Whenever we discuss base products, the conversation is aimed at keeping dry skin looking glowing and dewy, and keeping oily skin looking matte. But make-up should be fun. It should make you step out of your comfort zone and experiment, and most of all, it should empower you to look however you like, just as long as you’re using the right products!
For those naturally glossy (and incredibly lucky) people who want to continue to shine without looking greasy, the Fenty Beauty Pro Filt’r Primer (₹2,000 on sephora.com) is a surprising multi-tasker that keeps the oils at bay and smoothens texture, while giving your skin a healthy glow. It works really well for a multitude of skin types, but is oily skin’s best friend. Make sure to go easy on it, since the product can sit on the skin when you use more than necessary.
In terms of base foundations, both Milani’s 2 in 1 Foundation and Concealer (₹1,325 on nykaa.com) and The Ordinary’s Coverage Foundation (₹450 on Cult Beauty) manage to stay put all day, while giving the skin a subtle glow.
If your skin is oily, you most certainly should be setting it with a powder of choice. Powders have come such a long way from the thick, drying, cakey products that used to be available in compacts. Today, they can help you achieve just about any finish while setting your make-up.
I especially love a finely milled setting powder, those with micro shimmer in them that set your make-up but add even more glow, like the Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powders (₹3,600 on Cult Beauty). Dim Light and Diffused Light are favourites, as they manage blurred texture.
For those of you with drier skin that needs a little extra love before it is powdered, the Hylamide’s HA Blur (₹500 on deciem.com) is a wondrous product made with hyaluronic acid that manages to hydrate, plump and blur the skin, ensuring that your make-up glides over your skin without any effort.
I love using this product on its own, since it manages to make the skin look almost airbrushed. If you take enough precaution, even the driest of skin can get away with a completely polished matte base.
The Armani Luminous Silk foundation (₹3,950 on sephora.com) is a stunning formula that does not live up to its name entirely. While the foundation glides on to the skin, it dries down to a velvety texture that is far from luminous, but still manages to hydrate the skin. And finally, since we have already discussed how advanced powders are getting, Becca’s latest release, the Hydra Mist setting powder (₹2,500 on sephora.com), feels almost wet when you first put it on, but manages to be both hydrating and mattefying, a particularly difficult combination to achieve.
Special mentions to The Milk Makeup Blur Stick (₹1,500 on Sephora.com) and the Glossier Priming Moisturiser (₹1,850 from Glossier.com).
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