Face And Body Foundations: The Transfer-Resistant Face Mask Hack
Take a cue from the toolkits of professional makeup artists: face and body foundations that don't stain red carpet dresses – or face masks.
How many times in the past year or so have you taken your mask off, whether for a meal or when you’ve gotten home, only to see foundation and makeup smearing the top seam? The answer is a very likely “all the time”. The solution, it turns out, is a glaringly simple and obvious one: face and body foundations.
Part of the magic and convincing quality of face and body foundations is their use in professional makeup artists’ kits. MAC Cosmetics’ Studio Face and Body Foundation, a celebrated icon of the category, is exalted by Mary Greenwell, red carpet makeup artist to celebrities like Cate Blanchett, as “the ultimate foundation of all time.” The thin, watery texture of it makes it a complete joy and ease to blend. Crucially: “It dries, so you can put it over the body and it’ll dry and set so it won’t ruin a red carpet dress.”
Peter Philips, the Creative and Image Director for Dior Beauty, at work backstage at the Dior Spring/Summer 2021 fashion show.
It’s a very limited category but one that’s worth checking out. The logic is simple: if it’s good enough not to smudge and transfer onto red carpet dresses – think haute couture that Cate Blanchett regularly wears – chances are it’s good enough for the humble face mask.
While MAC’s Face and Body is, presently, discontinued, the brand has plans to relaunch a revamped version in 2022. In the meantime, here are two other face and body foundations that stand up to the present-day demands of masked makeup wearers.
The Dior Backstage line, launched under the direction of Creative and Image Director of Dior Beauty Peter Philips, is inspired by the demands and crunch behind the scenes at fashion shows. The result is a straightforward collection of products that simply work. Case in point: this Face and Body foundation that Philips regularly uses for actual Dior catwalk shows. It’s got a gritty texture that sets the light coverage formula down to a radiant matte finish that suits virtually any skin type. Another quality of this foundation: a wide offering of shades, including warm, rosy and even olive undertones that means you’re sure to find a match.
The Water Blend foundation is a great encapsulation of the Make Up For Ever ethos of professional quality products that empower makeup artistry. The “water” in the name should give you an idea of its texture – it’s super runny and easy to blend. Unlike the Dior foundation, this sets to a more dewy and shiny finish that suits drier skins better. For best results, use the warmth of your hands to massage and pat this product into the skin. This application method ensures a more seamless blend, and the patting helps set the foundation so it doesn’t transfer.