share your own hacks below!
Joey is an AB Psychology graduate of the University of St. La Salle – Bacolod. Her life’s passions include writing, film, and spending hours on end binge-watching fashion vloggers on Youtube.