Skin prep for makeup can be confusing.
What do you do before you apply primer and foundation? You don’t want your makeup looking oily, but you don’t want your foundation drying and cracking after an hour either.
And at the end of the day, if you have quality makeup products, does it really matter what’s underneath?
Professional makeup artists say yes! They work with dry, sensitive, oily, flushed, and easily irritated skin all the time. On movie sets and backstage, makeup has to be applied, removed, and reapplied for hours.
So the best makeup artists are always thinking about the skin underneath the makeup, because they know it can make a big difference in the final look.
That’s one reason why CV Skinlabs products have become favorites in professional makeup kits. International clean beauty makeup artist Kristin Arnett said the products are “great for so many different skin types.” That versatility matters when an artist may be working with completely different skin from one client to the next.
The same things makeup artists look for on set—including calming hydration, skin-barrier support, versatility, and gentle formulas—can also make your makeup look better at home.
What is Skin Prep for Makeup?
You may not have thought about it much, but skin prep for makeup means getting your skin ready before you apply foundation, concealer, blush, or other cosmetics. Getting the skincare right helps your skin feel calm, comfortable, smooth, and balanced so makeup has a better surface to sit on.
If skin is dry, foundation can exacerbate the look of fine lines and wrinkles. If skin is red and irritated, you may try to cover it up with more product, which can then look heavy and fake. If your moisturizer is too heavy or oily, makeup may slide or separate.
Makeup artists pay attention to what the skin needs that day. Is it dry, puffy, flushed, tight, or oily in places and dry in others? Whatever they find, they adjust their prep accordingly.
Your skin does exactly the same thing. That’s why preparing your skin beforehand is one of the best things you can do to create your most flawless, youthful look.
Why Skin Prep for Makeup Matters to Makeup Artists
So it’s a fact that makeup looks best when the skin underneath it looks is healthy and comfortable.
That doesn’t mean skin has to be perfect, and no one’s is. Makeup artists work with real skin, including skin with fine lines, pores, dry patches, blemishes, and sensitivity. Their job is to create the best possible canvas without making the skin worse.
Award-winning makeup artist Heba Thorisdottir has used CV Skinlabs products while working with actors including Margot Robbie, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Sean Penn. Makeup artists Rebecca Casciano, Julie Harris, Kristen Arnett, and Corey Castellano have also kept CV Skinlabs products in their professional kits.
Many work with clients who have sensitive, dry, or compromised skin, from rosacea and eczema to acne-prone skin. They praise CV Skinlabs’ products for instantly soothing redness, calming inflammation, and hydrating without irritation. This makes them ideal for pre- and post-makeup routines, especially for clients with fragile skin.
1. Skin Prep for Makeup Starts by Calming the Skin
Redness and irritation can make makeup harder to apply evenly. Adding more foundation is rarely the right answer. Instead, it’s best to calm and hydrate the skin.
CV Skinlabs Rescue + Relief Spray adds lightweight moisture before makeup. Makeup artists have used it before makeup to improve skin texture, soothe redness, and leave skin feeling soft and hydrated.
It can also be used when skin feels hot, flushed, or irritated. Some artists use it as a non-alcoholic toner or even a makeup-setting spray because it adds moisture and radiance without adding oil.
Mist it over clean skin before you apply your moisturizer. Let it absorb, then continue with the rest of your routine. Because it’s lightweight and oil-free, it’s perfect for when you don’t want a heavy layer underneath makeup, particularly if your skin is prone to breakouts.
2. Skin Prep for Makeup Needs the Right Moisture
Hydrating and moisturizing skin is crucial for locking in hydration, protecting the skin barrier, and establishing an all-day glow. More, however, is not always better.
A thick or greasy moisturizer can interfere with foundation. Skin that is under-moisturized, however, may make makeup look dry and uneven. What you need is something right in the middle that helps moisturize and plump your skin without leaving behind a greasy residue.
CV Skinlabs Calming Moisture works for many skin types. Makeup artists like applying it before makeup, and it can also be mixed with foundation when you want a softer, more luminous finish.
It can also help when the skin looks puffy, irritated, or red. Start with a small amount and let it settle before applying makeup. If your cheeks are dry but your T-zone gets oily, use more only where you need it.
3. Skin Prep for Makeup Should Include Dry Spots
Makeup artists notice small areas that can derail an otherwise beautiful finish, such as cracked lips, flaky skin around the nose, rough cuticles, or unruly brows.
CV Skinlabs Restorative Skin Balm can be useful for these stubborn spots. Celebrity makeup artist Rebecca Casciano has kept the balm as a staple in her makeup kit, using it on lips, cuticles, and other areas that need extra moisture and restoration.
The balm creates a protective, healing moisture-locking barrier, which can be especially helpful when repeated makeup application and removal have left the skin dry or stressed.
Don’t forget the lips! A tiny amount on dry lips before lipstick can create a smoother surface on which to apply lipstick or lip gloss. You can also swipe a little over your brows to keep the hairs in place. A little goes a long way, which is also helpful for artists who need products that are easy to carry from job to job.
Skin Prep for Makeup Doesn’t Stop at Your Face
Think about a red-carpet look. It’s not just the facial skin that’s important. A celebrity’s shoulders, arms, legs, and décolletage may all be visible, and dry skin can look unprofessional.
That’s why body skincare shows up in professional makeup kits too. CV Skinlabs Body Repair Lotion is a favorite for red-carpet preparation when smooth, luminous-looking skin is important from head to toe.
It provides lasting hydration for skin that looks dull, dry, flaky, or rough while absorbing quickly and leaving behind a soft-looking radiance.
You don’t have to be a celebrity to use this idea. Try applying it after bathing while your skin is still slightly damp, then let it absorb before getting dressed.
Skin Prep for Makeup Continues After the Makeup Comes Off
Professional makeup artists also think about what happens once the cameras are off.
Repeated makeup application and removal can leave skin feeling uncomfortable, dry, and tight. That makes post-makeup skincare important too.
This is especially true for anyone with sensitive or compromised skin. Makeup artists may work with people dealing with dryness, redness, rosacea, eczema, or skin recovering from procedures or other stresses. Products that soothe and protect the skin without adding more irritation can be extremely valuable.
After cleansing, mist on Rescue + Relief Spray for lightweight hydration, follow with Calming Moisture, and use Restorative Skin Balm anywhere that feels extra dry. Skin prep is perfect before applying makeup, but it’s super important after you take it off, too.
Your Everyday Skin Prep for Makeup Routine
You don’t have to have a celebrity makeup artist standing in your bathroom every morning to get your most flawless look. You can borrow the same approach and use it yourself.
Look at your skin before applying products. If it feels warm, tight, or flushed, use our Rescue + Relief Spray. Add our Calming Moisture to give you hydration without heaviness. Treat dry or flaky lips and other areas with a small amount of balm. Then let your skincare absorb before you start applying makeup.
Keep in mind that when your skin changes, your routine will probably need to change too. A cold winter morning may call for more moisture, whereas a humid summer day may call for lighter layers. Sensitive skin usually needs fewer products instead of more.
That flexibility may be the biggest makeup-artist secret of all. Professional artists need products that perform well across different situations, which helps explain why CV Skinlabs has remained a favorite with artists working backstage, on film sets, and with celebrity clients. They want products that really work while helping them care for whatever skin they’re working on.
The best skin prep for makeup is the prep that helps you enjoy calmer, softer, and smoother skin. When you have that, your makeup doesn’t have to work so hard, and your natural glow shows through.
How do you prep your skin for makeup?
