Daytime makeup should be the easiest element of your beauty routine to get right—after all, most of us aim for an unfussy feel and we get to practise it every day. But just as fundamental cooking skills can often be the trickiest to pull off (poaching an egg, anyone?) sometimes a feasibly simple, natural makeup look can actually feel a lot more complicated than a bold statement one.
Luckily, we’re here to help. As with most things beauty-related, the best course of action to master this particular makeup skill is consulting the experts—and beauty pros don’t come more expert than No7 Makeup Ambassador Joy Adenuga. With over a decade of experience enhancing faces on the red carpet, glossy campaigns and television screens, what Joy doesn’t know about makeup isn’t worth knowing. And these are her top hacks for creating a fast, flawless daytime look. Learn these skills and you’ll be set for life
1. Start with skin prep
“You always want to make sure you prime the skin to prep it for makeup products. Use a toner infused with calming ingredients like cucumber to balance the skin and leave it feeling soft and smooth. Next, apply an enriched moisturiser to keep the skin nourished and hydrated. Also, apply serums like hyaluronic acid and retinol as part of your routine to quench your skin, so it won’t suffer from dehydration and irritation.”
2. Make time to prime
“One of the most effective ways to keep your makeup on during the day is to use a primer before you apply your foundation. This will not only keep your makeup in place and prevent it from sliding off, but it will provide you with the staying power required to keep your makeup looking freshly applied throughout the duration of the day.”
3. Conceal and hydrate
“To stop concealer from creasing under the eyes, firstly prep with an under eye cream, this helps with dryness. Use your fingers and pat the concealer with your fingertips to eradicate any excess product. Blend with a damp sponge. Then apply a translucent loose powder under the eye area to prevent creases and set the concealer.”
4. Create a flawless foundation
“The next tip I would offer is to go for a long-wear foundation formula. As the name suggests, long-wear products allow your foundation to stay put no matter what. They also have the added bonus of providing a full coverage, but with a natural finish. I love No7 Stay Perfect Foundation, which provides a natural finish while also providing staying power. Next, use a face powder to finish the look. I tend to prefer loose powders that give more of a natural finish. Finally, use a setting spray to keep the makeup from slipping off your face.”
5. Enhance your eyes
“A daytime smokey eye is one of the easiest eye looks to create. I’d advise you to use hues like slate grey and dark brown, as jet black can be a bit harsh and tricky to apply if you are looking for a quick fix. Apply the darker shade to the lower lids; and use the lighter hue by the crease. The key is in the blending, so invest in a quality brush like the By Joy Adenuga The Shadow Placer brush to help you create the perfect finish.” Finish with a slick of mascara and one of the best lip balms and you’ll have yourself a beautiful daytime look.
6. Take it from day to night
Ever wondered how to elevate your daytime look without taking it all over and starting again? “The easiest way to elevate your look from day to night is to build upon your daytime look. Add to the smokey eye with a shimmery finish to add a dramatic flair, and a bold red or fuchsia lip is a failsafe way to transform your look from day to night in minutes.”
Joy’s top three daytime makeup heroes
woman&home thanks Joy Adenuga for her time and expertise