Whether a woman can truly ‘have it all’ might still be a hotly discussed topic, but the rise of skincare-makeup hybrids – aka makeup with skincare benefits – suggests it’s at least possible when it comes to your beauty bag.
Now with the rise of the ‘Lazy Girl Makeup’ trend – which aims to make it even easier to look put together with just a few essentials – skin-boosting makeup has never been more popular.
From boosting hydration to calming redness over-time, CF spoke to several leading makeup artists to discover how to use the one-and-done essentials to totally streamline your routine. Here’s what you need to know.
What are skincare-makeup hybrids?
“A skincare-makeup hybrid is makeup that contains ingredients that also offers skincare benefits,” explains the lead makeup artist for Face the Future, Rachael Divers. “For example, a foundation might include hyaluronic acid to hydrate your skin, or have ingredients like peptides, SPF and antioxidants to treat and protect.”
“It’s something that ultimately is designed to be used as a makeup item but is enriched with a significant amount of skincare so that it feels more comfortable than your normal makeup,” confirms the makeup artist and brand ambassador for IT Cosmetics, Rose Gallagher, adding that these products “should also add benefits to your routine instead of just sitting on your skin.”
How are they different to ‘normal’ makeup?
You might not have realised it but traditional makeup formulas, especially foundations and concealers, often have some sort of natural oils, botanicals and vitamins within them to help with hydration, slip and skin finish. That’s technically a skincare benefit. But the newest skincare-makeup hybrid formulations have maximised the percentages of those skin-nourishing ingredients, plus added new ones that can help with wider skin goals.
Considering we tend to use makeup to improve skin appearance temporarily – be it covering a breakout or brightening a tired complexion – it makes sense to try and use the same products to boost skin health overtime.
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Lazy Girl makeup: why are skincare-makeup hybrids becoming popular?
The mindset around our skincare and makeup routines is changing and the Lazy Girl makeup routine that is trending on social media is testament to that. Designed to take just two to three minutes in total, the look focuses on adding tiny touches of colour and touch-ups rather than a full face of makeup.
“We realised we didn’t need all the different products, and actually felt better for it,” observes Gallagher. “People are more mindful of everything they put on their skin; they want products to work harder and often consider the environmental impact of having one product doing the job of several.”
“‘Skinimalism’ also has become a popular term, and customers are looking for multi-use formulas that give them skincare benefits along with the instant confidence-boosting effects of makeup,” agrees Divers. “They want products that complement their lifestyle and allow them to maintain their healthiest skin.” Speediness is also a key factor!
What ingredients should you look out for?
The beauty of makeup with skincare benefits is that those benefits are extremely wide-reaching and there’s a wealth of ingredients to keep an eye on. “There’s squalene, hyaluronic acid, jojoba wax, vitamin E, vitamin C, niacinamide, zinc, oats, calendula, chamomile, and aloe vera just to name a few,” lists the natural beauty expert and brand owner, Ere Perez.
To avoid getting overwhelmed, keep your wider skin goals in mind – whether that be hydration, redness-reduction or skin glow. Then, cast your mind over some of the most popular ingredients in your current skincare routine; that’s a great place to start when identifying your skincare-makeup hybrid priorities.
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Does ‘normal’ makeup negatively affect your skin?
Despite the boom in makeup with skincare benefits, the expert opinion is that traditional formulations shouldn’t be vilified. That’s in spite of some formulas, especially full-coverage ones, being blamed for clogging pores and causing breakouts.
“I feel passionately that makeup doesn’t negatively affect your skin,” reveals Gallagher. “I think [makeup only] can if you’re not removing it properly, especially if you are using a full coverage product that has an SPF in it. But, if everything that goes on comes off I don’t see it being a problem.”
Perez agrees, recognising that it’s often bad makeup habits that result in skin issues: “Makeup isn’t bad for your skin per se, but… if you’re sleeping in your makeup or frequently wearing it for heavy gym sessions where you’re more likely to sweat, then your skin will be more prone to congestion and irritation.”
What really sets skincare-makeup hybrids apart from traditional makeup is not their ability to avoid ‘harming’ the skin, but their focus on further boosting its appearance, via hydrating, brightening and soothing formulas.
