Step by Step Guide to Even Skin Tone

Kudos to you if your skin is naturally flawless, but for the rest of the girls who struggle with uneven skin tone, a blemish-free complexion cannot be achieved without a little help from makeup and religious skincare with the right products. (and maybe even a few derma visits). Of course, there are plenty of good skin practices that will help you achieve brighter skin for the long haul - more on that later - but when you're in a pinch, the first thing to do is put it in your makeup bag. Below we share 4 simple steps to achieve a visibly even skin tone. From start to finish, the routine will take less time than brewing your morning coffee.

STEP 1: PRIMER

All good makeup applications should start with a primer. These products can help make-up stay in place longer and also provide a well-moisturized and smooth canvas to work with. If you're worried about redness, use a color-correcting primer like L'Oreal Paris Studio Secrets Anti-Redness Primer. The formula glides on smoothly to help blur blemishes and even out skin tone.

STEP 2: APPLY FOUNDATION

Using your favorite foundation, apply an even layer to the face and gently blend with a clean blending sponge or foundation brush. Feel free to apply the product until the desired coverage is achieved. Try Dermablend Blurring Mousse Camo Foundation. The formula can help cover up skin problems - think blemishes, redness, pimples, enlarged pores - with a natural matte finish.

STEP 3: HIDE Flaws

We prefer to use concealer AFTER foundation to help hide blemishes with extra coverage, although some girls prefer to use it first. Whether you're hoping to reduce the appearance of dark circles or pesky blemishes, use a concealer that blends easily and, most importantly, has the right shade for your skin tone. Gently apply the formula with a sponge or fingers - do not wipe! - to provide a smooth and natural look.   

STEP 4: POWDER

By now, your skin tone should look much better and more even. The last step is to put everything back in place. Apply a little setting powder - such as Maybelline FaceStudio Master Fix Setting + Perfecting Loose Powder - for a soft focus effect. That's all it takes! 

OTHER USEFUL TIPS

Mimicking flawless skin and even skin tone with makeup is a great option for instant results, but why rely on it? With the right skincare, you can help reveal glowing, glowing skin without hiding it. Below, we share additional tips to follow to reduce the appearance of uneven skin tone over time.

Apply SPF: Daily sunscreen – with an SPF of 15 or higher – is critical for everyone as it helps protect skin from harmful UV rays. Because UV exposure can darken pre-existing blemishes, you should apply a generous amount of broad-spectrum sunscreen to your face to protect your skin.    

Carry topical antioxidants: Vitamin C is a great antioxidant to apply to the skin because not only does it help protect the skin from free radical damage, but it can also help reduce the appearance of uneven skin tone for brighter, more radiant skin. To learn more about the benefits of vitamin C, read this!

Use the dark spot corrector: Dark spot correctors can help reduce the appearance of dark spots and even out your skin tone with continued use. Try La Roche-Posay Mela-D Pigment Control. The concentrated serum contains glycolic acid and LHA, two powerful players that exfoliate the skin, smooth and even out the surface, and also give it radiance. To view a list of other dark spot correctors we recommend, click here!

Invest in office peeling: Chemical peels sound intimidating, but they are actually very beneficial for your skin if done right. They help exfoliate the skin, getting rid of unwanted dead skin cells and allowing products to work better, as well as help with aging and/or pigmentation issues. To find out if you're a good fit for a chemical peel, talk to your dermatologist or licensed skin care professional.