Reader Query: This Just In & After an Hour look

Amrutha from Banglore had a query: 


As you had mentioned about the 'make-up' culture of your workplace, the place I work is just not into any kind of makeup, and sometimes I feel I am doing too much even though the max I do is: matte moisturizer followed with compact + light pink lipstick, a touch of blush and rarely a purple or blue eye pencil.

My problem is the immediate result as soon as i put on these products. I love it after an hour, but till then I feel it looks too prominent on my skin. 

The products I use are :

1. Pond's Flawless White Day Cream
2. Bourjois Organic Compact in Dark Beige (Alternatively I also use Maxfactor Compact Powder in Nouveau Beige or sometimes the Pond's Age Miracle Tinted Moisturizer)
3. Bourjois #33 Blush
4. Revlon Velvet Rose Lipstick
5. Revlon Colorstay Eye Pencil

My Q: How to avoid the 'this-just-in' look that I feel when I put these on and how to achieve the after-an-hour look immediately? My skin is rather oily, though in winters oiliness goes away. 


Amrutha!


I loved the way you framed the question - This Just In Look & After An Hour Look - I was laughing hard for a good 10 minutes after reading your question. You have a delightful sense of humor :)

I deal with your problem bit by bit, so hang in there. 

There are a couple of reasons why makeup seems too prominent or the "This Just In" Look 

1. Day cream: Does your cream take some time to sink in? Because if it does it may be interfering with the blending of your makeup. But once it sinks in maybe it makes things ok. Also if the cream tends to leave behind a whitish film on the face - it may be making the products seem much brighter than they are. But once it is gone and the products are now against the color of your skin, they seem normal?

2. Lighting: Some homes have bright, white neon tube light lighting - which isn't the most flattering for makeup and makes it seem obvious. Worse, it makes mistakes seem like 10 times more obvious. The only solution for this is to do makeup in a place where you get plenty of sun & tube light. 

3. It's in your head: A freshly scrubbed and clean face in the morning always looks better than after piling on the makeup. So maybe you are comparing it to that and feeling like it is too much, but as the day progresses you become ok with it and start linking it 

4. Blending: Another issue maybe that you are not blending in the edges properly, so it seems obvious. For this I suggest you arm yourself with a good bunch of brushes & watch Lisa Eldridge videos a few times over. 

5. Maybe you are applying too much: And with time it wears off a bit and looks more settled?

My Suggestion: 

Long & Money Saving Method: 

I'm not sure which of the above is true for you. In case you have no clue either. I suggest you scale down your makeup for a while - which means practice bit by bit and then move on. 

So first just practice getting your base right. Every morning, just spend time doing it slowly & right. Then in order to avoid looking washed out, add a nice lippie and go to work. Do this for a few days / weeks till you feel you have mastered it and can do it quickly. Next add the eyeliner & use a blending brush or smudger to remove all the harsh lines. Practice this very well. And now finally add your blush to the routine. 

In the mean time watch a lot of Lisa Eldridge videos to get tips on application & blending.

Quick Fix: 

• Get yourself a bottle of MAC Fix +. It is widely known for helping makeup settle and look less powdery & makeup-y. Before you get it I suggest you try it a few times, wear your makeup, go to their store & try it. (If you don't have MAC there, you can duplicate this at home with glycerine & water in 1:3 ration. I have never tried it - so I don't know what to make of either)
• Replace the day cream with a primer. I like Loreal primer, but you get what suits you. 

This is all I could think of, right now. Amrutha, do bear in mind that I am not a professional. This is just my experience. 

Fellow bloggers & readers - any suggestions for Amrutha?