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Thinking about skipping face wash or moisturizer before applying your makeup? Think again. If you want a flawless looking complexion it’s not about layering on the foundation. It turns out the key is to start with clean, hydrated skin. Intrigued? Check out our top pre-makeup skin care musts!

Should you always wash your face before putting on makeup?

Yes, yes, and in case you missed it, yes! And you might want to think about exfoliating while you’re at it. Why? Think of your skin as a canvas. Before adding any color, you’ll want to start with a clean base. That means getting rid of dirt, oil, and dull skin.

St. Ives Cleansing Sticks are our daily go-tos for clean skin, at-home or on-the-go. Made with a 100% natural coconut oil base, these solid cleansers leave skin refreshed and nourished. They come in 4 amazing ingredient blends, and Matcha Green Tea & Ginger is definitely our pre-makeup pick because of its skin detoxing powers.

For a cleanser and exfoliator in one, we’re all about St. Ives Smoothing Oatmeal Scrub & Mask. Use it a few times a week to gently buff away dull skin and soothe with oatmeal and honey.

Is it good to put moisturizer on before foundation?

Not only is it good, it’s also a necessity. Moisturizer does two very important things:

First, it smoothes skin’s surface for a more even foundation or concealer application and can even help makeup to stay on longer.

Second, hydrating skin underneath makeup will help skin to look less dull. Applying foundation on dry skin can cause it to look cakey.

There are tons of moisturizers out there to choose from, and some even have extra benefits like BB and CC creams, or SPF protection. But our go-to is St. Ives Renewing Collagen & Elastin Moisturizer because it helps soften skin, which could also mean younger… you’ll care about this more later. Trust us.

Can you mix your foundation and moisturizer?

The answer is yes, as long as you don’t mind lighter foundation coverage. You might even prefer it during the warmer spring and summer months. This DIY method (and a total pro move) basically gives you the benefits of a BB cream without having to go out and buy another product. Score!

Is It Best to Apply Face Oil Before Makeup?

Similar to lotion, face oil is a considered another form of moisture for skin. Because of this, we recommend adding face oil before any foundation or makeup as part of your hydrated base. As we mentioned earlier, if your skin is extra dry you might think about adding a moisturizer after your face oil too. 

What do you put on your face before applying makeup?

Now that you’ve cleansed, exfoliated, and hydrated your skin, it’s time to put on primer. What exactly is primer you ask? It’s a product that acts as a base for foundation and other makeup, and helps whatever you put on afterward go on smoother and stay on longer. If you don’t want to spend the cash on another product, just remember: cleanser and moisturizer before makeup are an absolute must!