Uneven skin tone and dark spots have troubled a lot of beautiful ladies, especially from the Asian, Mediterranean and African backgrounds. These dark patches are caused by increased melanin production. Causes can be genetic, hormonal, or even environmental, especially if you have gone au-naturel in the sun or spent an entire decade without SPF (like my family, PFFT!). Photodamage aka damage caused by the sun does not show up for years sometimes, making us even more resilient to sunscreens and hats. The consequence is dark uneven patches.
My mom has dark blobs of uneven skin tone on each cheek, which suddenly appeared in her 40’s. After years of trial and error, we narrowed down some products which work great on pigmentation and can conceal the toughest marks. Of course, MUA’s use a multitude of products to create the perfect base. What I am mentioning here are simple, everyday products, that can cover spots and create a good even base at home without wrecking your budget.
Vichy Dermablend Total Body Corrective Foundation. This is an elixir of life for concealing marks and dark pigmentations anywhere on the body. It has a beautiful thick and creamy texture, just like a heavy duty foundation. It can also be applied with fingers and dabbed on the spots. It does not have any smell (always a bonus!). It sinks into the skin, so no fear of cakey makeup that moves. It does not break out and stays intact for hours. Vichy Dermablend even claims 16 hours of coverage. What I love about Dermablend is the ease of applying, strong coverage, and super smooth finish. Please ensure that the skin is well moisturized beforehand to prevent it from drying under heavy concealers. My mom uses Organic Surge Replenishing Facial Oil, an argan-infused oil that keeps the skin hydrated for long. Massage it well on a cleansed face before starting the makeup routine. It is quite shiny when worn on its own, but provides a nice glowy base under heavy concealers and foundations.
Once the spots are concealed, follow with a durable and opaque foundation. My mom has two favorites: MAC Studio Fix Fluid and Cover FX Total Cover Cream Foundation. Both these foundations are thick and help create an even long-lasting base. Cover FX Cream Foundation comes in a compact shape. So you can pop it in the purse and fix up quickly, in case you get caught in torrential rains. Once again, Cover FX has no smell, is super smooth and silky, and blends beautifully with a tapered foundation brush or a beauty blender. Eco tool does some great affordable flat top brushes if you want to invest in one. One application should be sufficient but you can easily build up the foundation if you wish. This lush compact lasts a good few months and is packed with SPF, anti-ageing and anti-inflammatory ingredients, nourishing the skin whilst looking flawless.
MAC Studio Fix Fluid needs no introduction and has a cult of its own. MAC products are designed to look great in pictures and this one is no exception. A definite pick for weddings or photo shoots. It blends easily and little goes a long way, as a few drops should be enough to cover the nose forehead and neck. Avoid going over the concealed spots when applying foundation, as blending motion can move the concealer, exposing the spot. Just dab it lightly once the rest of the face is done. My only concern with this genie in a glass bottle is the gluey smell. It is too strong and can be off-putting (are you listening MAC!?). One layer is enough and will look super cakey if you try building on it. Some people are prone to breakout after using heavy MAC foundations. So try a sample from the MAC store to check suitability for your skin type. Continue with your normal makeup routine before setting the makeup with MAC Fix+ to get a nice dewy finish.
Adding a dark spot reduction product to your skincare routine can help lighten and regenerate the damaged skin. Kiehl’s Clearly Corrective Dark Spot Solution is a gorgeous formulation which does just that without the hassle of burning sensations or skin peeling while preventing any more discoloration. However, you need to show commitment to see results. Look at it as an at-home alternative to laser treatments and make it your bedtime staple. The spots tend to lighten after a few months of daily use and the skin feels super healthy. The 30 ml bottle costs £36 and lasts at least 3-4 months. Hope this helps create a gorgeous, even bases. Ta!
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