How To Bake Your Face For A Budge-Proof Makeup Look - Byrdie

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How to Bake Your Face For a Budge-Proof Makeup Look By Ashley Rebecca Ashley Rebecca Ashley Rebecca is a NYC-based contributor for Byrdie, where she covers makeup, skincare, and more. She has 20+ years of experience as a makeup artist and has contributed to Byrdie for the past ten years. Byrdie's Editorial Guidelines Updated on June 27, 2024 04:39PM

In This Article

Prime and Prep Apply Foundation Apply Concealer Under Eyes Get to Baking Brush Off The Excess Powder You're Baked, Beautiful

Sometimes, a setting spray can't prevent your makeup from creasing throughout the day. If this happens to you, or you find that your makeup completely disappears, you might want to consider baking.

Baking your makeup involves applying a setting or translucent powder to areas of the face that tend to crease over time. After applying the powder, let it bake for five to 10 minutes and then dust off the remaining product for a flawless finish that lasts all day. The process yields incredible results for under-eye brightening—plus, it's a great way to catch the dreaded fallout from eyeshadow without ruining your hard work.

Ahead, we break down everything you need to know about baking your makeup and how to execute it flawlessly with the help of celebrity makeup artists Lisa Aharon and Jeannia Robinette.

Meet the Experts

• Lisa Aharon is a New York-based celebrity makeup artist who has worked with clients including Rachel Brosnahan, Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Gwyneth Paltrow, Anna Kendrick, and Camila Mendes.
• Jeannia Robinette is a celebrity makeup artist and beauty expert.

01 of 06

Prime and Prep

The first step is to properly prime and prep your skin for makeup. This means applying your eye cream, moisturizer, primer, and all the products you like to have before you start applying your makeup. Aharon praises eye cream as one of the main products to ensure under eyes look as good as they can,

"Keeping the under-eye area moist and hydrated is crucial to avoid the appearance of dry, crepey skin," she says, "Prep is everything, so make sure to let a generous amount of eye cream set in before your first layer of concealer. Freck Beauty's So Jelly Cactus Eye Jelly with Plant Collagen is a fantastic lightweight option. If you prefer a creamier consistency, Joanna Vargas Revitalizing Eye Cream never lets me down. The more your skin looks hydrated, the better it will look and feel with makeup on (and off, too)."

02 of 06

Apply Foundation

After you've applied your skincare and treatments and they've properly absorbed, the next step in your routine should be to apply foundation all over the face. Depending on the coverage you're looking for will determine what product you choose; I am applying Cle de Peau Beaute's Radiant Fluid Foundation and using the Pinnacle Foundation Brush from Anisa. In a circular motion, blend your foundation all over your face until it's evenly distributed and you're happy with the coverage.

03 of 06

Apply Concealer Under Eyes

You don't need to limit concealer to only under the eyes, but applying it before baking is essential when you want your undereye area to look brighter, rested, and refreshed. I am using Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Concealer on my eyes' inner corners and underneath them to help conceal my dark circles. I like to lightly tap it with a concealer brush, which looks natural and not too thick. When asked about concealer, Aharon suggests the creamier, the better. "Creamy concealers, usually medium to full coverage, work wonders under a heavy coat of loose powder." After you've applied concealer, blend it out with your clean finger or a brush to distribute the product and keep it from caking.

04 of 06

Get to Baking

To begin the process of baking, apply a setting or translucent powder under the eyes. On the forehead, nasolabial folds (the lines that tend to form on either side of your mouth), and chin—basically, anywhere on your face that you've experienced creasing. I use a translucent setting and baking powder from Catrice because I really like the way translucent powder sets on my skin. You can use powders that have pigment in them, too; whatever you prefer is completely fine. Aharon says, "The main purpose of baking is to keep the under-eye area bright and flawless while applying a heavier eye look or bold color. Of course, once dusted away, the perfect finish is revealed. Essentially, it's setting your makeup to the extreme for an airbrushed look around the eyes and cheekbones."

Robinette adds that "a firm and fluffy brush is key." She loves the Hourglass Veil Powder Brush or Make Up For Ever Large Powder Brush.

You will need to leave the powder on for five to 10 minutes to "bake," mix with the heat of your body temperature, and set with your makeup. While you're letting this process happen, go ahead and apply your eye makeup, define your brows, add mascara, or tend to anything else you might need to help the time pass.

"Eyeshadow and mascara for sure can be done while baking, but brows take the longest, so keep that in mind while baking," says Robinette, who recommends a super soft brush to sweep away fallout when you are done baking. "Then, I do lips and save the blush for last. I always base the amount of blush needed after a look is completely done."

Key Takeaways

• Baking makeup is a technique where you apply translucent powder to set foundation and concealer, resulting in a long-lasting, crease-free finish.

• Baking also helps to absorb excess oil to reduce shine and give your skin a matte, airbrushed appearance.

05 of 06

Brush Off The Excess Powder

Once your powder has had ample time to bake, you can use the same brush you applied it with to smooth it out and brush off any excess powder that might be remaining. If you feel you need to add some more powder, you can certainly do that; just mist your face lightly with a facial spray like Tatcha's Luminous Dewy Skin Mist before application. This will allow the powder to adhere more easily.

06 of 06

You're Baked, Beautiful

After you've finished applying your makeup, consider yourself fully baked. If your skin feels oily throughout the day, keep a powder compact with you for minor touch-ups; applying loose powder on the go can sometimes backfire and be messier than when applied at home. Experiment with a few different powder finishes to see which ones you like best for baking, and you'll become a pro in no time.

"You shouldn't need much to touch up your makeup, but use the same powder you used for baking with a powder puff or brush all over your face," says Robinette, who prefers baking for a full glam look instead of a more subdued look. "If you don't want to touch up with a powder, a spray mist is fine, too."

Read more:

• Makeup
• Face

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