Everybody loves cake. No one loves cakey makeup. Okay, cue the tomatoes because that might be my worst joke yet. My bad. Cakey makeup (in case you really did get caught up on the “cake” part of it) is when foundation appears too thick, patchy, or flaky on your skin. Which we obviously don’t want. We’re all about our makeup enhancing our natural features, not making us look like creatures from the black lagoon, but the good thing is that it’s pretty easy to avoid looking like you belong in a monster movie.
Avoiding cakey makeup
I’m sure you already know exactly what I’m going to say…avoiding cakey makeup starts with good skincare. I wouldn’t keep saying it if skincare wasn’t so important!
Exfoliate
One of the causes of cakey makeup is build up of dirt, oil, and dead skin cells. Exfoliating this away weekly helps provide a smooth, clean surface prepped and ready for makeup. Just remember that over exfoliation can end up having the opposite effect for your skin so limit it to once or twice a week depending on your skin type.
We recommend dermaplane facials for the best exfoliation!
Moisturize
When the skin is dry, and you do nothing to combat it before you apply your foundation, it’s easy to tell. Your makeup will look flaky and you will settle in lines and places of the face you might be trying to cover up. Hydration is key for a smooth flawless finish. Apply a moisturizer that’s best for your skin type before applying any makeup. Concentrate on areas that are more prone to cakeyness (t-zone and under eye).
We recommend Skinbetter Trio Rebalancing Moisture Treatment, Epionce Renewal Facial Cream and Epionce Intensive Moisture Balance
Use primer
Coming from someone who only ever used moisturizer before I applied my makeup up until recently, if you aren’t using primer, you totally should be! Primer is the perfect tool to help give your skin a smooth texture, creating an empty canvas to begin your makeup routine. It helps eliminate creases and fine lines that often happen with foundation sans primer.
Senna makes one of our absolute favorites, Senna Silky Primer
Use foundation and other products that are best for your skin type
Foundation isn’t a one size fits all with color and it isn’t necessarily with skin type either. For those with dry skin, you’ll want products that have more hydrating ingredients (shea butter, ceramides, hyaluronic acid). If you have oily or acne prone skin, you’ll want products that are non comedogenic as they won’t clog your pores. You might even consider applying a setting powder before your makeup to prevent it from smearing (if you have oily skin).
Apply a setting spray
Our absolute favorite is Skindinavia
To finish off your look, a setting spray is a great way to hydrate and keep everything in place throughout the day.
If you didn’t follow these steps and are already plagued with cakey makeup, no worries because it can still be fixed! A few tricks to follow if you’re skincare is lacking:
- You can remove any excess oils or foundation spots with blotting sheets.
- Apply a face mist to give moisture to those areas that need hydration.
- Make sure you are using the right kind of foundation because if you’re failing at skincare, having the right foundation for your skin type can help.
- Use a damp beauty blender or sponge instead of a brush so you can blend better and help the products absorb effectively into the skin.
- Apply a setting spray!
I’m sure you can see that main culprit of cakey makeup is an uneven skin texture. When your skin is dry or oily, makeup tends to settle in our problem areas and prevent that nice finished smooth and radiant look we all crave. If you’re at a loss for a good skincare routine, don’t worry! A great way to ensure you’re getting the most out of your skincare products would be to try skincare cycling which gives you a schedule for when/what days to apply certain skincare products. If all else fails though, choosing a good cleanser and moisturizer can be a great start to help combat skin issues and cakey makeup.
By Sadie Young