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If you love makeup and you keep up with trends in the beauty industry, then you've probably already heard of the term 'makeup baking' a bazillion times.
The art of baking your makeup isn't so new but it has been made more popular by many beauty gurus, especially on YouTube Instagram, and most recently TikTok, and for justiciable reasons too.
Makeup baking, when done correctly:
But just like every trend there are bound to be certain misconceptions.
A lot of people have attempted to add this new baking technique to their makeup routine and some sadly with little success.
If you fall into this category, you're on the right page because today we'll be sharing with you the exact steps on how you can also bake your face like the professional makeup artists you admire online and achieve that flawless long-lasting makeup you've always wanted.
Alright, let's get down to the talk of the day!
Baking is a makeup technique that was introduced by early makeup artists who made use of mostly oil and cream-based makeup which brought about the need to set the makeup to soak up the excess oils and create a smooth base for the application of other powder products such as bronzers, blushes and highlighters.
From then, baking makeup was then popularized by drag queens and performers like dancers and singers who needed their makeup to last through their performance on stage.
So what exactly is this art of makeup baking?
It has to do with the layering of makeup products with the sole purpose of highlighting, brightening, and oil control.
The actual act of baking involves letting a thick layer of powder sit in certain areas of your face, particularly under the eyes, for 5 to 10 minutes.
This allows your body heat to 'bake' the powder, which melts the powder into your skin to set your concealers in place while absorbing the excess oils from your skin.
A thick layer of loose powder is needed for this to be effective, and after a few minutes, the excess powder is then dusted off with a brush for a flawless matte finish.
Now that you know what baking entails, your next question would be, should you try it?
You certainly should!
While baking is best suited for persons with oily skin, you can still pull off a baked face even if you have normal to dry skin.
You just have to do it in moderation. This technique works best when you're going for that full-face glam.
Baking your face is great for locking that full coverage foundation to keep it from settling into creases, transferring, or melting off due to sweat.
But I must say, if you're team "natural glam" or prefer "skin-like" makeup, it would be best if you skip the baking process.
Baking is part of your makeup routine, so you'll need your full stash of makeup products.
But more particularly, to achieve a flawlessly baked face, make sure you have the following products at arm's length.
Baking is mostly concentrated under the eyes, and we know the under-eye area has dry sensitive skin. So in addition to your normal moisturizer, you'll need to top it off with a thick layer of eye cream. This will help keep skin soft and supple for the makeup to sit on without creasing.
Full coverage foundations are essential for this particular routine to even out your complexion. Baking is best used to set liquid and cream products, so I suggest going for a liquid foundation. Avoid powdered foundations by all means as this can give off a cakey finish when baked.
Liquid concealer is going to be your best friend for this look. It will help set the stage for your under-eye baking by helping to cover up dark circles around the eyes. Plus baking directly over a well-blended concealer is the trick to perfectly bright under the eye.
This is the most important item for this particular baking technique. Do not make the mistake of using pressed or tinted powder to bake your face, trust me, you will not like the results.
Loose-setting powder is the holy grail for baking because it has finely milled particles that sit nicely on the skin without settling into fine lines or large pores.
You also want to lose powders that are too white, peachy, or yellowish. Instead opt for a powder that is one to two shades lighter than your normal skin tone, so that by the time the makeup oxidizes, you're not left looking orange or whitewashed.
Also, using the right shade of powder is even more important to prevent the dreaded camera flashbacks.
A makeup sponge for blending out your foundation and concealer and a powder puff for setting both products in place. You can also use your makeup sponge for this, but a nicely crafted triangle powder puff is a game changer.
You'll need this to sweep off the excess powder from your face.
To melt everything in place and bring back some natural glow to your skin. A setting spray will do just that.
Baking can be intimidating since you're working with a lot of power on your face, but finishing up with a setting spray helps to soften the appearance of the powder, so you look baked but not cakey.
Now that we have all our ingredients ready, let's get baking!
We know our end goal for this makeup look is a matte finish but still, you want to start with well-hydrated skin. Baking on dry skin is a recipe for cakiness and creasing which we don't want.
Now just like usual, go in with your normal skincare products like your moisturizer, toner, and most important eye cream. The skin under the eyes is thin and needs to be well moisturized.
Apply a generous amount of eye cream to the area and use your fingers to gently pat it in, using tapping and not rubbing motions. Give it a few minutes so it's well absorbed into the skin before you apply your makeup.
Even out your complexion by applying your liquid foundation all over your face, while avoiding the under eyes.
For that perfect matte look, go for a water-based foundation instead of an oil-based one, especially if you have oily skin. Make sure to use a damp makeup sponge for a natural finish.
Remember how we skipped the under eyes when applying foundation, that's because we're saving the spot for concealer. Pull out your exact shade of liquid concealer and place the first layer under your eyes, concentrating on the inner and outer corners of the eyes.
To get the best coverage, allow your concealer to sit on your skin for a minute before blending out with the same damp makeup sponge. Then go back in with a second layer of concealer, this time one that's two shades lighter for that brightening effect. Repeat the same process and blend out.
Go ahead and highlight other parts of your face that you normally would with concealer, like your forehead, bridge of the nose, chin, and underneath your cheekbones.
This is where the magic happens. Before you dive straight into baking, first set the places you concealed with a small amount of the same loose powder meant for baking. This trick right here is key to achieving a crease-free baked face.
Here's how to do it. Once you have blended out the concealer. Use the same makeup sponge to pick up the powder. Dust off the excess at the back of your hands and gently dab it on the concealed areas. You will notice an instant matte finish.
Now it's time to bake. Get your powder puff or pick up your makeup sponge. This time, take a generous amount of powder and gently apply it under the eyes and other places where you'd like to brighten. Allow the powder to sit on your face and bake for 5 to 10 minutes. This will allow your body heat to "bake" the makeup ensuring that the makeup doesn't move while the powder soaks up the excess oil from the skin.
As you wait, take this time to define your brows or apply your eyeshadow. While doing this, be mindful of the time, as you're not supposed to bake for more than 10 minutes. Baking for too long may not yield the desired results.
Once you're done baking, take a fluffy powder brush and dust off the excess powder in a flicking motion and blend out using circular motions to soften any harsh lines.
Congratulations! You've been baked. Now go ahead and do the rest of your makeup. The next step after baking is to apply a powder contour or bronzer to your temples, cheekbones, and jawline to bring back warmth and dimension to the face. Next, go in with a powder blush and highlighter on the cheeks. Add your preferred shade of lipstick and you're almost ready.
Lastly, to seal all of this hard work, finish up with a setting spray. This will help melt the powdered products in place giving your skin this natural matte look.
Makeup baking is one technique that has consistently lived up to the hype placed on it and you also can learn to bake your face like a pro in no time. Just follow the steps listed in this article and keep practicing and you'll be a baking expert before you know it.
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