Talk to any makeup artist, and they’ll agree: learning how to prep skin for makeup is the key to a flawless finish. In fact, skin prep sets the stage for better blending and longevity long before reaching for your favorite foundation and blush. “Imagine painting a wall that hasn’t been spackled, sanded, and primed—you’ll see every bump, ridge, and flake come through the paint,” pro makeup artist Ariane Victoria tells Vogue, emphasizing that the same idea applies to our skin. “If you don’t start with a clean, exfoliated, moisturized, and balanced face, the makeup will never give you an even, healthy-skin finish. The lack of preparation always shows through the final look.”
Vogue’s Favorite Skin Prep For Makeup
With that in mind, she and fellow pro MarQuis Ward agree that there’s no single holy grail makeup prep routine. Instead, the process should shift from person to person based on their skin type and what their complexion needs that day. “Good skin prep is really about listening to the skin,” Ward tells, encouraging us to pay attention to whether skin needs a little more attention, whether that’s dryness, texture, or excess oil. “The goal is never to pile on a bunch of skincare [for the sake of it]. Skin that’s well prepped so gives the makeup less work to do.”
As Ward explains, his approach is about using fewer products that make a noticeable difference. Victoria offers a similarly straightforward way to find the right products for your skin: “I never use products that add glow or light reflection on oily skin, but I love a dewy serum on dry skin,” she says.
Once you have your routine sorted, there’s another factor to consider: whether your makeup products will work well with your skincare. “The ingredients in your skincare absolutely react with your makeup,” says Victoria, who prefers silicone-based makeup for its versatility and ability to layer well over both oil- and water-based topicals. “The key is applying everything in light layers and letting the skin absorb each one as you go.”
Below, the pros break down the essentials of the best skin prep for makeup, offering a guide to everything from the products to use to the order in which to apply them.
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Step One: Fresh & Clean Skin
In keeping with the pros’ helpful analogies that make skin prep feel practical rather than frivolous, think of it as creating a clean canvas before you begin painting. For makeup artists, that might mean wiping a client’s face with micellar water to remove any excess oil. At home, you can do the same, or simply begin your routine after washing your face with your preferred cleanser. The goal is to remove anything that could interfere with product absorption or layering.