Are there any drawbacks to skincare-makeup hybrids?
“It’s important to note that hybrid skincare-makeup shouldn’t replace a proper skincare routine, and that hybrid products can only do so much in the way of improving your skin,” notes Divers. That’s especially important when it comes to SPF.
Sunscreens offer much more comprehensive protection than any SPF advertised in your makeup products, not least because you’d have to apply a thick layer of your concealer or foundation to get the listed SPF rating. “Think of them more as an extra benefit to compliment your skincare routine, rather than the sole solution to your skincare needs,” Divers concludes.
With that in mind, here’s how to get the most out of your skincare-makeup hybrids:
Six reasons to use makeup with skincare benefits:
1. For dry skin
“Dry skin responds really well to makeup with skincare benefits,” reveals Gallagher. “When your skin is dry your makeup never sits as well as it does when it’s hydrated. So, if you’re using something predominantly skincare-based you tend to find the skin looks plumper, juicier, healthier. And when the skin is hydrated it’s much less likely to go patchy.”
“Collagen is a lovely ingredient to have in your formula for a juicy, plump skin-finish that feels great and gives makeup a smoother finish,” Gallagher continues. “Hyaluronic acid too, to retain moisture without overloading oilier skin, and niacinamide to support the skin’s barrier which helps avoid dry patches.”
Your one-step solution for a hydrated skin glow, there's a reason this tinted serum is a beauty director staple. The lightweight coverage evens out your skin tone in a flash, with enough tint to cover blemishes while still giving a 'no makeup' finish. It is also absolutely packed with skincare benefits, including hydrating hyaluronic acid and soothing Centella Asiatica water and ceramides so your complexion feels pampered not masked. Available in 20 shades.
A clever microencapsulation technique means each sphere of pigment in Rosie Huntington-Whiteley's tinted serum is surrounded by a form of hyaluronic acid – sodium hyaluronate – and squalane for hydration and protective peptides. The result is that when the bubbles burst on your skin, you get an instant hit of refreshing moisture, teamed with blurring of uneven tone and blemishes. Available in 14 shades.
2. For redness and rosacea
Broader discussion around rosacea-type skin types has arguably helped power the popularity of skincare-makeup hybrids. That’s because the skin condition – categorised by flushing, redness and sensitive skin – means individuals prone to it are looking for effective coverage that won’t irritate or cause flare-ups. Powered by this demand, colour correcting tints have become a lot more natural on the skin and ingredients such as soothing provitamin B5 can help calm your complexion over time.
Tried, tested and loved by individuals prone to redness and flushing, Rosalique's colour-correcting vegan formula contains a blend of skin soothing ingredients that work together to calm irritation. That includes provitamin B5, urea and shea butter, as well as SPF 50 to protect sensitive complexions from UV rays. Available in one 'colour correcting' shade.
Following in the footsteps of another Ere Perez skincare-makeup hybrid – the Oat Milk Foundation – this certified vegan concealer aims to help heal while it covers in one swipe. The hero ingredient in its name – lychee – hydrates the skin and helps soothe inflammation, supported by the nourishing, brightening properties of vitamins E and C. Available in six shades.
3. For breakout-prone skin
“Skincare-makeup hybrids are particularly popular with people who have acne-prone skin as they can conceal breakouts while benefiting your skin,” says Divers. “People with acne-prone skin could also benefit from formulas that contain ingredients like salicylic acid, which helps to decrease oil production and unclog pores.”
That said, Gallagher recommends “treating oiliness with an oil-specific routine and then applying makeup. A skincare-makeup hybrid product [on its own] wouldn’t be my first choice for oily skin types.” If you are on the oily side and fancy trying a makeup option with skincare benefits, try “ingredients like charcoal and colloidal clay which help control oil and give a velvety finish,” she recommends.
Not many makeup products are recommended by aesthetic doctors post-treatment, but Oxygenetix's formulas are. As well as being really good at lightly concealing redness, for example post-peel, the foundations also promote healing with a complex that encourages oxygen supply to the skin. Good news for sore, breakout-prone skins, especially because the blemish formula contains salicylic acid to help unclog pores and reduce congestion too. Available in 14 shades.
