One Weekly Skincare Task Is The Key To Preventing Cakey Makeup

Have you ever spent hours doing your makeup, but the second you're done and walk into different lighting, you notice it looks cakey? This can happen for many reasons. However, it's most likely from adding too many layers of foundation and concealer. As you continue to use more and more of these makeup products, they build up to look like a textured sheet of makeup instead of a perfected version of your natural complexion.

It's also more likely to happen if you have dry skin. L'Oréal Paris recommends avoiding powder-based products unless you have an oily skin type. Otherwise, the product will settle into your dry patches, making them more noticeable. Your face can be left with thick flakes that lift off the skin, making it look cakey. Fortunately, there are ways you can take care of your complexion to prevent this from happening. By following the proper skincare routine, you can be sure that your face is the perfect canvas for your makeup to sit on.

Exfoliating is a necessary step if you notice your makeup looking cakey. You need a smooth surface to work with before you can put on any foundation or concealer. Otherwise, the products will just settle into your skin's imperfections. By exfoliating, you're washing away the outer layer of skin that would cause you to have cakey makeup. You want to remove these dead skin cells because they do nothing good for your face and cover the fresh layer that's healthy and plump.

Your goal is to make your complexion look flawless, and that all starts with what's under your makeup. You don't want to give your products any flakes to grab onto and ruin your look. Ideally, you only need to add exfoliation to your skincare routine once every week. Doing it more frequently than the maximum of twice a week could potentially damage your skin. If you did it any less, there wouldn't be noticeable results. There are also multiple types of exfoliators that you can choose from depending on what issues you're dealing with.

When choosing what kind of exfoliator to use when preventing cakey makeup, you'll notice physical and chemical options. Physical ones will be advertised as face scrubs with ingredients like apricot seeds. Tools like body brushes will also exfoliate the skin in the same way. These options work by manually scrubbing off your dead skin cells and are best for people with uneven texture or maturing skin. This is because physical exfoliation is better at increasing collagen production. However, it can also be more damaging to the skin since it's easy to overdo it.

Chemical exfoliators include salicylic, glycolic, or lactic acid, which are known as AHAs or BHAs. These ingredients will gently slosh off the dead skin cells without you having to worry if you're scrubbing too hard. They're better for people with sensitive skin, darker complexions, and if you're prone to scarring (via Kiehl's). Overall, using a chemical exfoliator with a mild potency is safer than a physical one. That way, you don't risk irritating your skin further and trying to cover it with makeup.