GRWM #2: Pre-Makeup Skincare

It’s easy to blame your foundation when makeup looks patchy by lunchtime. Sometimes the issue starts in the ten minutes before it — the skincare prep that gets rushed or skipped. Give that part a little care and everything on top can sit better and last longer, with less product needed to get there.

So here’s a simple prep routine for a clean, glowy base. It’s not a fifteen-step ritual — just a handful of steps in a sensible order, with a couple of habits that make more difference than any single product.

Start with a clean face, but don’t overdo it

Cleanse with a gentle, non-stripping cleanser. If skin feels tight or squeaky afterwards, that’s often a sign it’s too harsh, and stripped skin can overcompensate by getting oily later — which doesn’t help makeup sit. In the morning I keep it simple: lukewarm water, a mild cleanser, and that’s enough. Stronger actives are better saved for the evening.

One thing my pharmacy background taught me: more isn’t better with skincare. Layering several strong products right before makeup can lead to pilling (those little rolls of product) and irritation. Prep is about a calm, balanced base, not a treatment session.

Hydrate while the skin is still damp

This is the step that, in my experience, changes the base the most. Right after cleansing, while skin is still slightly damp, apply a hydrating layer — a simple humectant serum or a few drops of something with hyaluronic acid. Damp skin tends to hold onto hydration better than dry skin, and a well-hydrated base is usually what gives that lit-from-within look instead of a surface shine.

If your skin runs dry, this is where you can press in a little facial oil. If it’s oily or acne-prone, keep it light and skip the oil.

Eyes and lips before base

A quick eye cream pat under the eyes stops concealer from clinging to dry patches and creasing. And a lip balm goes on now, not at the end — by the time I’ve done the rest of my skincare, it’s soaked in and my lips are smooth instead of flaky. Small steps, but they’re the difference between concealer and lipstick looking fresh or looking cakey.

Keep strong actives for another moment

The morning before makeup is not when I try to do everything at once. If I want exfoliating acids, retinoids or stronger treatment products, I prefer to keep them for a separate routine, usually at night and only when my skin is tolerating them well. Makeup prep should make the skin calmer and smoother, not red, shiny or sensitised.

This is especially important before a long day, an event or filming. If the skin is irritated, even a beautiful foundation can start to look heavy because you are trying to cover a problem created by the prep itself. On those days I would rather use fewer products: gentle cleanse, hydration, moisturiser, SPF, and patience.

Moisturiser, then let it actually absorb

Use a moisturiser suited to the day: lighter if it’s warm or skin runs oily, richer if it feels dehydrated. The most important part isn’t the product, it’s the pause — give it three to five minutes to sink in before anything else. Applying makeup onto wet moisturiser can be one reason a base slides or pills. Use that wait to brush your teeth or pick your outfit.

That pause also tells you whether the amount was right. If the skin still feels slippery after a few minutes, I probably used too much or chose something too rich for that day. If it feels tight again, I may need a little more hydration next time. Skincare before makeup is partly about listening to the skin before covering it.

Sunscreen is not optional

Every morning, the last skincare step is a broad-spectrum SPF — worth keeping on even under makeup, even in winter. It’s one of the products with the strongest evidence behind it for keeping skin healthy over time. Give it a couple of minutes too, then you’re ready for primer or foundation.

If sunscreen pills under makeup, I do not immediately blame the SPF. Sometimes the layers underneath are the issue, or the foundation is being rubbed on too aggressively. I try pressing the base instead of dragging it, using less product underneath, and giving the sunscreen time to settle. A routine that works is usually simple enough to repeat without fighting it every morning.

The glowy part, honestly

The “glow” everyone wants from prep isn’t a highlighter trick. It comes from hydrated, well-protected skin that’s had a minute to settle. If you do nothing else from this routine, do these two things: hydrate on damp skin, and wait before applying makeup. That alone will make almost any base look smoother.

A realistic everyday version

On a normal morning the whole thing takes me under ten minutes: cleanse, hydrating serum on damp skin, eye cream and lip balm, moisturiser, SPF, and a short wait while it all absorbs. Simple, repeatable, and it makes the makeup part easier rather than harder.

The point is not perfect skin. The point is preparing the skin you actually have that morning. Some days it is drier, some days oilier, some days a little irritated. A good pre-makeup routine gives you a stable starting point without turning the morning into a laboratory.