This oil-free matte-finish formula has a comprehensive approach to the concerns of oily skin; specifically concealing blemishes and treating the source of them – including redness, visible pores, shine and oil. It's packed with proven skin-clearing ingredients, including charcoal and colloidal clay to clear congested pores, alongside antibacterial tea tree extract, SPF 40, antioxidants and hyaluronic acid. Available in 12 shades.
4. For protecting against the first signs of ageing
“If you’re looking to prevent the first signs of ageing, definitely look for an antioxidant in your skincare-makeup formula,” says Gallagher. “It’s great to have that in your everyday base given that pollution can have such a big impact on the onset of fine lines.”
This is because pollution and other environmental aggressors can generate free radicals in your skin; these target key structural skin components, including collagen and elastin, leading to fine lines. Antioxidants to look out for include green tea, camellia seed oil and vitamin C. Other skin-boosting ingredients to look out for include niacinamide and caffeine to breathe fresh life into your complexion.
Merit makeup has taken the beauty world by storm – and for good reason. So many of the products are one-and-done solutions that give you a flattering and, most importantly, effortless look. Our beauty director's absolute favourite is this instant glow serum. The answer to your prayers if you hate layering bronzer over foundation, this skin-warming colour doubles as a refreshing serum and instantly perks up your complexion with hyaluronic acid, niacinamide and caffeine hydating, soothing and energising over time. Available in one universal shade.
The makeup artist Gucci Westman is passionate about having skincare benefits in all her makeup products, which is why her complexion blush and bronzer sticks are as well-known for being rich in antioxidants as they are for their smooth application. This latest skin tint is just the same; with a hydrating formula filled with brightening, protective extracts including ginseng, tsubaki oil and pomegranate extract to keep premature signs of ageing at bay. Available in 20 shades.
5. For boosting glow
Another benefit of skincare-makeup hybrids is that they tend to be in the form of nourishing tints and washes of colour that add a healthy glow to your complexion with a subtle finish. “You want to use makeup to enhance your natural beauty, not hide it,” says Perez.
That also means they work for all ages: “My 14-year-old daughter and I use the same hybrid products, as teenage and menopausal skin have similarities in sensitivity,” Perez reveals. For longer-term brightening results look to formulas that contain vitamin C or other fruit extracts, especially if you want to use them around the eye area.
Milk Makeup's under-eye tint has a tri-pronged approach to tired-looking eyes. Firstly, light-reflecting powders instantly conceal dark circles; secondly, vitamin C and antioxidant-rich sea buckthorn berry oil to tackle brighteness over time; and, finally, because dehydration also makes eyes look dull, the cooling rollerball also delivers hydrating hyaluronic acid, squalane and golden turmeric. Available in seven shades.
IT Cosmetics' CC+ Nude Glow is a seriously impressive 90% skincare, with a lightweight tint that provides a super glowy, hydrated finish. The formula is packed with niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, green tea extract and protective SPF – a combination that is clinically tested to improve skin texture in 4 weeks. No wonder IT Cosmetics is so trusted by the beauty experts. Available in 22 shades.
6. For your lashes and brows
It’s not just your skin that can take advantage of makeup with skincare benefits – “the right makeup can also protect your lips, lashes, brows,” says Perez. These areas are actually the most delicate parts of your face, so focus on products that are filled with “nourishing and conditioning ingredients that support growth and strength.”
Your lashes go through a lot if you like to curl and lengthen them every day, but amongst a busy life, remembering to apply your lash growth serum can be a hassle. Hence the boom in two-in-one serum mascaras like this one from bareMinerals. It provides the deep black pigment you need for definition; a patent-pending wand for lift; and a nourishing blend of red clover flower and peptides to reduce breakage.
Proof that looking after your skin and hair will always get you the best makeup results, this best-selling gel defines and conditions your brow hairs with hydrolysed quinoa and a hair renewal complex. It's a quick and simple way to get fuller, natural-looking brows.
Lead image credit: Merit Beauty
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