Why Does My Makeup Look Cakey? - The Real Reason Why Your Makeup Doesn’t Look Like Skin

We’ve all been there, right? Just today, I spent 30 minutes on a face of makeup, blending until my hand cramped, just to take a step towards the mirror and see the concealer sitting on my skin, the powder clinging to my peach fuzz, and mascara clumps clinging to my lashes like knobby-kneed spider legs. I spent minutes staring at the pores on my nose; my face practically pressed to the mirror. I felt like I could almost see my concealer marching to congregate in pores and lines that I didn’t even know I had. So, what did I do? I left the house anyway.

I didn’t wash off my makeup for a number of reasons. My makeup looked just fine from a foot and a half away from the mirror. From three inches away, it looked amateurish. But honestly, I didn’t plan on anyone being less than a foot and a half away from my face today. Who cares if my concealer isn’t perfect on a microscopic level? Also, I’m in the process of learning some new techniques. I can’t have high expectations of myself right away.  

This article isn’t just a monologue. If you want to know why your makeup isn’t sitting right, here are a couple of things that helped me out: I would make sure that you aren’t mixing silicone and water-based products (like a silicone-based primer and a water-based foundation). They repel each other like oil and water. And a nice melting setting spray can do wonders for your finished face. I love the Powder Melt Setting Spray by O/S. I would also try spending a little bit more time blending out your products. Investing in a nice brush or beauty blender can be a game-changer. 

But does your makeup actually look cakey, or do you just look like you’re wearing makeup? Does your makeup look bad, or are you searching for flaws that only you would see? Let’s think about it for a second. 

Social media can trick you into thinking that good makeup looks exactly like skin. Now fortunately, there are plenty of techniques and tools to help your makeup look more like skin, but in the end, it’s makeup. It’s not your skin. View it more as a tool for self-expression, and don’t hold yourself to such a high standard. I promise that nobody notices all of the flaws that you see. 

My advice? It is okay to look like you are wearing makeup. Not one single person is going to believe that you were born with a dusting of fine glitter over your cheekbones, or vivid multicolor eyelids, right? So, the next time you feel like your eyeliner is uneven, or that your eyebrows look more like cousins than sisters, maybe take a few steps away from the mirror. Put down the makeup wipes and leave the house anyway. Stop nitpicking in the mirror. Accept that makeup is makeup, and some days it’s going to look like it. Don’t let little imperfections stop you from creative expression and confidence.

(and do not mix silicone and water-based products)

Thanks for reading, and like always, I’d love to know your thoughts!

Product Review- Rare Beauty Lip Oil

Hey guys! First post in a while. I think I’ve been feeling pressure to produce some Shakespearean content here, so I just haven’t posted because I am not on that level. I found it in me recently to remind myself that I’m just writing about makeup. It is not that deep. And I highly doubt that the 6 people that view my posts (hi mom) care that much about how intellectual my writing is. Bear with me while I post some poorly written articles. 

   The first thing I wanted to write about is the Soft Pinch Tinted Lip Oil | Jelly Lip Oil with Jojoba. I recently got one of these (work gratis, not purchased) and I had some thoughts. Before I start dissecting this lip oil, I’d like to preface with a little bit about myself (bc I’m sure you were curious). I am a lip balm fiend. I always carry some sort of lip balm/lip mask with me. I live in a very cold and dry climate, and my hair/skin/nails/lips/eyes are always dry. I recently went on a 10-day vacation, and I left my lip balm at home. I left it on the kitchen counter. The only lip product I had with me for 10 solid days was this Rare Beauty Lip Oil. So, I do consider myself an expert on this specific product.

   My thoughts about the product? I love the color. I got the shade Delight, and it is just that. A lovely neutral-mauve sort of color that added a little enhancement to my natural lip color. However, that is the only thing about this product that I really love. The first thing I dislike about this oil is how thin it is. Now I know how that sounds. It’s right in the name, isn’t it? Lip oil? It’s going to be thin. I am no stranger to lip oils, though, and if I compare it to some of my favorites, such as Addict Lip Glow Oil  by Dior, or Fat Oil Lip Drip Lip Gloss by NYX, Rare Beauty’s lip oil seemed to leave me with no lasting hydration, because of how thin it is. I applied it, and it seemed like 10 minutes later it was completely gone, with no trace of having ever been on my lips. I’m a sucker for lip products with lasting hydration or color, because otherwise it feels like I’m spending 30something dollars to experience reapplying a product 20x a day. And, unfortunately, this product has neither.

   In summary, I am obsessed with the shade, and I will continue to use this product, but I don’t think I’ll re-purchase one of these when mine runs out. I think it will be one of those makeup products I designate to travel with, so that if my checked bag gets lost it doesn’t take any of my favorite products with it. Maybe it will live in my gym locker. 

   Thank you for reading, and I’d love to hear your thoughts! 

poll: what comes first, eyes or base?

My sister and I were chatting a few nights ago, and she asked me a question that really got me thinking: "What should you do first? Eyes or base?"

As with a lot of things in the beauty world, I'm sure there's no absolute correct answer, but I am curious to hear what other people think about that question. I like to do my base before I do my eyes, just because that's the way I have always done it. What do you do first?

What's your first step?

• Eyes
• Base

This post will be the first of a weekly poll, and next week I'll post the results with some insight! Make sure to subscribe to the newsletter so you don't miss out on the recap. Thanks for voting!