After years of the fresh-faced aesthetic, ’90s grunge has returned to make its presence felt. Don’t reach for that deep red lipstick quite just yet, though. The newest iteration of the era has instead taken the form of marinated makeup. What is it? Marinated makeup is a trend in which you allow makeup to settle in for a few hours—or ‘marinate’—to serve up a coveted second-skin finish. If you aren’t a fan of the done-up, perfect finish of freshly-applied makeup, this trend deserves a spot on your radar. Also, with summer right around the corner, marinating your makeup will help it survive hours of sweat and heat while making you glisten and glow. Celebrity makeup artist Arti Nayar shares her advice on making this trend work for you.
Sit down, be surprised
Having risen to prominence after some beauty girls noticed their makeup looking better at the end of the day than it did when freshly applied, the look has since been dubbed as marinated makeup and helmed as a hack that everybody needs to know. It involves applying your makeup products a good two hours before stepping out so that it can settle into the skin better and offer a slightly-smudged, lived-in feel. The science behind this is straightforward – when makeup is allowed to sit on the skin for a few hours, the natural oils in the skin and your body heat will cause the makeup to melt a bit, helping it blend in even more seamlessly and making it appear almost like second skin.
.PNG)
.PNG)
.PNG)
.PNG)
.PNG)
.PNG)
.PNG)
.PNG)
.PNG)
.PNG)
.PNG)
The mise en place
Since this makeup trend is focused on the finish, Nayar recommends you use regular products from your makeup kit. “Start with a good base, which includes adequate skincare. From under-eye creams to lip balms—make sure you moisturise each part to avoid a cakey look. Give it 20 minutes to settle before applying your makeup, to ensure your skin has soaked in the products. Next, using your fingers, massage your primer onto your skin, and proceed with your base as usual,” she says.
Remember to go easy on the foundation and concealer, applying them only as a sheer layer and in just the areas that need coverage.“You can choose to avoid the setting spray post applying your makeup—this will allow it to settle into your skin, the face oils making it look as natural as possible,” she reveals.
For those living in a humid climate, she recommends setting your makeup in place with loose powder to ensure that it stays put through the hours of marination. “This should be the last step in your makeup routine—that dab of loose powder on key spots will ensure the makeup settles on your skin evenly and doesn’t become streaky,” she concludes.
For those who don’t have a few hours to spare while getting ready, Nayar recommends a handy shortcut. “You can take your time blending and massaging your base makeup in, allowing it to settle in naturally in between steps,” she reveals.
Cover Image : Instagram/@sayanigupta
