How to Make Your Makeup Look Smooth

Have you ever spent time putting together and applying a fabulous new makeup look, only to find that your complexion appears bumpy and cakey a few hours later? We’ve all been there before, and it’s not a good feeling. After all, you put face makeup on in order to feel more confident and accentuate your natural beauty—not to call attention to your imperfections! Wondering what you can do to prevent this from happening? Here, we’re sharing all our secrets for how to make your makeup look smooth.

SMOOTH MAKEUP STEP #1: START WITH A CLEAN SLATE

Hopefully, you already know never to apply a face full of makeup onto dirty skin. Even in the morning when your skin might feel clean, it’s still crucial to cleanse your face properly before applying makeup. All you have to do is reach for a mild facial cleanser every morning (and evening), preferably one that suits your skin type. If you tend to experience cakey or flaking makeup as the day wears on, you might consider using a facial cleanser that nourishes skin while it cleans, such as the L'Oréal Paris Revitalift Radiant Smoothing Cream Cleanser.

SMOOTH MAKEUP STEP #2: SLOUGH AWAY DULL SKIN

If you aren’t also regularly exfoliating your complexion, get to it! Think about it: Your makeup won’t look smooth if it’s not applied onto as smooth of a surface as possible. And in order to get a smoother skin texture, you need to exfoliate. Once or twice a week, or as often as your skin can handle it without becoming irritated, add a gentle face scrub to your skin care routine. Take your pick from the options below:

L'Oréal Paris Pure-Sugar Resurface & Energize Kona Coffee Scrub: Tired, dull skin? Wake it up with this scrub, which is formulated with real Kona coffee grounds.

L'Oréal Paris Pure-Sugar Nourish & Soften Cocoa Scrub: If you tend to have dry or rough skin, try this face scrub. It’s formulated with coconut oil and cocoa butter and will leave skin soft, smooth, and supple.

L'Oréal Paris Pure-Sugar Smooth & Glow Grapeseed Scrub: Is your skin lacking the glow factor we’re all striving for? Reach for this face scrub, which is formulated with finely ground acai, to help revive skin for a soft, glowing finish.

L'Oréal Paris Pure-Sugar Purify & Unclog Kiwi Scrub: If clogged pores are your biggest skin concern, try this face scrub. It’s formulated with real kiwi seeds and works to purify and unclog pores effectively without drying out skin.

SMOOTH MAKEUP STEP #3: HYDRATE, HYDRATE, HYDRATE!

The second step in prepping your skin for a smooth makeup application is to make sure that it’s sufficiently hydrated. When you have flakey, dry skin, your makeup definitely won’t look smooth—and we just can’t have that. After you’re done with cleansing, apply a few drops of a hydrating facial serum onto your entire face and neck. Try the L'Oréal Paris Revitalift Derm Intensives 1.5% Pure Hyaluronic Acid Serum, which is formulated to intensely hydrate and nourish skin, resulting in a more plump and youthful-looking complexion. Smooth a few drops onto your skin when it's still damp post-cleansing to really lock in hydration.

Don’t stop there, finish your pre-makeup skin care routine with a lightweight, water-based moisturizer, which should be layered on top of the serum. Here are your best options, which you can choose from based on skin type: L'Oréal Paris Hydra Genius Daily Liquid Care - Normal/Dry Skin, L'Oréal Paris Hydra Genius Daily Liquid Care - Normal/Oily Skin, and the L'Oréal Paris Hydra Genius Daily Liquid Care - Extra Dry Skin.

SMOOTH MAKEUP STEP #4: APPLY A MAKEUP PRIMER

It’s almost time to move onto applying your face makeup—but not just yet. First, you’ll want to apply a smoothing makeup primer, such as the L'Oréal Paris Studio Secrets Professional Magic Perfecting Base.  Using a makeup primer will help create an even base for your makeup, which will aid in keeping it looking smooth. This particular primer will work to minimize the appearance of pores and blemishes and also mattify your T-zone. To use, simply apply an even layer over your entire face and neck.

SMOOTH MAKEUP STEP #5: BLEND, BLEND, BLEND!

Finally, you’re ready to apply your foundation and concealer! In order to achieve a totally smooth face makeup look, you’ll want to apply your foundation and concealer of choice using a makeup blender, like the L'Oréal Paris Infallible Blend Artist Foundation Blender. Using this blender to blend everything out will make for a super smooth makeup application.

SMOOTH MAKEUP STEP #6: SET YOUR LOOK

After you’ve applied all of your makeup—including your eye makeup and lip color—you’ll want to set your entire look with a setting spray. If you have naturally dry skin or are looking to achieve a glowy makeup look, try the L'Oréal Paris True Match Lumi Shake & Glow Dew Mist, which will set makeup while also giving skin a natural, dewy glow. Another great option that’s suitable for all skin types is the L'Oréal Paris Infallible Pro-Spray & Set Makeup Extender Setting Spray, which will lock in your look with a barely-there feel. To use either option, simply shake up the bottle, then spritz over your entire complexion, holding the bottle eight to ten inches away from your face.

Next up: Just like your makeup, your lips should be smooth, too! Not sure what we mean? Here’s How to Use a Lip Scrub Before Applying Lipstick.