This fluctuating Boston weather may have you feeling otherwise but SPRING has sprung! I am sure you have been reading a lot about the makeup trends that are in for spring: natural looking skin, red lips, power eyebrows, but what else does spring mean for makeup? It means it’s prom and wedding season!

Although I recommend hiring an experienced Professional Makeup Artist when having professional pictures done, there are some things you can do to ensure a flawless photo. If you want to know how to get that ‘perfect for pictures’, lasting makeup look, keep reading.

First, it is important to address your individual skin care needs before attempting to apply color. Good skin care practices are a way to “create the perfect canvas” before applying makeup. Before starting your makeup, make sure that your skin is well exfoliated and moisturized and that your eyebrows are free from any stray hair (the little fuzzy hair under your eyebrow can catch product and make your shadow look messy).   Although SPF is something everyone should wear daily, when you are going to be having lots of pictures taken, I recommend avoiding it. SPF is meant to reflect the light from the sun, when having your picture taken with flash photography it can reflect the flash as well. This will create “hot spots” or areas of shine on your face. Instead of an SPF, use a light moisturizer under your makeup to address any dryness you may have.

The next step is using a face and eye primer. Face Primers are products that prepare your skin for makeup, they even out skin tone and texture and help to keep your makeup in place. I like to think of them as that bulky makeup bag that used to take up too much room in your purse. If you use a good primer, you shouldn’t need to reapply makeup. Primers are especially good for an oilier skin type and can be used in place of moisturizer for an oilier skin. An Eye Primer works in the same way, it helps to prevent eyeshadow from creasing on the lid or from slipping off. When you plan to dance the night away and still look good for pictures at the end of the night, primers are something you can’t avoid.

Once you’ve prepped the skin well, you are ready to conceal. Use a concealer that is one shade lighter than your skin color, this will help to cover any blemishes, broken capillaries, or darkness in the skin, particularly around the eye area. I recommend using a small synthetic concealer brush and stippling (think painting with small dots and short strokes as not to pick the product back up off the skin). You can blend further using a makeup brush, do not use your finger as oils on your finger tips can make the product streak. Blend! Blend! Blend! the concealer to smooth out any lines of demarcation.

Next, use a foundation that matches your skin tone exactly! A good area to test your foundation is from the jawline to the  neck. There’s nothing worse than being two-toned, you don’t want to look like you’re wearing a mask. You can apply foundation using a foundation brush or makeup sponge. Use an upward, outward motion when applying foundation and again- Blend! Blend! Blend! down to the neck and right into the hairline. *For photography, it’s best NOT to use a foundation that contains SPF. The main ingredient in SPF is titanium dioxide which is meant to reflect light, in photos it can make you look really washed out.

Set your foundation with powder that matches your foundation and skin tone. Powder is an extremely important step for photos as it will reduce any shine you may have on the skin. You should over powder too, using more than you typically would. I recommend using a Kabuki or some other type of big, fluffy brush for powder.

So there you have the basics of makeup application for creating a flawless face for photos. Stay tuned for my next article that will address color cosmetics and which colors may compliment you!