Mask Hacks - Wear Makeup and Masks, and Learn How Masks Influence Makeup

Have masks been getting in the way of your makeup looks? Well, they don’t have to! Thankfully, the makeup community has pulled together ways that will help keep your makeup from smudging off while you wear your masks (there isn’t anything that prevents smudging 100%, but these tips do a good job at reducing the amount of smudging). Today, we’ll go over how to do that and how masks are influencing makeup routines and styles.

In Manny Mua’s video titled “HOW TO MAKE YOUR MAKEUP LAST UNDER A FACE MASK!,” he shows the step-by-step process he goes through to create a makeup look that is able to better withstand masks. Manny Mua suggests wearing makeup that is specifically catered to being “long-lasting.” He starts with a hydrating moisturizer as a base so that his makeup doesn’t crack, then he lightly sets it with a translucent powder to create “a barrier” between his moisturizer and the rest of his makeup.

Mua then uses a “longevity” setting spray to “lock in” his moisturizer. He then goes in with a “sticky” primer that will “grip” onto his foundation. He urges his viewers to use a “long-lasting” full coverage foundation because the mask will be able to lift off a lighter foundation formula. He applies a durable concealer as an additional barrier.

To set his foundation, he applies a generous amount of powder with a wet sponge to help the products blend, especially to his nose because it has the most contact with his mask. He then lightly brushes away the excess powder. He adds a little more setting spray to “liven” up his skin, then he applies his bronzer, blush and highlighter. Mua uses setting spray one more time and lighty powders the high contact areas while his face is wet to secure his makeup look. Watch the rest of his video to find out how to wear lipstick underneath your mask!

I have yet to try my makeup routine in this order, but I find my process and products to work pretty well. Personally, I’ve been using Cetaphil Pro Dermacontrol Oil Absorbing Moisturizer SPF 30, e.l.f.’s poreless putty primer, e.l.f.’s 16 hour camo concealer, Revlon’s ColorStay™ Makeup for Combination/Oily Skin SPF 15, and Coty Airspun Loose Face Powder in this order, and I apply powder to the inside of my mask to create a barrier between the mask and my face.

I’m not a scientist, but my theory is that the powder on the mask and the powder on my face deflect one another and create less friction or adhesion to my face and/or my makeup. (By the way, I gently shake the excess powder out of my mask so I don’t breathe it in, that’s not good for you).

Since masks literally cover about half of our faces, it’s a challenge to show others what’s going on with our looks underneath our masks. I began to wonder how masks will change the way we do makeup and what looks will develop around the challenge of working with a mask. To my delight, I came across this:

In the article “Bold Eye Makeup Looks to Wear With Your Face Mask” written by Devon Abelman, makeup artist Cyndle Komarovski found an alternate way to wear blush while wearing a mask. She applied it to the temples and blended it in with the pink eyeshadow. She utilized a space that that product would normally not be seen, but she opened the door to new possible makeup trends, and I find that to be very exciting.

Here are some other examples of how she incorporates masks into her makeup looks, and how she emphasizes the eye looks:

Try out these methods and experiment with what you can do with your masks! Next week, be on the lookout for an infographic. See you soon, raineglows!