How-To: Touch Up Your Makeup

Touching up your makeup can either make or break the gorgeous look you (or your makeup artist) spent so long creating. It's also crucial for a longer-lasting finish, whether you're a bride, a student who can't seem to escape the library, or a fellow entrepreneur grinding well after 5 o'clock.

BLOT.
A common complaint from clients I've heard over & over is that touching up leads to a cakey appearance. More likely than not this is because they aren't blotting before re-powdering & so their natural oils are messing with what they're re-applying. My golden rule for touching up is therefore to always, always, always blot first! I actually use perm papers from Sally's (which you can see below) because you can buy a thousand for a few dollars. Starbucks napkins & toilet seat covers also work in a pinch, without removing what's already on your face. Of course you can always buy traditional blotting papers, though I've never noticed enough of a difference to justify the price (especially since I'm oily & go through blotting papers like it's my day job)!

BLEND.
Next, I like to take a clean makeup sponge (I re-use disposable wedge sponges for on the go) & gently press any areas where creasing or seperating has occurred. You can also use a fluffy eyeshadow brush for this step, but be sure to gently buff only the areas which need it, or you can cause more separation.

Optional: Re-apply concealer to blemishes or dark circles if needed. I prefer the warmth of your (clean) fingers for a seamless blend when you're using a cream or liquid concealer.

POWDER.
Apply translucent powder (like the one I created) or a powder-based SPF, just to the areas where its needed. Even though my skin is on the oily side, I stick to powdering just the t-zone with a fluffy eyeshadow brush because I love a good glow!

Side Note: Touching up with powder foundation can lead to a cakey appearance almost immediately, so if your coverage wears off throughout the day apply concealer instead (from Step 2)!

SET.
Mist your face with a few spritzes of a hydrating settings spray. Obviously, I’m partial to ours: the Jacquie K. Cosmetics Stardust Setting Spray. This step will melt everything back into your skin & give your skin a little pick-me-up.

LIPPIE.
Re-apply your lip colour (or tap some lip balm into your stain) & you're done! This simple routine took me ages to nail down & is a total game changer.