Just because you’re in a mask 24/7 doesn’t mean that wearing makeup can take a backseat. In fact, wearing cosmetics can give skin an extra layer of protection from external aggressors like pollution and exposure to blue light and ultraviolet rays.
However, humidity accumulated around the mouth area may melt off regular foundation and rub against your mask, leaving you with an erased lower half of the face. To prevent this from happening, switch out your regular foundation for a long-wearing base makeup with a matte finish and top with a fixing spray. If all else fails, always have blotting paper on standby to dab off excess sebum, advises Jane Richardson, global artistry director for NARS.
It’s good to regularly deep cleanse the skin and remove excess sebum with pore clarifying skincare. If you have oily skin, apply mattifying moisturisers and serums, rather than skip them altogether. This is because makeup adheres better to well-hydrated skin. Here are our recommendations for must-have mattifiers.
NARS Soft Matte Complete Foundation
Boasting 16-hour extended wear, this foundation by NARS contains a blend of botanical extracts and antioxidants that helps control the appearance of excess sebum to prevent shades from shifting due to oxidation. In addition, it helps protect skin from pollutants, free radicals and blue-light exposure that can contribute to the appearance of excess sebum. It’s lightweight yet offers buildable coverage that blends easily, leaving a smoothing, matte finish that doesn’t budge under a mask — while keeping moisture levels balanced with a hydra-matte balancing complex made of micro-algae extract and bio-hyaluronic acid.
L’Oréal Paris Matte and Fresh UV Defender SPF 50+ PA++++
If you have time to apply only one thing before you go out, please let it be sunscreen. A must-have for those with oily or combination skin, this new formula by L’Oréal Paris contains skin-mattifying air licium, an active ingredient that helps absorb sebum to prevent shine and oiliness. Not only does this lightweight sunscreen provide eight hours of hydration to the skin, its patented UV technology fights off harmful PM2.5 micropollutants and dreadful humidity, keeping you feeling refreshed despite all that mask-wearing.
Fenty Beauty Invisimatte Blotting Paper
Take it from Rihanna, blotting is key to keeping your makeup looking fresh. Here’s a chic blotting paper dispenser worthy of our designer handbags. It looks discreetly like lipstick but inside you’ll find a roll of absorbent paper made with the same natural botanical fibres used for traditional Japanese blotting paper. Best part: It comes with a little mirror so you can de-sheen wherever and whenever.
Origins Original Skin Retexturising Mask with Rose Clay
Decongest suffocated skin with this two-in-one mask infused with herb and plant extracts to clear clogged pores, reduce skin inflammation and firm the skin. It is formulated with Mediterranean Rose Clay and Canadian Willow Herb to deeply cleanse, while jojoba beads gently slough off dead skin. After a gentle scrub, leave on for another 10 minutes to fully reap its skin-revitalising benefits.
M.A.C Prime + Prime Fix + Matte
The best way to set your makeup so it won’t melt off the skin is by using a fixing spray, especially one that can control shine and oil like this lightweight mattifying spray. Alcohol-free, M.A.C’s Fix + Matte spray contains powders, silica and other oil-absorbing agents to help set makeup, rebalance and mattify the skin for up to 12 hours. Not only does it prime, set and refresh makeup, it also works as a mist to give you much needed hydration throughout the day.
Kenzoki Moisturising Jelly to Mattify
If you hate the heaviness of creams, try this instead: a lightweight jelly that melts into the skin with a velvety matte texture akin to blotting paper. Perfect for our humid weather, this moisturiser hydrates with hyaluronic acid, while white lotus plant extracts help to reinforce the skin barrier and protect it from free radicals. Mattifying powders are the ones that help keep skin looking matte all day.
Dior Capture Youth Age-Delay Matte Maximiser Mattifying Serum
A serum designed for sebum-heavy skin, this 88% natural formula combines the power of lactic acid, pink clay and zinc gluconate to refine skin texture and control excess shine even in high humidity. This trio of ingredients helps to level out the oil to water ratio, leaving skin velvety soft and matte. The addition of antioxidant iris also helps to strengthen and nourish the skin.
Dior Forever Cushion Powder
Another easy way to freshen up your face and tone down the shine is by touching up or setting your makeup with a loose powder. Available in four shades, including lavender to correct uneven skin tone, this ultra-fine powder leaves a delicate velvety finish and blurs out imperfections. It’s enriched with wild pansy extract to offer moisture and feel-good freshness.
