How NOT to Cake Your Makeup
The dreaded cake face? Yeah. We’ve all been there. BUT, with a few simple tips—it’s easy to avoid this common makeup mistake. Let’s talk the four primary causes of cake face and how to remedy them…or better yet, avoid them all together!
THE CAUSE: TOO MUCH FOUNDATION OR CONCEALER
Let’s be honest, the majority of us weren’t blessed with perfectly flawless skin, so foundation and/or concealer are a must for covering acne, age spots, and other imperfections that are part of being, well…HUMAN! The trick though is to not go overboard. Too much foundation and concealer will begin building up, and there you have it…cake face. With frosting on top.
THE CURE: THIN LAYER OF FULL-COVERAGE FOUNDATION
Instead of applying multiple layers of light/medium-coverage face product to achieve your desired finish, use a Beauty Blender or foundation stippling brush to apply a THIN layer of FULL coverage foundation. If you don’t need foundation (lucky you!), apply concealer ONLY on the areas you’d like to smooth out and use your ring finger to gently blend into your natural skin.
THE CAUSE: THICK FOUNDATION
As foundations get old (hey—it’s ok, we all age!) they tend to thicken in consistency. The thicker the foundation, the more likely it will be to sit on top of your skin, a.k.a., cake face.
THE CURE: FRESH PRODUCT
Check the date on your foundation. If it’s more than a year old…toss it! If it’s not more than a year old but is starting to thicken, mix in a few drops of facial oil to thin out the consistency.
THE CAUSE: TOO MUCH FACE POWDER
This is the #1 most common cake face culprit. Gals with oily skin and those that prefer a flat finish need powder to soak up excess oils and to mattify the skin, but a heavy-handed application(s) can quickly become a cakey nightmare.
THE CURE: MATTIFYING PRIMER
How will you banish the grease without layer upon layer of powder? Stop the problem before it starts and opt for a mattifying primer to prevent oil from breaking through your foundation throughout the day. If you must apply powder, use a thin flat sponge and ONLY apply product to your t-zone (forehead, nose, and chin). If you accidentally apply too much (emergency!), simply mist your face with a hydrating spray like MAC Fix+ for a cake face quick fix—it will break down the powder and help it melt into the skin.
THE CAUSE: DRY SKIN
Dry, dehydrated skin can cause your foundation to appear flaky and uneven on the surface. Plus, dry patches are a major magnet that face products have a tendency to cling to. And the clumpy result? You guessed it…cake face.
THE CURE: HYDRATING PREP
If you suffer from dry skin, apply a face priming oil or mist your face with a hydrating spray and let sit for 1-2 minutes before you go in with your foundation. And don’t forget to make sure you’re keeping your skin properly hydrated—treat it to a luxurious face mask and/or an intensely moisturizing face cream at night to help your skin recover while you sleep.