Preparing the skin

Preperation of the skin is one of the most important aspects of makeup. The face needs to be a blank, clean canvas before you apply any makeup to the skin. In order to complete the preperation properly you need to; 

- Have a consultation with the client (Set up the station)

- Cleanse

- Tone 

- Moisturise

1 - Have a consultation with the client (Set up a station)

The first thing you need to do with your client is ask about any allergies to products to ensure that your client wont react with the product that you are using. It is best to use products for sensitive skin so that no irritation occurs. If the client has any acne or dry skin, you need to be extra careful when handling these areas, once again to ensure that you don't irritate them. You also need to ask if the client is wearing eye contacts so that you don't aggravate these. Once you have determined the skin type of your client and their allergies, you then set up your work station with the chosen products layed out and easily accessed to you as an artist. Hygiene is also an important aspect to avoid cross contamination from surface to brushes. In order to avoid this, check the area and clean it if need be. Place a towel over the station to avoid any other bacteria getting onto your brushes. Next wash your hands to remove excess oils and bacteria. Protect the clients clothes with a cape, this will avoid anything going onto their clothes and ruining them. Also, pin the models hair back to avoid any product getting onto the hair making it greasy.

2 - Cleanse

Take your cleanser and place a small amount onto one pad. Press this pad into another pad and starting from the chin and neck cleanse upwards in small circular motions to remove makeup and impurities. Check with the client if the pressure is okay, and carry on around the face. Avoid using downward motions as this may cause premature wrinkles. To remove the makeup around the eye area, apply the product to the pad and place over the eye and then remove excess makeup with a cotton bud. The cotton bud will get into all the areas that the pad has missed. Never rub the eye as the skin around the eye is delicate. I use Nivea Daily Essentials Double Effect Eye Make-up Remover; it has a little bit of oil mixed with water which removes eye makeup and cleanses the lashes. To cleanse the face i use L'Oreal Skin Perfection Cleansing and Perfecting Milk. I find that it is kind to the skin, removes all makeup and really does create a smooth finish. This product also doubles up as an eye makeup remover. For my kit, I use L'Oreal Skin Perfection 3 in 1 Purifying Micellar Solution. This product removes makeup and unclogs the pores by drawing out the oils and impurities instead of being spread over the face.

 3- Tone 

After you have completely cleansed the face, you need to remove the dead skin cells and any remaining makeup that may have been missed. Toning the skin will remove these cells, therefore removing impurities that lead to acne. So cleanse and tone! This will help your skin stay firm and will reduce the size of the skins pores. Once again use upward motions to avoid premature wrinkles. For toning the skin I use L'Oreal Skin Perfection Velvety-Soft Toner. The Velvety-Soft Toner is so soft, leaving a smooth finish without causing dryness or irritation.

4- Moisturise 

Moisturiser is an important aspect where you put back what has been taken away but natural and other occurrences. Dry skin is one of the main causes for wrinkles, which can easily be prevented by maintaining a regime, moisturising to create a barrier against the elements and makeup. Although moisturising is key, you want to avoid over moisturising as this may add oils to the pores causing break outs, create a greasy barrier and also create an unusable base making the makeup slide around the face instead of sticking. To moisturise the clients face, take a pea sized amount onto the fingers and rub the hands together. Do not let the moisturiser leave the fingers as this product will go to waste. Starting with the neck and jaw line, pull the moisturiser up in circular motions avoiding downward motions. Apply all over the face remembering to check on the client, and whether the pressure applied is okay. With the moisturiser you can massage the face to get the blood flowing and to also relax the client. 

Once you have cleansed, toned and moisturised you need to step back and assess the face to see if any more cleansing or moisturiser needs to be applied. You can then apply the makeup. You may want to also suggest to the client to exfoliate up to three times a week, all over the face and lips to remove dead skin cells, which will create smoother, flawless skin.